A few front end questions

[Joe Broke It]

Hello all

The time has come for me to re-gear the front and rear end! Going from 3.07 to 4.56. Thank you everyone for the help and recommendations!

Ive hit a few gaps in my mechanical know-how, and am finding myself ignorant on a few things.

Firstly, the old gear oil was like a swamp green?? What in the world would turn it green like that?

Secondly, my ball joints are different stiffness. The driver side knuckle turns easily by hand, and the passenger side is much stiffer.

Thirdly, my ball joints aren't all the way seated into the axle housing, and the drive side knuckle isn't all the way torqued to the rubber boots on the ball joints.

I've included photos for your viewing pleasure

Could I please get some guidance on ball joints? How to tell if the knuckles are properly torqued on, how do I tell if they need to be replaced?

Also, how critical is it that I replace the axle oil seals? Think I could get away without replacing those?

I haven't started the rear end yet

 

[DEValken]

I can't answer the first three, but I would definitely replace the axle seals while you are in there. It's relatively easy from that starting position, and they aren't expensive. When I regeared I replaced all mine (Dana 30/35).

What diff's do you have?

 

[Joe Broke It]

I can't answer the first three, but I would definitely replace the axle seals while you are in there. It's relatively easy from that starting position, and they aren't expensive. When I regeared I replaced all mine (Dana 30/35).

What diff's do you have?

I'm putting an open back in in the front, eventually I'll do one of them fancy auto lockers. In the back in putting an Eaton TruTrac

 

[Ashim]

Old gear oil may have been contaminated. Replace the inner seals while the front diff is apart. Replace the ball joints with OEM Spicers. Also a good time to replace the hub bearings and axleshaft U-joints while everything is apart.