Squeaky Penguin's (Trip Reports) Build Thread

Remote BLM roads, cool thunder storms, and a color matched stock grill and corner lights.

 

Nice.

 

Love your build! Nice shot!!

 

Looking at this with my phone. Who's the jerk that put a huge penis shadow in the bottom of the pic.

 

A huge penis shadow can only be cast by one thing.....

Just sayin'

 

Hey Brett question for you. I could buy Bamatoy 4x4 hubs and throw them on my spindles. Or go a cheaper way and pick up a used set of already 4x4 spindles.

They question is how long does those bearings last in the hubs before replacing them? If I get used and the bearings never been changed then I'm thinking buying new hubs from Bamatoy would be worth it in the long run. Thanks Bud!

 

Does he even sell hubs for first gens? Unlike the 2nd gens, 1st gen hubs/bearings are pressed in and a major bitch to replace. Buy some 4x4 spindles and leave well enough alone. Just make you sure you get the configuration you need: for example mine are ADD without ABS.

FWIW, I've never seen someone on here have front wheel bearings go bad on a 1st gen. One of my spindles/bearings is original with 252K on it, and the other is a junkyard spindle I threw on with no concern about the bearing. Working fine.

 

Shit I was gonna ask you about this... I've never experienced a wheel bearing going out but I think my T4R is. It's hard to tell because these bald KM2s are loud as hell but it howls when I'm turning to the right and the vehicle leans towards the left...

 

Ok I'll go with the junk yard spindles from the same truck I'm getting the parts from. It only has 117,000 miles on it. Yeah I'll need ADD without ABS as well. Thanks Brett.

 

Here's a mini write-up on how to fix your problem:

Step 1: Throw KM2s in the trash
Step 2: Repeat Test with proper tires




In all seriousness, my KM2s did that too. I remember them making more noise in a corner.

No worries! Let me know if you ever want/need a hand.

 

I had a front wheel bearing go out. At 234,000ish. But mine has locking hubs so maybe a difference? In fact, one in front and one in the rear at roughly the same time. Both on the driver side too...

 

haha that's the plan! I'll keep ya posted

 

So, I need to do something about my rear diff drain plug. Dragged the ring and plug across so many rocks, I can hardly get a socket in there anymore. On top of that, on several occasions now hitting the diff has resulted in loosening the plug.



Not going to put a diaper on there and loose precious clearance, just thinking about welding up around the ring. Any thoughts? Do the front diff allen head plug swap to the back?

 

You would lose clearance but wouldn't it be worth it to not be able to really screw up your diff/plug?

 

Allen heads get messed up too and then you're really screwed. Get a new drain plug and weld another ring around what's left of the old one.

 

I'd put an allen head on there and then weld around it.

 

I don't know.... I had some allen head screws on skids that were a nightmare. I think I'd rather take a file to a hex then deal with jacked up allens. About all I've been able to do with them is pound a size too big torx bit in them and that wouldn't work with anything that had significant torque.

 

Hmmmmm I dunno then

 

No, still not worth it. As it is, I hit my diff more than anything, and getting stuck more often due to an added low-hanging skid would not be desirable in the least. Bottom of the diff is quite strong, not concerned about causing damage to it. Biggest concern right now is that hitting it on rocks had caused the plug to loosen, which could result in a grenaded 3rd.

Thanks for the input on allen heads. I was thinking the smooth head would resist loosening better. Probably just go buy a new plug, weld up the ring, and keep an eye on it more in the future.

I guess worst case scenario with either is to weld a nut to it, but looks like I'll be avoided the allen. Also, no way are you getting a file on that hex head with even my flattened ring around it.

 

True. Last time I did my diff fluid I was pondering taking a dremel to it. I meant filing the material away but you're not going to get a regular file in there.
I ended up getting the socket on there after all but next time??