Started another project. Have been tearing up my locking hubs. After locking the hubs I’ll start getting a squealing noise from the left front axle. Over time it starts to wear my locking hubs. Pushed it to the point last weekend where the hub would not stay in the “free” mode and would creep back into engagement. Drove home with the hubs engaged which isn’t the greatest for the front end but beats walking. Started disassembling the front hubs and going to rebuild the spindles with new bearings and seals. Got the spindle off today and bearings don’t appear bad but going to replace them anyway. Hopefully this eliminates the bind on the hubs. I’ll post any updates.
Also likely going to eliminate the ABS sensors and sensor block. Had to use bolt extractor sockets to remove the 6mm 12 point bolt since the head was stripped out. FYI the thread pitch on this bolt is 1.0mm.
When I had my Gen 5 I was in Oregon. It was younger (so was I) but the lack of salt and mild climate was much nicer on vehicles. Rarely used my stripped fastener skills on that truck. Thanks for sharing!
Luckily for me this truck spent the majority of its life in Utah. Not sure how long it had been in Michigan before I bought it but I don’t let it see salt. It gets stored at the end of October.
That’s the problem, Michigans best wheeling is in the winter, but the salt kills vehicles. It’s amazing, spent tons of times in the mountains out west, never even chained up, way more snow than here and no salt.
I do love in the Winter going places off road, its more fun (and less mess usually) than the summer. Newer cars should be protected enough from salt (grease your bolt heads if you’re really worried), but the older stuff, yea, its hard keeping it in good shape.
