Who sells brass drifts??

iptman · 07-14-09, 01:19 PM

I've gone to Sears, Advanced Auto and called Pep Boys and no one sells them. I even called Harbor Freight in Hoodbridge and they don't sell them either. Any help would be appreciated. I got a date with my front axle Friday and would like to have everything I need for it.

Thanks,
Patrick

H2o · 07-14-09, 01:45 PM

harbour freight has them. i bought some there. I would look online thought. cheaper than driving all over creation.

Michael Hanson · 07-14-09, 01:57 PM

Any piece of brass rod the size you need should work. Mike

John Smith · 07-14-09, 02:15 PM

I bought mine at HF also. I would not trust the folks there to know what they have in stock.

iptman · 07-14-09, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Smith

I bought mine at HF also. I would not trust the folks there to know what they have in stock.

Good point. I might have to drive down to Woodbridge then.

StaleAle · 07-14-09, 07:44 PM

Sometimes craft and hobby shops have brass rod stock in various sizes and shapes...might be too small for your axle but worth a look if it saves a drive to Woodbridge.

Good luck with finding the drifts and with your axle!

colangut · 07-14-09, 10:18 PM

I think have one that I think I got at Sears? If you can't find one by then, I'll see if I can dig it up.

There used to be an automotive tool store in Merryfield called AET but I doubt that it's still there with all of the redevelopment going on there. Fairafx Auto's warehouse on Picket is called Economy Autoparts and they have a ton of tools on the wall behind the counter. I also saw a new Autozone going up in Fairfax City.

My friend Mike Cole is a Snapon guy in Oakton and he is awesome. He might have one. There is also a great Matco rep in Fairfax. I have contact info for both if your interested. Punches, etc are not that expensive from Snapon like wrenches and ratchets are.

Ditto on what was said about the "staff" of HF, they are more like a staph infection that a sales staff and that is putting it nicely. I've driven all of the way down there and gone home empty handed. Most of the stuff they sell is junk but a brass punch is a brass punch for the most part.

Blue77FJ40 · 07-15-09, 05:18 AM

I seem to remember getting some brass drifts at NAPA, and you can certainly order them from MSCdirect or McMaster Carr.

VanGo · 07-15-09, 06:35 AM

This is an active post right now in the 80 series forum. I am PP the guy right now for future PM.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/mud-bay-misc...ass-drift.html I hope this helps.

John Smith · 07-15-09, 07:48 AM

Patrick, If you don't feel like running around trying to find one just order this nice 3/4" x 8" one for $13.20 from MSC today and you will have it tomorrow. I am sure you can find something else to order to meet the $25 minimum order. If you are unfamiliar with MSC they may become one of your new favorite on-line stores. If you order before 9 or 10 PM you will have your order on your doorstep the next day via UPS with a very reasonable ground shipping charge.

Industrial Supply Equipment from MSC Industrial Supply

Search for item number 06521033

VanGo · 07-15-09, 08:32 AM

John,

This is also good to know thanks!

bkfj40 · 07-15-09, 12:26 PM

My local hardware store carries brass hammers...and I think I picked up a dead blow brass hammer from Harbor Freight. I like the hammers versus the drifts because I lose the drifts to easy, a hammer is a little harder to lose in the tool bag.

bk

H2o · 07-15-09, 03:38 PM

i have seen brass hammers at HF.

UncleJesse · 07-15-09, 09:50 PM

I was in the same boat a while back, looking for the 54mm socket and that elusive brass drift. Bought the socket from the sears store on rt 7 and the brass drift from HF. I will tell you that it took two trips to HF to find the darn thing. It is hit or miss with them. While @ sears though, I found out that you can order a brass drift set from thier website, an item they do not carry in the store.

With all of that being said, I live in Alexandria and if you need to borrow these two items I have them in my tool box

Butt Ugly Chuck · 07-15-09, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanGo

This is an active post right now in the 80 series forum. I am PP the guy right now for future PM.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/mud-bay-misc...ass-drift.html I hope this helps.

X2. 3pits is sending mine tomorrow.
Butt

iptman · 07-16-09, 02:46 PM

NAPA in Woodbridge had brass punches and a small brass hammer. Woohoo. Thanks for all the input guys. We'll see how this axle service goes tomorrow. All I have left to get is the grease from the Amsoil rep in Chantilly and I'm good to go.

Blue77FJ40 · 07-17-09, 06:31 AM

Make sure you use wheel bearing grease (also known as high speed) for the wheel bearings only and the the Amsoil rep sells you high pressure grease with at least 3% moly in it for the birfs and the knuckle bearings.

greytandy · 07-17-09, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue77FJ40

Make sure you use wheel bearing grease (also known as high speed) for the wheel bearings only and the the Amsoil rep sells you high pressure grease with at least 3% moly in it for the birfs and the knuckle bearings.

Or, red stuff in the bearings and black stuff everywhere else!

jmvar · 07-17-09, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue77FJ40

Make sure you use wheel bearing grease (also known as high speed) for the wheel bearings only and the the Amsoil rep sells you high pressure grease with at least 3% moly in it for the birfs and the knuckle bearings.

x2, pretty important to get the right grease in the right places.

If you are splitting the birfs from the axles to really get in there and clean them out (which you should), use a hose clamp to squeeze the clip to get them back on.

Take your time putting in axle seal.

Make sure you get the lower tie/relay rod bracket one all the way, if you don't get it on straight it can leave a small gap between the bracket and the knuckle. I am talking very small.

Did you get new knuckle studs? I got updated toyota ones that are really nice, they use a reverse torx sockets that let you make sure they are nice and tight. Not really mandatory to get new studs, just make sure yours are on tight and they didn't back out while you were taking the knuckle bolts off the tie/relay rod bracket.

Follow wheel bearing preload instructions from the FSM to the letter. Especially when it tells you to turn the hub assembly a couple of times before measuring preload.

Don't cut your hand like I did while opening up a bottle of gear fluid resulting in a $500 hospital bill (high deductible).

Those are the things that gave me trouble. If you have done this before and know all this already please ignore my post.

Cruiser804 · 07-21-09, 07:39 PM

I bought mine at the Sears at Fair Oaks Mall.

H2o · 07-22-09, 05:58 AM

i am in the market for another one since mine got ripped off when my truck got broken. sigh...

iptman · 07-22-09, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruiser804

I bought mine at the Sears at Fair Oaks Mall.

When did you get them there? I went there first since I'm right around the corner and they didn't have them. I think their tool selection sucks any way. All their larger size sockets are 12 point and they didn't have 3/8 drive 21mm for my CT4410. I had to resort to getting a 24mm impact socket for the diff plugs.

Cruiser804 · 07-24-09, 08:03 PM

If you are standing in the tire center with you back to the service counter there is a small wall facing you in the tool section, more or less around the corner from the wall the sockets and ratchets are on they where there.