With as much as I have been working lately I've been neglecting the old girl, she deserves better than this. I finally got down into the garage Thursday after work and swapped in the non-USA carb I got from Kevin Rowlands. Seems to have more power with this carb, but the real problem is when I went back down to the garage to close up shop I saw a puddle of gear oil where the passenger rear tire was sitting. Back up to the parking area and found both rear seals leaking profusely.
I had never had an axle leak anywhere on the truck and this surprised me to find the thing leaking so badly so quickly. While wheeling last time at Rausch Creek in May my braking power had deteriorated badly. I had suspected the aftermarket master cylinder that was a few years old and had ordered a new one ($$$) from Toyota. I ordered axle seals from the dealer and got them Friday, and negotiated a day off with my boss so Saturday morning tore into the old girl.
Got the new master installed, and then addressed the axle seals. Not an attractive job what with having an Aussie locker back there. When I pulled the driver side brake drum off I found the front lining separated form its metal shoe!!! The passenger side brake adjusting screw was also frozen in its threads, surprise- I had a spare in the garage. Of course everything was soaked in gear oil, so there were several reasons for braking power gone away. In any event I got the locker disassembled, axles out, and new seals installed. Everything went back together OK but I couldn't find new lining in any of the local parts stores. The old girl is still sitting on jackstands waiting for new lining. I am hopeful to find lining somewhere here in Reading today (I'm writing this at work) so I can get her back on her feet.
I'm also waiting for the local driveshaft shop to assemble a new front driveshaft for me. Since the spring over I've been getting only one season out of the transfer case end U-joint because of the angle it works through, and that's using genuine Toyota ($$$) or good Neapco U-joints. We turned the knuckles during the spring over conversion so the axle end of the driveshaft isn't a problem. I'm getting a double cardan joint at the transfer end and hope (confidently) that my problems in that area go away.
So, if all goes well, the stars align perfectly, and I get some time between now and July 10 the piggy will be ready for the Coal Mine. I must say, a day without hearing the alarm clock at 3:45AM and with being able to sit on my back porch and drink a coffee was greatly appreciated. Been working a minimum of twelve hours seven days a week for the last five weeks and time in the garage has been non-existent. I can't wait to wheel next Thursday!!!! Hope there's a bunch of club members at the event. Gary S
I had never had an axle leak anywhere on the truck and this surprised me to find the thing leaking so badly so quickly. While wheeling last time at Rausch Creek in May my braking power had deteriorated badly. I had suspected the aftermarket master cylinder that was a few years old and had ordered a new one ($$$) from Toyota. I ordered axle seals from the dealer and got them Friday, and negotiated a day off with my boss so Saturday morning tore into the old girl.
Got the new master installed, and then addressed the axle seals. Not an attractive job what with having an Aussie locker back there. When I pulled the driver side brake drum off I found the front lining separated form its metal shoe!!! The passenger side brake adjusting screw was also frozen in its threads, surprise- I had a spare in the garage. Of course everything was soaked in gear oil, so there were several reasons for braking power gone away. In any event I got the locker disassembled, axles out, and new seals installed. Everything went back together OK but I couldn't find new lining in any of the local parts stores. The old girl is still sitting on jackstands waiting for new lining. I am hopeful to find lining somewhere here in Reading today (I'm writing this at work) so I can get her back on her feet.
I'm also waiting for the local driveshaft shop to assemble a new front driveshaft for me. Since the spring over I've been getting only one season out of the transfer case end U-joint because of the angle it works through, and that's using genuine Toyota ($$$) or good Neapco U-joints. We turned the knuckles during the spring over conversion so the axle end of the driveshaft isn't a problem. I'm getting a double cardan joint at the transfer end and hope (confidently) that my problems in that area go away.
So, if all goes well, the stars align perfectly, and I get some time between now and July 10 the piggy will be ready for the Coal Mine. I must say, a day without hearing the alarm clock at 3:45AM and with being able to sit on my back porch and drink a coffee was greatly appreciated. Been working a minimum of twelve hours seven days a week for the last five weeks and time in the garage has been non-existent. I can't wait to wheel next Thursday!!!! Hope there's a bunch of club members at the event. Gary S
