upper low balljoint 88 k5 couple questions

[LargeMouthFeaver]

Ok my upper and lower balljoints are shot.When i replace them are there any seals i should be buying for the axle? How are the wheelbeering asemblys on these. Are they a unit hub style or regular type wheelbearing u pack with grease and stick back in? Im hopeing to replace the balljoints today due to snow tomorow any feedback be greatly appeciated

I have 88 k5 stock 10 bolts with auto hubs

 

[shaun89]

there is a seal that goes around the outer short shaft that basically sits up near the wheel bearing seal. but most likely it will still be alive. and the wheel bearings are the typical old style hub. not a unit like in new cars/trucks. more of a mess but a lot less money. o ya, buy some latex gloves to pack the bearings. u wont regret it.

 

[dremu]

Eight bucks the 100 box. And *nitrile* rubber is preferable, IMHO, to latex -- I get a light reaction to latex, and these are stronger and more resistant to oil/grease/whatever.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37052

-- A

 

[shaun89]

good point!

 

[dremu]

Oh yeah, and you'll want an OTC 7080. NAPA has them.

http://www.otctools.com/products/detail.php?id=2295

And the auto hubs are notoriously unreliable, so you should at least budget the $80-90 or whatever a set of Warn Premiums cost. (You can swap them later, don't even have to jack the truck up or take the tires off, so it's easy.)

And speaking of Harbor Freight...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38335

And on sale even.

-- A

 

[LargeMouthFeaver]

couldnt remember my dam password dammit
well i got it apart today it was snowing on my head burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr cold dammit.
First tiem i took one these auto hubs apart had me confused for a min use to heeps. with unitbearings.

Can u tell me what the adjustment nut thingy is on the top balljoint ? why is it there what do i need to do to it? do i have to change the settings?

 

[4X4HIGH]

That is for preloading the upper ball joint. IIRC once you have the lower ball joint torqued to spec then you torque that spanner nut to 50 ft. lbs. then install the upper ball joint nut and torque it to spec.

 

[jonathon]

What size sockets are needed to remove the castle nuts off the ball joints? What about the size for the pickle fork? I wasn't able to get much help at the parts store

 

[kennyw]

What size sockets are needed to remove the castle nuts off the ball joints? What about the size for the pickle fork? I wasn't able to get much help at the parts store

Buy a set that covers 1" up to 1.5" you will need about 4-5 different sizes in that range.