"Wheeler's Anonymous"

haha I was just talking to @MadTaco461 about that yesterday...I haven't changed it out yet but plan on it this week, to see if that fixes it. I'm skeptical though because if I flex the suspension with my jack, it doesn't make the noise...but if I accelerate or reverse it does. Makes me think it's drivetrain related or something to do with the bed possibly

but yeah either way I want to eliminate that as a possibility and swap in the appropriate sized bushing sleeve

 

Changed out the rear shackle bushings and sleeve...the old ones looked fine upon removal but replaced them with the correct sleeve anyway. Unfortunately the popping is still there, as bad as it was...back to the drawing board. At least I can cross that off they list

 

So nothing but problems today. My reversoir mounts and LCA skids came back from powder coating yesterday, and they took $20 off my bill. With that 20 I bought stainless steel hardware to replace the rusting hardware I had. Problem #1, once I got the first skid reinstalled, I noticed a mark on the other skid that had been coated over. Sure enough, it looks like the cam bolts are running the skids, any of you running LCA skid having this happen?



Problem #2. I determined I wanted to remove the skid to prevent destruction to my brand new powder coat. Immediately as I was trying to remove the nylock nuts holding the skid, it was clear they were binding. The nuts I had hand-tightened with 3/8 drive ratchet would not come off with a 1/2 inch breaker bar! I had to use breaker bar with a steel tube over it to leaverage the nuts off, which took so much force, it bent and sheered the 3/8x4” bolt! I’ve never seen this happen with nylock nuts before. Its the same hardware spec I’d used previously, just stainless steel. I hand tightened them on to ensure they didn’t cross thread. It was once I tried to loosen them that they became tight. I guess I’ll have to use different hardware or reuse the old rusty ones.

 

Stainless steel hardware tends to gall and that's why the nut would not come off. Always, Always use anti seize on stainless steel hardware. Sorry to give you this news a bit late.

 

Luckily I was able to return the remaining 4 bolts and nuts that hadn't sheered. But I was definitely surprised. Hold long does this seizing reaction take to occur? I had them hand-tight for a matter of 20 mins before I was trying to take them off.

 

Those LCA skids shouldnt be making contact with the cam bolts...if you were to make contact against a rock (what they're supposed to protect from) that could end up being real bad if they got smashed into the cam bolt.

Is it the same on both sides? I can't imagine they were designed to be that close to the bolt

 

I've noticed the same thing on my truck and where I work. Typical steel fasteners rarely gall (at least in my experience) but stainless fasteners have a small but greater chance and nylocks increase the chance even more. Always meant to look up why and seeing your post reminded me to.

https://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/materials-and-grades/thread-galling.aspx

 

Could switch to grade 8. Not as good of corrosion resistance but the yellow zinc works a while in socal weather.

 

Yeah this is definitely what happened. First time I've come across it in the time I've spent wrenching on stuff. Probably going to stay clear of stainless hardware for my application.

The wear mark is present on both skids, which have never been hit. I'm unsure now as to how I'll make them clear. Notching the skids would be the obvious choice but I wish I could have done that before I had them powder coated.

 

Nah, I don't need grade 8 for these lol, maybe grade 5. Honestly I'm just going to clean the old hardware with oil and a wire brush.

 

Oddly enough, I was romping around in some big ass water pools on the street during the downpour we got a couple days ago...and the popping from my rear end is gone. No idea if coincidence or not but that's strange. I'm sure it'll be back.

Anyhow...anyone interested in a quick run out to Rowher or Drinkwater tomorrow morning? Want to test my snorkel out a bit more in the mud and rain water.

I know this thread is mostly dead but figured I'd throw it out there lol

 

yeah it looked like rain was in the forecast but now it saying it's just going to be cloudy, at least out this way (north LA county).

I've got a lot to do still with my truck too...well now that the one issue has sort of resolved itself I can cross that off for now. But my front diff drain plug is stripped so I need to chisel that fucker off, gotta fix the rear drain plug with my dremel since I've restructured it on more than one rock....oh and the cross member that holds my IFS skid is bent to hell so I need to bend that in place so my skid fits the right way lol. I should also try and straighten the skid out but tried using a BFH and it didn't work...just succeeded in pissing off my neighbors with the noise

Trying to take it easy on the harder stuff until these little things are sorted out since they seem to be compiling up lately

 

picked up a carrier bearing drop kit I should put on as well...couldn't find one for 1st gens but the CB mount looks exactly the same as the 2nd gens so I'm going to see if it'll work. It's just a little metal spacer so I don't see why it wouldn't

 

@oni06 how's the house stuff coming along? You have any time to hit some trails this month?

 

That makes sense, I'll give that a try... I was just hammering it on the driveway as best I could with my 8lb sledge but I'll probably pick up a bigger one and some planks

 

I wish, I’ve been wanting to check that area out. I’m going to lie low and wrench on the truck some. Hopefully get some things off the list.

 

I’m heading up to Big Bear next Saturday the 8th for the day to run some trails. Hoping for some extra snow this week. Apparently 8” of snow last night on the mountain. Gonna bring my 3 year old daughter and my buddy and his 3 year old daughter. Probably gonna do Gold Mountain and John Bull. Never have run the gate keeper of John Bull yet so I’d like to try. If anyone is interested, lemme know.

 

Madison has December nights on Saturday.

I just checked the schedule.