Ball joint, Hub assembly and axle u joint repair....

[maddogv21]

I needed to replace the Hubs, ball joints and axle u joints so I tore it all apart today in hopes I could get both sides done today, let me tell you.....a truck from MN is not easy to work on. I read through some of the write-ups guys did on here and they have it easy!!! I read through it and thought "this should be easy!!!!!!" yeah right!! everything was so rusted and "froze", like the u joints, the little c clips that hold them in, I had to spray with PB blaster (awesome product by the way) several times and still had to break all of them to get them out. the ball joints were ridiculous!! Thank God I had a ball joint press to get those out....they wouldn't budge even with a BFH!! all in all, I'm so glad I got one side done today, tomorrow is the other side.... shouldn't take as long cause I've been soaking everything in PB blaster....

Question about the dust seal, since they are pretty much useless anyways, cause even if I replaced them, in 2K miles, they would probably come out and pretty much be an axle hula hoop, is it bad that I just left them off?? I figured Id save the $30 and just not even buy new ones.

[NoRalPh]

The dust seal? At the end of the axle tube?

First, I don't think you should have to pay $15ea for them.. Are they really that much?

Second, I know what you mean,,, but,,, I'm not sure I'd actually leave them out.

[maddogv21]

Napa auto had them for 13 and change...after taxes it was $33 for two! I took them back, I didnt install them, so I hope it doesnt haunt me later on....Im done with the whole truck now though. Im so happy!!!! what a pain in the A$$!!! Finished everything and put a dual steering stabilizer on there from Rough Country.....It feels so good to drive it now!!!!!! I didnt realize how bad my parts were before....

[novemberdelta]

yeah all those seals are expensive..wanna say the last time i did one i had over $100 in seals.

[maddogv21]

I paid $49 for each knuckle seal at NAPA, cause no other parts stores around here.....it sucks!!

[novemberdelta]

well at least you should be good for a while now. and as far as that dust seal if you do mostly highway driving i wouldnt think it will make much difference. They don't last long anyways. If you do some off road driving you might want to have them, they dont really stop much water, but they do keep dirt and stuff out.