Volunteer for fzj80 front axle/birf rebuild?!?! (Hou, TX)

[richxd87]

ALLRRIGGHTTYY, finally gonna get to it this weekend if the parts are here friday.
Will these brass drifts/punches work: Solid Brass Punches — 3-Pc. Set | Chisel, Punch + Stamp Kits | Northern Tool + Equipment

Also, do any of you locals have a inner axle seal press/installer/doodad that I can borrow?

Thanks!
Richard

 

[richxd87]

What's a good degreaser you guys would recommend that I can pick up off the shelf?

Richard

 

[Sc0-]

I have to scrounge around in the garage but I have a set of bearing/seal installers and a seal puller.

Also have the OTC tool to seperate the tie rod ends.

Decided on how to do the Castor Correction?

 

[ranma21]

I remember using the purple color bottle degreaser from walmart I think it was made by castrol. Don't forget the brake parts spray cleaner. Wish I have time to give you a hand. Autozone has the seal installer it will be very handy for the bearing race install you can loan it for free. Good luck

 

[ghbyram]

Those drifts should work well. That larger one that is even diameter will work well for driving races if don't get the seal/race driver. I think that tool is worth it to get for the oil seal though.

That purple stuff works amazingly well for de-greasing but I worry about residue with that. I soaked my birfs in mineral spirits and used brake cleaner where I needed a spray cleaner. I have a gallon or so of the MS just waiting until I can get it to the hazmat recycling. What part of Houston are you in?

 

[richxd87]

Sc0-I've decided I will do the landtank castor plates, but I'm going to give it a few more months and see if I want to stick with 850 springs in the front or go to 850J. I have the heavy/med combo now and the front is still a bit lower. Maybe just add a trim packer?

I've read about the purple Castrol Super Clean, gonna look for it today at the local stores.

I'm located just north of the Heights on Shepherd and 610.

 

[Buckru]

Get some mineral spirits for degreasing. Cheap and easy to find. You don't have to seperate the tie rod when doing the nuckle service. It makes the job much easier. One of the best degreasing tools I've used is a palm sander ratchet strapped to a 5 gallon bucket with your degreaser of choice.

I wasn't sure whether you were waiting to do the entire process or the nuckle job is still happening this weekend.


Buck

 

[richxd87]

hah, i like that palm sander idea! So I should use mineral spirits to soak the axle/birfs in instead of diesel?

I was planning on using the purple degreaser just to spray on the outside and knock off some of the crud before I dig in to provide a cleaner work area...

EFFF. just remembered i left the battery to my palm sander with the drill at my girlfriend's apt... IN ABILENE!! lol oh wells

 

[Buckru]

Diesel? You must love a smelly work area.

Use whatever you want as far as degreaser goes but mineral spirits is cheap and can be purchased in a large container. I believe theres a Lowes and Home Depot within 2 miles of you. Use it and brake cleaner to clean everything.

I would drop by the local car wash the night before, hit the nuckles to nock off any goup and then start the tear down.

Buck

 

[richxd87]

hah, yeah the diesel i saw in some of the rebuild tutorials. ill def give the mineral spirits a try, it'll be less odor and safer!

 

[richxd87]

end of day one - worked about 3 hours and got down to a bare inner knuckle housing. what a dirty greasy job!!

issues:
first the stupid grease cap wouldn't come off! doesn't look like it ever has! i booger'd it up a bit but i think its still fine...

cone washers... a pita at first, weren't coming off. hit it with some pb blaster and and a brass hammer to the flange itself alternating with the brass drifts to the stud heads and they came out. no need to over power!! patience was the key!

my assistant approves!

anybody that wants to come by and check it out while i'm working on it tomorrow is welcome! gonna clean some parts, take down the other side, and reassemble. I thought I would need assistance, but i don't think its really a job 2 ppl could do imho... besides the guidance and pointers of course.

oh yeah, buckru, mineral spirits was $15 bucks a gallon!! went with a gallon of diesel instead... lol


Thanks for all the help MUD!!
Richard

 

[Buckru]

Good job.

Spirits as compared to a degreaser is what I was referring to. But yeah, if you canstand the smell it's cheaper.

Buck

 

[richxd87]

Ran into a problem yesterday while reassembling the front end. The inner wheel bearing race had worn the hub by quite a bit that the new race dropped right in and spun freely while seated against the collar. Scotia came by to assess the situation and luckily he has a spare axle hub that he's getting for me so hopefully we'll finish it all up today... I'm sooo ready to get this thing driving again!

Richard

 

[Sc0-]

All Finished up ?

 

[duggy]

got it all buttoned up right after you left. he put the sliders on yesterday and they're lookin great, but were a pita to get lined up.

 

[Sc0-]

Kool, my replacement set arrived today... Think I will wait until my brother is around until I put them on as two people does sound like it's the way to go. (put my rear bumper and front bumper on solo)