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So now that im done with the electrical upgrades, the next step is to inspect my neglected axles. So, tuesday i got the truck up on jackstands!  Pulled the steering off so i could inspect the ARB. it has seen better days!  I am replacing the whole steering setup with the system the Boulder Proof HD Steering Kit from Broncoair. Unfortunately backordered for a couple weeks due to COVID, but ive got enough to do just yet that it shouldnt delay me anyway. So i took a look at the ARB, to see if i could find my air leak. Figuring after 15 years an o-ring was leaking. Well.....  ...the copper supply tube is ruptured, so that needs to be replaced. So the ARB is coming out. Breaking it down:  Probably 5 years since i inspected the bearings. Was super happy to find nice clean grease!  spindle seal is shot, on both sides  Difficult to see, but i cracked both upper kingpin bushings, so theyll need replaced  stripped bare, ready to start cleaning the housing:  parts!  As of today, the knuckles, wheel bearing hubs, spindles & caliper brackets are now cleaned & painted!  and i got my new collar for the ARB in the mail yesterday too  So now im putting together a shopping list of parts that i need to get it back together. I was looking at bronze kingpin bushings. Pricing seems to be all over the place, with RuffStuff @ $90, Branik @ $95, Ballistic @ $100, TMR @ $130, NWF @ $149, ECGS @ $159, etc etc. I cant see much of a difference in them, so not sure why the price is all over the place like that. This is the second set ive cracked, so i think while its apart im gonna upgrade to em. Probably going to run them in conjunction with the springless kingpin bushing kit from PartsMike. All my bearings & kingpins are in good shape, with the exception of the lower kingpin bearings. After cleaning theyre looking a little rough so im going to change them, and get new seals. upper kingpin seal, Spicer 620058 lower kingpin seal, Spicer 41777 for the spindle seal i was going to use the Spicer 708084 kit, which is the updated '2 seal' version for the 92-97 Ford axles, as im pretty sure this will fit the 79 D60. Comes with spindle bearing. Spicer 708084 The hub seal should be the same as pretty much every other D60 out there, National p/n NS 415960 From there i think im going to order a set of the 35 spline Yukon locking hubs for street use. The Spicers, while bomb proof, dont lock/unlock very easily, and im just tired of always disassembling them to get them to work again, so theyre getting replaced. I also need to spec and order a new pair of shocks for the front. So yeah, lots of parts to buy! Im gonna try to get everything ordered this weekend, and then next week yank the ARB out, change the orings, replace the collar and reinstall. If i get done before i get my parts in, then i guess ill move to the rear and start taking that apart (it needs wheel seals and rotors). Im hoping to drive this thing down the road before Xmas! Comments are closed.
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