Yesterday coming home, I heard a roar from the front of the Dakota. Wheel hub. So today, I lifted the front end and sho nuff, passenger side is about to go full shopping cart. Drivers side isn’t “too” bad. Definitely gonna do both…
The garage was still fairly disorganized/messy. So I couldn’t pull the truck in to work on it. I ordered the bearings from Oreillys but they weren’t going to be in until 1-1:30. So I had about 5 hours to kill.
Decided to do some more clean up in the garage. Moved the Ninja into the pole barn, but had to jump start it. She wasn’t happy with the cold! She almost didn’t fire. She has a leaky fuel petcock, and so I figured the fuel dripped out slowly. Went to open the cap, and it’s stuck. Again. So I got it apart (previously drilled the hole to access the Philips screw under the fill cap). Took the lock/latch apart and did a quick and dirty clean/lube. It’s back to working.
Got the ninja running and into the pole barn, a couple empty totes out there as well, and stacked a few totes along a wall. Made room for the Dakota.
I was anxious to put the RocketSocket set to use.
I had to run to town real quick, so right after I pulled in, I got the RocketSocket set from inside the house, grabbed the 7/16-11mm and tapped it on the bolt.
I couldn’t get a straight shot at it due to the steering shaft. And couldn’t get the steering shaft off due to rust. I sprayed it with some PB and let it soak while I was workin the exhaust manifold. She went on crooked, but when I applied torque, she went CREEEEAAAAK, and broke loose. Then I grabbed the 10mm, and did the heat shield nuts where the heat shield rotted off. Snapped those to expose the 12mm (thought they were 11mm before). Got those broke free and removed. Then onto the lower bolt. That one didn’t need the RocketSocket. It broke free on its own accord (probably scared after seeing its mate thrashed by the socket! Lol)
Unbolted the down pipe, and removed the manifold.
That left a previously broken (by myself) bolt with about 1/4” of threads sticking out. Got an appropriate sized RocketSocket tapped onto it, and backed it out as well.
I’m freakin LOVING this RocketSocket set! Didn’t have to weld, didn’t have to grind. Didn’t have to drill or tap or ANYTHING! Definitely a time/money saver!
So, after all THAT was done, I tackled the lower steering shaft. It was more of a pain than the manifold. But, eventually got it. I’ll be pulling it again soon, and swapping it for a higher quality one, as the indexing is wrong on this one. The steering wheel it off about 45° to the right. It was the absolute CHEAPEST one on rockauto(?) at the time. So now, the truck steers immensely better, and has return to 0 now, whereas before, turning was “choppy” and the wheel stayed where you turned and let go (the transmission shop had my brother test drive it because they felt it was dangerous to drive! Hahahahaha).
And STILL didn’t get the hubs picked up from Oreillys. I wasn’t happy that they could only get masterpro, so I ordered timkin online for the same price. They will be here this weekend or so (it’s FedEx, so we shall see!).
Already took the truck for a test drive, and she sounds so much better now. No more clacking exhaust leak! The truck does have a hesitation, that I’m hoping this exhaust leak fixes lol. The code IIRC from 2 years ago was a bank 1 sensor 1 lean or something like that. I’m hoping it was sensing lean because of the leak at the head/exhaust manifold. Only time will tell. I’d scan it, but my scan tool was stolen while I was gone. So I’m flying blind for now until I buy another :/