New LX450 owner

[girupb]

Thought I better introduce myself here. I just picked up a 240,000 mile 97 LX450. I've been catching up the maintenance and ordering a crap ton of parts but so far so good. I'm hoping to tackle the knuckles, radiator and PHH this weekend depending on parts arrival and locating a hub socket as the one I ordered won't make it in time. (if one of you has one to lend I would certainly appreciate it and am glad to work out some sort of deal with you)

Lots and lots more to do but hopefully I will have tackled the critical items by the end of the weekend though.

I'll try and get to one of the gatherings here soon and if any of you are near the Inverness/Meadowbrook area hit me up.
Brent

 

[Land Speeder]

And before anyone tells him that I have one... @girupb has already asked me. Mine will be in my toolbox on the trail this weekend.

Brent, Honestly, if you've never torn in to the front axle, it will take maybe two days in the driveway, with LOTS of mess, so be ready. Also.... WELCOME to the sickness!

 

[girupb]

Going to take your word for it and postpone.

 

[girupb]

Phh 0
Me 1 minus some skin

 

[Land Speeder]

NICE! You must have skinny long arms!
Did you do the hoses on the firewall as well?

 

[girupb]

I have a nice long set of needle nose pliers(one straight and one 45deg). I have not done the firewall hoses but I probably should. I plan to do the fuel filter while I'm there and I gotta figure out the power steering leak(that frame horn is covered in grease). Valve cover is leaking pretty bad also. Bunch of crap to get done.

 

[justbecause]

The advice I got was to disconnect the rear heater "one more hose to leak and kill your cruiser" he said... I never had the cruiser below 20* but at that point I didnt think another heater was necessary. Then again I didnt have a backseat passenger that could do more than bark.

 

[Land Speeder]

Good advice, those hoses are often forgotten but JUST as important as the PHH hose, sine they are on the same "rear heater" system. As are the hoses under the truck as they enter the floor.
"1st world problems"

 

[girupb]

Is there anything easy to do on these? Just wrestled out the radiator and it took me as long as the PHH. I suck at wrenching but Dang! I'm not sure how much more hose I'm going to replace for now. The PHH was not even swollen. Might have to spread some of this out. Thanks for the heads up though I will have it on my list.

I have a pretty good power steering leak going on as well. I need to get her back together and clean that area really good and try to see where it is coming from. At the current rate my frame will never rust. It has the best oiling system I ever seen.

Do you guys normally replace the water pump while you are there?

Sorry for the rambling. I'm a tired fat man.

 

[Land Speeder]

Is the PS leak coming from a hoes? Probably. So just replace them. pretty straight forward, but MESSY. Either do it in the grass or buy two blitz catch pans. Buy the hi-pressure line from rock-auto for like $45 or something, and then buy the 5/8" and 3/8" from your favorite parts store, use grease to SQUEEZE the SAE hoses on the metric fittings...but they work. Takes about 2 hours when you remove the battery/tray and PS reservoir for ease of use.
I can help one day, but sounds like you got this!

 

[girupb]

My ASSumption too. I will get will get it figured out. I'm off Friday so hope to put the cooling system back together and solve the Steering leak and maybe have time to blow the dust out of the old camaro. Any time you want to come drink a beer let me know. I'd like to check out the trail rig.

 

[girupb]

Got the valve cover gasket, plugs and wires, power steering hoses, radiator hoses, radiator, and some misc vac lines done. It was a little bit like work.

Ive got to replace the fan clutch, replace seat gears and caps, distributor o-ring and axle service, replace vsv, plus all fluids and I hope this one is good to go for a bit.

If you had to pay labor to do all of this it would be rediculous. Lots of lessons learned on this one. If I buy another it will be well maintained or cheaper than dirt. Now I know what you meant Eric.

 

[girupb]

Brent, Honestly, if you've never torn in to the front axle, it will take maybe two days in the driveway, with LOTS of mess, so be ready. Also.... WELCOME to the sickness!

12 hours of fun and some torn up hands.

I opened up the rear axle as Eric already knows and found the seal in the spindle has been shot for a long time allowing gear oil to wash the grease out of the bearings. Looks like I have another project albeit much less involving than the front.

I'm running down a high speed vibration. Need to inspect the ujoints also. Probably do need to put it on a lift and give all the suspension a good looking over and a wiggle to see what is worn out. My luck I will get all this done and blow the HG.