Today I put my on-board air system to the ultimate test. I repacked my left front wheel bearings using my system to run my air tools. If you haven't been to my website to my latest ooops photo, then maybe you should drop by there before continuing on. (home.mpinet.net/warmongr/)

Due to the fact that my left front tire was completely submerged in what appeared to be a harmless mud hole, I had to repack the wheel bearings in my left front hub. Normally I do this job at work where I have access to air tools in the shop. This time I used my on-board air system to do it.

To make a long story short, I was able to remove my left front tire completely with a 1/2" impact, remove the left front hub allen bolts with a 3/8" impact and remove the 22mm caliper bolts using my 3/8" impact. I then used the tools again to put the truck back together. The total elapsed time, 45 minutes including repacking and cleaning time.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this will be one of the best investments I have made on this truck so far. I will be posting photos during my next site update due next week. I hope I don't have the opportunity to trail test it in Tellico this weekend, but I will be prepared for the worst in the event of more bent tie rods and blown beads.

How many miles do you have on your truck, and how many times have you repacked the bearings?

This is at least repack #2... I haven't done it once, and I am almost at 60,000 miles! and I think I entered my first waterhole at 4000 miles!

Matt

I haven't done mine yet either. I think I'll just have the dealer or another shop do it. Wheel bearings can be tempermental and have to be done exactly right or you can really screw yourself over. I just don't feel comfortable doing that job myself, and there aren't many things I won't do when it comes to working on my own vehicles.

When are you going to add a welder to your truck?
Must be nice to have you own portable garage :)

Matt,

I am rather anal about my wheel bearing repacking. This time it really wasn't necessary which of course I discovered after I opened it up. I became anally retentive about it after it cost me $800 for a new set of drive axles on a previous 4WD. It drops in water, it gets repacked whether it needs it or not.

As for the bearings being picky, that is a fallousy. If you do the job right, it is not an issue. I have mastered the art on my X, just like I did on my previous trucks. A few bucks for seals and a little time now saves a lot of bucks and time later on.

As for the Mobi-weld, I wish I had one of those on Memorial day weekend. We had one of our guys break a tie rod and it would have been nice to have to get him out of the woods. Instead we had to jury-rig the truck enough to get him out of the woods to a location the truck could be picked up by flatbed. Believe it or not, short of a high output alternator, my truck electrical system is designed to run one.

I have seen some of the welders for trucks.
(Very cool)
The real big problem for me is I have no idea how to weld :)

Unless you're referring to the "truck eating mud pit" pic, I don't see the "oops" pic you're referring to...

Brent

Originally posted by rhombus
I have seen some of the welders for trucks.
(Very cool)
The real big problem for me is I have no idea how to weld :)



That doesn't stop KMA. Go for it!:smoker2:

I can't begin to say how cool it was when Pickachu broke his tie rod in Moab, and FSR was able to break out the welder at the campsite that night. It was supposed to be a temporary fit to get Pick's truck out of the desert, but he ended up driving all the way back home with it. (East coast)

You know how we all feel about KMA...
http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/contrib/dvv/bash.gif

That's the one.

The Warmonger

Originally posted by OffroadX
Unless you're referring to the "truck eating mud pit" pic, I don't see the "oops" pic you're referring to...

Brent

<cough> carry spare tie rods </cough> :sun:

Sync,

Actually I am in the process of redesigning the tie rods. I am working on seeing if I can build a heavier duty tie rod that will hold up a little better. For the time being though, I am carrying spare tie rods. Also a torch for those who don't so theirs can be fixed.

Originally posted by warmonger
Sync,

Actually I am in the process of redesigning the tie rods. I am working on seeing if I can build a heavier duty tie rod that will hold up a little better. For the time being though, I am carrying spare tie rods. Also a torch for those who don't so theirs can be fixed.

I read an article in some literature provide to me by Premire Power Welder when I inquired about their alternators, in which they beefed up tie rods by simply welding a piece of angle iron on top of the tie rod. The article was about trail fixes, but said that the tie rod was stronger after the fix than it was before breaking.