Mud Club Blessing Needed...!

[Skibum346]

Right folks... off to replace a CV joint (for the first time), the swivel seals (for the first time) and the track rod ends (for the first time!).   8-[

Can you all put your collective wishes together and gimme a good ol' fashion Mud Club blessing as I have a rep for snapping bolts, shredding threads and putting things together in the wrong way.   [-o<

Yeah... I know I should pay a competent mechanic to do the job... but hey... who can afford a competent mechanic these days?!   #-o

Cheers

Skibum

 :(scared):

[missroadrage]

If you start the job assuming everything will go wrong if they don't you'll be a happy person

[Wolfie]

It's not too bad a job, just follow the instruction book.

The swivel ball to axle bolts are a pain as they are very tight and not the most accessible, after the secoond or third I decided a modified spanner and a lenght of steel pipe was a good move.

Have done 5 in the last couple of months.

Regards

Wolfie

[landybabe]

competent mechanic

Isn't that an Oxymoron  :shock:  :shock:

Oh dear....i can hear the gasps of outrage from all you "competent mechanics" already  :twisted:  :twisted:  

[Skibum346]

Quick update...

Stopped for lunch (SWMBO is looking after me!  :D )

Swivel bearings have collapsed on passenger side and yes... the axle bolts a are a pain in the @rse!

Got to change drop arm for steering as that has also gone. Should drive nice... when I'm finished!

Wolfie, I don't have a set of pull scales... any suggestions for setting up the swivel preload?

Skibum

[Wolfie]

Wolfie, I don't have a set of pull scales... any suggestions for setting up the swivel preload?

I've only ever done it using a spring balance, and wouldn't like to suggest any other method as it's important to get it right.

Do you have your new swivel bearings yet? If not I assume you'll be going to Douglass. They might be prepared to lend you one.

Where abouts in Warwickshire are you?

Regards

Wolfie

[Dirty Gertie]

:D  I'm amazed it din't collapse last Sunday Frank!! Good luck! :lol:

[Skibum346]

:D  I'm amazed it din't collapse last Sunday Frank!! Good luck! :lol:

Kinda suspect it did Gertie!

Heard a bit of a bang at one point but put it down to you know... like a rock hitting the chassiss...... or summit......... :oops:

Now discovered I need a 34mm ( :shock: ) spanner/socket for the drop arm nut... didn't tell me that when they sold me the new drop arm did they!   :?

Ah well.. off to halfords it is then....

Skibum

[Dirty Gertie]

:D  I'm amazed it din't collapse last Sunday Frank!! Good luck! :lol:

Kinda suspect it did Gertie!

Heard a bit of a bang at one point but put it down to you know... like a rock hitting the chassiss...... or summit......... :oops:

Now discovered I need a 34mm ( :shock: ) spanner/socket for the drop arm nut... didn't tell me that when they sold me the new drop arm did they!   :?

Ah well.. off to halfords it is then....

Skibum

Well, yes, what I meant was, I'm amazed it kept going, the crunching noise wasn't good!!
 :(bloodshot):

[Skibum346]

Well folks.. good news and bad news...

Got the swivels off... eventually after using a terribly clever two spanner technique to get ectra leverage (from a very nice man in Halfords!).    :D  

Got the bearing races out... through judicious use of a socket, extension bar... and size 12 technical adjusting tool (hammer).    :D

Got the new ones into the swivels...     :o,    destroying my 1/2" drive extension bar in the process  

Got the swivels back onto the axle and bolts tightened...  :D

Sadly... the "easy" option of changing the whole steering drop arm rather than faf about with a refurb kit.... has succeeded in destroying and outwitting a pulley wheel puller    :(bigshock):      If any of you fine folk can offer any suggestions, I'd be grateful cuz otherwise... the drag link is going back on and I'll do the refurb another time!    :(blackeye):

Alas... there... my energy has run out   :-$

And... tip of the day... don't work on yer respective beasties all day on the hottest day of the millenium... without a spot of factor 50. As I type the sun is sinking and all is growing dark around me... but I have plenty of light to type by due to the 100 Watts from my face that looks a bit like a well skelped @rse!!!    :(biglaugh):

With a bit of luck Chugaboom will be back on the road tommorrow with sterring that uses a steering wheel rather than a tiller!

Of to nibble on somefing nice and watch Bad Lad's Army... Have a nice night y'all!

Skibum

[Wolfie]

Got the swivels off... eventually after using a terribly clever two spanner technique to get ectra leverage (from a very nice man in Halfords!).    :D  

A common technique, but I always worry about breaking the spanner which is why I now have my modified spanner and pipe.

Got the swivels back onto the axle and bolts tightened...  :D

Did you manage to get hold of a spring balance? If not get in touch and I'm sure we can arrange something.

If any of you fine folk can offer any suggestions, I'd be grateful cuz otherwise... the drag link is going back on and I'll do the refurb another time!    :(blackeye):

Never had to do one myself, but have heard that they are a pain to get off. If you go down the ball joint rebuild route, have a look at this web page which shows a way of getting it alll back together.

Hope that the rest of the job proves less difficult.

Wolfie

[Skibum346]

Did you manage to get hold of a spring balance? If not get in touch and I'm sure we can arrange something.

No mate, couldn't find one anywhere. You gonna be in tommorow (Sunday)? I could maybe nip over and collect or... if your likely to be coming over this way...?

I drive past Hinckley daily so returning it would be no bother.

Kindest

Skibum

[Wolfie]

Yep, that'll be fine, have PMd contact details

Wolfie

[Skibum346]

Well...

I've just discovered that the brass seal retainer on the back of the swivel housing is handed... as in left handed, right handed or whatever the H*ll handed! And now that I've got the swivel housing, swivel and everything together... it's time to realise I got it the wrong way round!


 :(bigangry):


So... stopped for a coffee and a rant... fell better now...    :^o



Had to rig a tarp as shade and whilst it's keeping the sun off... it's doing a good job as a greenhouse!   :-#


Ahh... well... back to it....

Skibum

[Skibum346]

Sunday night, 20:45 - Stopped for the night.

Got both front hubs back on with no mishaps and feeling chuffed  :(biggrin):

Replaced the flexi brake pipes with longer stainless steel ones I've had awaiting a 2" lift. Saves me a job later.

Just got to put the calipers back on, connect them up, bleed the system then rebuild the steering rods & sort the tracking out... oh yeah... and I MUST remember to refill the diff!  :oops:

Can't wait to see what the diffirence is compared to the old steering....

Big thanks go to Wolfie for lending me a spring balance    =D>

Skibum

[Skibum346]

Nearly there!!!  

Hubs - Complete
Steering - Complete
New Front Diff Guard - Complete
New Axle Breather System (Wizardbilt) - Complete

Just got to put the brake calipers back on, fit the pads, bleed the system, set the tracking and road test my baby!

.... :oops:   Oh @rse....    Did I just say all....?!     8-[

Last night tomorow!

Skibum

[Skibum346]

I knew I shouldn't have said "all". Last night I finally got everything finished. Used an eezibleed to save my wifey a little effort and got the beastie out for a test drive....  All seems good so far...







Then I got to the end of our road and the t junction.... back off power, depress clutch and apply brake.... you know... that pedal in the middle... that sinks all the way to the bulkhead!

Luckily, no traffic and space to recover so I trundled on home and abandoned it.

Tonight I found out that one of the unions with a flexi pipe, whilst tight to a spanner... was providing no seal. so... made up a new set of brake pipes... bled the system.... checked the pedal had some pressure this time and the test drive went perfectly... no clicking CV... no tiller like steering... WOOOHOOOO!

Thanks all for yer brlessings and opinions... whilst I didn't "do fine" I did do OK. Due in no small part to your support. Thanks club!

Skibum

[missroadrage]

Well done mate knew you could do it

[Dirty Gertie]

Yay!! Well done Frank  :lol:  Are you and Cath doing Billing??

[Henry Webster]

I bought  my latest spring balance from a fishing tackle shop for less than a small round of drinks.  May be worth considering for the tool box.

H

[Skibum346]

Yay!! Well done Frank  :lol:  Are you and Cath doing Billing??

Dunno if Cath will be going but I probably will... not sure which day though. What are you doing?

Frank

[Skibum346]

I bought  my latest spring balance from a fishing tackle shop for less than a small round of drinks.  May be worth considering for the tool box.

H

Yeah... I went into what I thought was a fishing tackle shop (not my thing so not aware of any others in Rugby) and discovered it was a gun shop... don't suppose they have much need for a spring balance by the time they've pumped a few shots into the rainbow trout?!    :lol:

Skibum

[Skibum346]

Well done mate knew you could do it

Thanks chuck... Do you think I should start offering a mechanikin service?????!!!!     :lol:

Skibum

[Dirty Gertie]

Yay!! Well done Frank  :lol:  Are you and Cath doing Billing??

Dunno if Cath will be going but I probably will... not sure which day though. What are you doing?

Frank

Not sure if I'm going today or tomorrow yet; for the weekend; got a few logisitics to sort out, but I'll be on the CustomVinyl stand in the day, and partying on down in the gloaming! See you there!! :(biglaugh):

[scania]

will see you there Gert lol

I might be wanting some stickers lol, got a guy who insists on parking so near to my landie i have to get in passenger side and shuffle accross GRRRRRRRRRR.

does Lee do one that says

"Move over you ignorant lout"

he he
 :(scared):

[Skibum346]

Not sure if I'm going today or tomorrow yet; for the weekend; got a few logisitics to sort out, but I'll be on the CustomVinyl stand in the day, and partying on down in the gloaming! See you there!! :(biglaugh):

By the way... how's your own beastie?

What state is your diff & handbrake in?

**Still picturing you parking yer red Astra in amongst the gaggle of Discos at Bramcote!**    :P

Skibum

[Dirty Gertie]

does Lee do one that says

"Move over you ignorant lout"

he he
 :(scared):

Jude, if you want it, Lee can make it!  :D

Frank, H.L's all better now, she'll be there!! :lol: if you can't find us, give me a bell!!