Just A Reminder...Tighten All your Junk!
Having just spent the weekend helping some folks on the forum replace/repair suspension components on their rigs, I thought I would post a general reminder.
Anytime you do any kind of suspension modifications or repairs, PLEASE take a few minutes to double check EVERYTHING that has been removed and then replaced or repaired. The very general guidelines are to re tighten EVERYTHING on any new suspension components after 500 miles. I usually do not wait that long and actually suggest doing that sooner. I do this on my rig either before or after every trail run.
A simple list:
Check all of your spring bolts
Check all of the steering components, especially the steering knuckle arm bolts
Check all of the tie rod and drag link ends. This is usually a very basic visual inspection as these should have been tightened all the way on the install and either a cotter pin or safety wire used on the castle nuts
Check the steering arm retainer bolts
On anything that is torqued to specs that doesn't have a castle nut, use finger nail polish or a metal marker to scribe a line across the top of the bolt and the nut. Doing this will allow for a quick visual inspection and you can easily see if the nut has backed off as the lines will no longer be in alignment.
With a little practice, this only takes a few minutes...and will probably save hours of needless trail repairs. A great many of the 'trail carnage/trail repairs we see not only on this forum, but others, are result of people not doing a simple inspection of their rigs prior to trail runs. Take some time to look under your rig to see exactly what you have. Look for any problem spots, loose wires, places where metal has rubbed clean or where the wear pattern of the metal looks unusual. Look for any leaks.
A very general list to look for:
Grab your drive shafts and see if you can wiggle them easily. If you can, then chances are that you are going to have a worn U joint. Check this by spraying some WD 40 on it. If you get a lot of rust coming out from the bearing races, then these are most certainly in need of replacement.
Grab the tie rod and the drag link and twist it one way or the other. If it moves very easily, then the rod ends are probably worn to the point of needing replacement. Watch for a 'catch' if you are able to twist the links. This is also indicative of a bad rod end. On these, generally if you can twist the tie rod or drag link, you are due for replacement of the ends.
Look for fluid by the shafts on your shocks. If you see fluid there, then the shock is on it's last legs and needs replacement.
With leaf springs, look closely at the top of the leaf and the bottom of the leaf where it attaches to the axle. An excessive wear pattern here will indicate that the U bolts are loose and/or the leaf spring centering pin is worn, bent, split in half or other wise damaged. There have been at least two incidences within the last year where this has happened and resulted in some makeshift trail repairs.
If you have the front wheels up in the air for any reason, grab the top and bottom of the wheel and try to move it in and out. Any movement in this plane will indicate ball joint or knuckle bearing wear. Look at the wear pattern of the tires on the front. If you can feel ridges, then suspect alignment, worn shocks, worn ball joints or bearings. Spin the tire and see how easily they spin and listen for any noise. Noise or resistance can be the result of not enough wheel bearing or Birfield grease, or calipers rubbing on the rotors, bent rotors, or a combination any or all of these.
Look for grease or gear oil around the inside of the brakes/axle hubs/backing plates/ knuckle balls. If you see some, generally it is the axle seal that needs replacing. On drum brakes, brake fluid on the inside of the backing plates will usually indicate a leaking cylinder.
A little general maintenance goes a long way to having fun on the trails. Keep in mind that wheeling a rig adds a ton of wear and tear way beyond what passes for normal use.
More on general maintenance on this link:
http://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums/...od-Thing-To-Do
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