NOOB Travel Prep

[SmallvilleKS]

Howdy All,
My wife and I just joined the ranks of Land Cruiser owners having bought a 1994 a month ago. Super pumped to find this site and I'm reading up daily to learn as much as I can but had a quick question. We're off to Utah in a week, (we'll be camping and mountain biking but only light off road use for the LC) and having just bought this I want to make sure I haven't missed any necessary PM. I've changed the oil, (Rotella T5 10w30), tranny fluid, and am gonna check the grease levels at each axle, (no factory lockers on this one). Anything that I'm missing? No clicking at max lock so the birfields should be ok. The one concern I have is the grease on the outside of the steering knuckles. I'm fairly saavy with engines but have little experience with drivetrain parts, especially 4wd. Through searching the forum I know there's supposed to be a thin layer on the sphere, which there is, but that the oil and grease shouldn't mix. How do I tell if that seal has let go and they're mixing? Thanks to all who answer!

 

[NLXTACY]

Welcome

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Lots of smarter than I people will chime in.

 

[kidglove13]

You will know if the seal is bad, it would be leaking and dripping from the knuckles more than likely.

And would be a greasy mess.

Post a couple of pics of your knuckles on here so we can have a look.

I would also grease your drive shafts, change the oil in both diffs and the tcase as well

 

[Michael Hanson]

Flush Rad. with summer coming on,flush with Both heaters on high. MIke

 

[Jrob80]

W E L C M E

Sounds like you have a good start, x2 on what both said above. Have you checked the PHH? while doing a radiator flush I would get that done if you haven't.

A buddy I graduated high school with lives in Whitefish he is a teacher and coaches wrestling! Have a fun trip.

 

[LandCrawler]

If you havent already, I would check the spare tire to make sure its good and holds air.

 

[SmallvilleKS]

We're back!

Nearly 2500 miles and not one problem. 'Cruiser is a wicked travel vehicle. Was comfortable on the highway, (got nearly 15 mpg!), and handled going up and down the rocky Mesa roads like a champ. Thanks to all you that offered up help on what to do to prep. Below I've attached a couple of pics to get some help to make sure that I don't have a leak inside the knuckle. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[rolliges]

Looks like a leak. Glad you had a good trip.

 

[Land Shark]

Yep time to tear her down and rebuild it

 

[yohavos]

Yep, you've got soup. Check out the FAQ (I'm sure you've seen it, but just in case): https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/78276-front-axle-rebuild-faq.html

Kits that include all the parts you'll need are available from several vendors here on MUD.


Any travel pics of the whole truck? I love seeing these beasts in their natural habitat

 

[SmallvilleKS]

Thanks for the heads up. Rebuild looks pretty straightforward, though if anyone is in Northwest Montana and wants to help, let me know! I'll need to get a few things before getting started. I've hit my limit on attachment sizes so I can't upload a picture of it out in the wild. It doesn't look like I can delete them, but if I hit ten posts I get more space? If that's the case, I'll get chatting and get some up ASAP.

 

[angerhater]

yep...gotta replace them seals, I got my kit from marlin, and did the wheel bearings while I was in there...a big greasy mess... but not very difficult....plan on 5 hrs each side , took me closer to 4 my first time...

 

[duggy]

It's eventual but hey, at least you caught it early!

 

[retrofive]

Thanks for the heads up. Rebuild looks pretty straightforward, though if anyone is in Northwest Montana and wants to help, let me know! I'll need to get a few things before getting started. I've hit my limit on attachment sizes so I can't upload a picture of it out in the wild. It doesn't look like I can delete them, but if I hit ten posts I get more space? If that's the case, I'll get chatting and get some up ASAP.

Soup yes. Sounds like agood trip. I love traveling in mine when I can afford the gas

Hit 10 posts or buy a star (worth every penny IMO)

 

[ToddD]

You should be able to upload photos to photobucket or a similar site and embed them in the thread, that's what I do. I don't upload attachments.
Congrats on the Birf soup! I'm about to tear into my as well.

 

[kilrspd]

Howdy All,
My wife and I just joined the ranks of Land Cruiser owners having bought a 1994 a month ago. Super pumped to find this site and I'm reading up daily to learn as much as I can but had a quick question. We're off to Utah in a week, (we'll be camping and mountain biking but only light off road use for the LC) and having just bought this I want to make sure I haven't missed any necessary PM. I've changed the oil, (Rotella T5 10w30), tranny fluid, and am gonna check the grease levels at each axle, (no factory lockers on this one). Anything that I'm missing? No clicking at max lock so the birfields should be ok. The one concern I have is the grease on the outside of the steering knuckles. I'm fairly saavy with engines but have little experience with drivetrain parts, especially 4wd. Through searching the forum I know there's supposed to be a thin layer on the sphere, which there is, but that the oil and grease shouldn't mix. How do I tell if that seal has let go and they're mixing? Thanks to all who answer!

just wondering where in utah did you go?

 

[SmallvilleKS]

We spent two camping in Salt Lake, then headed down and stayed two says in Kanab. We then headed over thru Zion towards St George, but decided to go check out the Gooseberry Mesa and camped out there for two nights. Then a night in St. George and back home! Zion and the Gooseberry were by far our favorite parts.

 

[SmallvilleKS]

http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg603/SmallvilleKS/utah.jpg Here we are up on top of the Gooseberry Mesa. Sits just shy of a mile high so the views are not to shabby! The mountain biking was pretty wicked up here, completely different form what we were used to.

 

[TeeDiggs]

Sounds like a great trip! Best of luck on the rebuild, mine's not leaking but I'll get there someday.

P.s. moving to Missoula in mid-June. Never been out your way before!

 

[SmallvilleKS]

Cool! Missoula is a cool place. It's not quite as pretty as up here, but you get all the same outdoor options with a decent sized city nearby. I grew up in Kansas City so moving to a town of 5,000 was a big change. Hopefully you don't mind cloudy weather though. The sun is hard to find from Oct. thru June!