Long time no update - been working alot, getting my house ready to sell, and been replacing the suspension on my truck.
I got under the front end and found both upper balljoints have torn boots, one of the outer tie rod ends has a born boot, and both of the inner tie rods are missing the clamp around the dust boot that looks like a CV joint.
So I ordered all new Moog front end pieces, as well as Bilstein shocks all around.
I did the easiest project first - I installed the rear shocks:
I decided just to replace the entire upper control arms as the prices weren't that much more then the pressed in balljoint - plus I installed a set of Bilsteins up front.
Overall the front end replacement was too terrible - it just took freaking forever.
Pressing out and pressing in the lower balljoints really is what took the longest as I've never had to press them out before. I usually just have to unbolt them/cut the rivets for them.
So I took it for a very quick test drive - everything seemed okay - going over bumps there is no more squishy sounds. As the stock shocks with 194k on them where completely shot!
Now for some pics:
When I finished up installing the front end - I was really tired and lowered the truck down.
I ended up snapping one of the adjuster screws on the torsion keys clean off the thread.
So I ended up ordering a new screw and the retaining nut as well.
Since I don't have a welder - I ended up ordering the OEM tool brand Torsion arm loading/unloading tool - I got it for $62 off ebay - so I can't really complain about that.
I spent last Friday under the truck. I used the tool to compress the Torsion arm key upward and got the snapped bolt assembly loosened up enough to use a dremel to try and cut through the bolt.
I got half way through it before I ran out of room for the dremel - I then used a jig saw with metal cutting blades and got another 1/3rd of the way though it - but then snapped both blades that I had.
At that point I decided to get out the big gun - my angle grinder with a grinding wheel and decided to cut the end off of the retaining nut assembly and almost got it out - I ended up having to round off 2 of the edges of the retaining nut and finally it dropped out of the frame - I got the new nut/bolt installed.
Some pics of the carnage:
