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CV Axle Seperation

Sorry lads, 'Pictures or it didn't happen.'

'Stray [truck] Strut.' Photo angle almost makes it worse than it is.
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2" lift blocks and Old Bilstein 5100
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New Upper Control Arms. I may still have the old style ones laying around. If so, I'll do a comparison picture post up.
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So, after several hours of struggling to free the upper control arm ball joint from the knuckle I had to pause and think all this through and came to a realization that ya'll probably wanted to say but, were too say. The root issue is the differential's positioning (lowered) and I'm chasing my tail and making a lot of expensive choices to get around the root problem. The courses of action and path I'm on will only lead to more problems down the line. I know this in the pit of my stomach. It is a problem that could be solved with a trip to the strip yard for a couple of mounts (one would have to be cut from a donor truck) but still and the applied talent of a professional welder.

So, despite my preference for the look of a lifted truck and after my fruitless efforts with pickle forks, pry bars, Jack stands, air chisel, propane torch (not hot enough) and a lot of 2.5 Lbs. 'hammer time' with only a destroyed ball joint boot to show for it, I quit. Done, put a pickle fork in me, the fun meter was pegged. Yes I'd watched the YouTube Video and did what I've done in the past to no avail. I had called called Les Schwab, made an appointment for help getting the ball joint free and they said NO. They'd look at it and one guy would take a shot at getting it out but, no appointment.

I called them back after the decision to stop with the lift crap and made an appointment for them to install a new ball joint and or control arm with ball joint (labor time saved probably balances the cost of a replacement unit). They guy recognized my voice, laughed and said, 'first thing Monday work for you?'

I pulled the bump stops and ordered shorter units. These are almost 3" and so I ordered a set that's about 2" instead. The longer 5100 shocks are in as I will turn up the torsion bars 2" to get the half shafts at a better angle until such time as I'm ready to correct the Differential height. Thinking mid-September. Once the truck is on the ground, the weight keeps the upper control arms off that travel limiter and I'm not going off highway any time soon.
 
Truck's back. Les Schwab guy said it was easy, I'd done all the hard work. Turns out all I needed was a bigger pickle fork. Didn't know I was behind in the pickle fork department. Coulda saved a little $$ but, they re-aligned it since I did turn up the torsion bars an inch or so. Drives straight and with the new bump stops, doesn't ride rough anymore. Little progress here and there. Heading out to the Salt Flats later this week. Fingers crossed it stays together.
 
Paveltolz said:
Truck's back. Les Schwab guy said it was easy, I'd done all the hard work. Turns out all I needed was a bigger pickle fork. Didn't know I was behind in the pickle fork department. Coulda saved a little $$ but, they re-aligned it since I did turn up the torsion bars an inch or so. Drives straight and with the new bump stops, doesn't ride rough anymore. Little progress here and there. Heading out to the Salt Flats later this week. Fingers crossed it stays together.
Click to expand...
so they installed the lifted UCA's so the cv shafts are in line with the front hubs and axle? that should keep it together just keep watch on how much suspension travel it has going over big bumps, rocks, or dunes LOL.
 
No, Les Schwab will not install parts they didn't procure and there's no way they'll procure anything from Rough Country. Return Authorization received from RC and these units are going back.
So, I had them un-screw what I did to the OEM upper's and I've only raised the torsion bars by about an inch (maybe 1.5"?) so they don't contact the travel limiters.
The new bump stops, not being 3" in height but, rather, just over 2" no longer rest on the lower control arms improving the ride.
Half-Shafts are almost level...still upswept a bit but, the bump stops will prevent any excessive upward travel which, I and BigT think, allowed the Tripot end to separate. No dirt roads and especially dunes until I source a competent welder who can re-attach a lower differential mount to it's correct position and raise the diff. back where it belongs. I will be driving it on the salt though.
2" Lift Blocks in the back coming out probably tomorrow since they aren't needed. Anyone want them?
 
Pulled the 2” blocks out. Easier than going in. Truck is sitting level again. After the August / September road trips are over I’ll find a shop that will do the welding and start on getting the differential back up where it belongs. Man it has been a long circular journey trying to unscrew this situation.
 
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