Elementary Lube Question

[72bumbee]

I have been hearing a lot of squeeking coming from the front end as I slowly back out or pull in to the driveway. I think I need to grease something up front. Its driving me nuts, and I just had the brakes done up front. I was thinking about sitting in the engine compartment while the wife slowly goes up and down the driveway, but no life insurance prevents me from being too stupid. Any suggestions or helpful hints for me?

[fordman]

just grease everything with a zirt on it on the front end and see if it goes away. it is probably the king pins. but it could be the coil springs too. you never know. i'd do the king pins and steerign linkage and see what happens. then if it still does it. try tightening the coil spring nuts.

[72bumbee]

The brake guy showed me some movement in the passenger side. Not sure if it was a king pin, a steering knuckle, or tie rod??? It was behind the front passenger side wheel. Is this something I should deal with to quiet things down, or wait and see if the grease works?

[fordman]

he may have been refering to the radius arm bushing. that can squeak too. if its worn and loose it needs replaced. that will help it steer better too.

[72bumbee]

I thought all of our trucks were supposed to steer like that!!!! My dads old 67 was like navigating with a drift boat! When I drive, I never take my eyes off the road. Okay. Now I need to rustle up a jack and stands I suppose. After reading a few old posts, it doesn't sound too tough for me to do. I know the front end place wants well over a thousand bucks to do it!
Thanks again!
Steve

[george worley]

When you grease the 2 fittings on the kingpin jack it up so there is no weight on the kingpin. Keep puting grease in till you see it come out around the bushings. Greasing the kingpins will make it steer a whole lot easier if you don't have power steering

[72bumbee]

I need to save up my pennies for a floor jack and some stands. Can't seem to find those free on craigslist! Out of work all of NOV. so won't be buying many truck parts. I do have power steering, but It seems a bit squirrily on the road.

[austin]

you may also want check th radius arm braket my buddys pathfinder wore an elgongated hole in the braket and would squeak all the time

[Alvin in AZ]

x2 what ever'body else said. :)

I use 8x 8x16 cinder blocks and bottle jacks. :) Some are solid concrete 4x 8x 16 too.
Just about any jack size will do it 4,8,20 ton are the sizes I have and use 'em interchangeably.

I carry a scissor jack along with a 4 ton jack...
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/toolbox.jpg
The trick to the skizzor;) jacks is to remove the swivel thing on top and to make
sure the vehicle doesn't move more than an inch or it'll ruin it, right now. BTDT LOL :)

I never use jack stands since I don't have concrete to work on.
I own some jack stands that were given to me, he had asphalt and they would sink into
his asphalt during warm weather so gave them to me to try out, I don't like 'em at all. :/
I tried 'em and they are scary even on hard dirt. LOL :)
The base is so small and any digging into the dirt is -bad-. LOL :)

With cinder blocks you have to use some wood at the top between them and the steel
part that's resting on them. Scoot 'em around in the dirt to get them sitting level etc.

-------------------------------

Heck, for a thousand bucks a guy can buy another pickup! :/

A couple big wrenches are needed on my '75 Dent...
1+1/8" for the radius arm nut, spring and axle pivot nut and bolt. (3/4" bolts)
1+5/16" for the pitman arm nut.
Seems like it's a 1+1/16" socket was needed for the axle yoke nut.
All the rest are 15/16" or smaller.
(Please add and/or correct these sizes. I don't know everything nor do I own a Bump!:)

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/toolbox.jpg
That big ol' open-end wrench in front is 1+1/8" on one-end and 1+5/16" on the other.

The boxed-end is 1+1/2" on one-end and that's for 1" bolts and don't use anything less
for a trailer ball, danggit. :/ And double nut it like you mean business and throw the
stupid split-ring un-lock washer away! Please? :) Pretty please? ;)

Off work? :/ Turn your time into "saved money" instead of "made money"? :)
Wrecking yards that will let you go in and pull parts are cool as anything IMO. :)
You can fix that baby if you want to, all you gotta do is make up your mind you -can-! :)

Alvin in AZ