Gangly
Well-known member
I was in Utah this week attempting a bow hunt in the Wasatch mountains with friends. On the evening of the first hunt, making my way across a ridge to a friends camp, the upper control arm on the driver's side separated, the CV axle got trashed, and the wheel was dang near at a 45 degree angle to the ground. I was able to get it towed off the mountain and into town about 3:00 am, and spent the remainder of the night in an O'Reilly's parking lot. Luckily, there was a Chevrolet dealership not to far away so I was able to get to the dealership and pick up a new CV and UCA. It would have been a few days before they could have gotten to the truck and I brought tools with me on hunt since it was a two day drive to get there, so I did the repairs myself in the O'Reilly's parking lot.
What's interesting is that the UCA ball joint didn't break, it just popped out of the bottom of the UCA. There was VERY LITTLE evidence of grease on the ball joint or in the socket, and you could see where the ball joint had warbled out part of the socket over time. I guess that's what happens over 186K miles of use
Big Kudos to O'Reilly's for letting me work on the truck in their parking lot. However, they made a $150+ off of me from the purchase of various tools, so I guess it was in their best interest anyways. Good thing there wasn't a Snap-On, Cornwell, or MAC truck nearby since I finally would have been justified in over-spending on various tools and the spouse couldn't complain, at least not tooooooo much, lol.
UCA Ball Joint Socket Warbled Out
Trashed CV
UCA and CV Removed, Suspension Disconnected
New UCA and CV Installed, Suspension Buttoned Up
After the failure to the driver's side, I had no faith in the passenger side holding up on the mountain roads so my hunt ended. I drove the truck home over the next two days, but I need to replace the passenger side UCA before doing anymore off roading.
New tools acquired from O-Reilly's (there were a few things I needed that I didn't have with me):
1. Titan pry bar (I actually love this thing, its pretty solid)
2. 21 mm wrench (didnt bother catching the brand)
3. 6 ton bottle jack; already leaking
4. Copper Anti-Seize; they were out of Nickle Anti-Seize
5. PT heavy hammer; not bad, feels robust.
6. Torque wrench; unknown brand.
What's interesting is that the UCA ball joint didn't break, it just popped out of the bottom of the UCA. There was VERY LITTLE evidence of grease on the ball joint or in the socket, and you could see where the ball joint had warbled out part of the socket over time. I guess that's what happens over 186K miles of use
Big Kudos to O'Reilly's for letting me work on the truck in their parking lot. However, they made a $150+ off of me from the purchase of various tools, so I guess it was in their best interest anyways. Good thing there wasn't a Snap-On, Cornwell, or MAC truck nearby since I finally would have been justified in over-spending on various tools and the spouse couldn't complain, at least not tooooooo much, lol.
UCA Ball Joint Socket Warbled Out
Trashed CV
UCA and CV Removed, Suspension Disconnected
New UCA and CV Installed, Suspension Buttoned Up
After the failure to the driver's side, I had no faith in the passenger side holding up on the mountain roads so my hunt ended. I drove the truck home over the next two days, but I need to replace the passenger side UCA before doing anymore off roading.
New tools acquired from O-Reilly's (there were a few things I needed that I didn't have with me):
1. Titan pry bar (I actually love this thing, its pretty solid)
2. 21 mm wrench (didnt bother catching the brand)
3. 6 ton bottle jack; already leaking
4. Copper Anti-Seize; they were out of Nickle Anti-Seize
5. PT heavy hammer; not bad, feels robust.
6. Torque wrench; unknown brand.
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