99 K2500 Burb Adventure/Camping/Hunting Rig

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BBslider001

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I am not sure if you got the steering kit or not, but if it were me (and it will be soon enough) I would get the control arms that already have ball joints and bushings installed. That way, you are just replacing control arms and you're done. It's fun putting life back in these older trucks. They really did build them well. They're just 30 years old is all LOL...looking good!
 

1952Chevy

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So the past week I've been doing the front steering/suspension, and brakes all the way around. Thankfully I've been riding the bike, so I have the time to work on the truck.

Also finally took care of the leaking power steering lines. Got all the p/s fluid cleaned up off the truck.

Tear down went well. Got everything out the first day. Now I'm working on install. So far I have the Pitman arm, idler arm/bracket, center link re-installed and sway bar bushings installed.

Side note: Removing the pitman arm was a pain in the ass. Had to unmount the whole steering box to fit the pitman arm puller in. But overall only took about 10 minutes.

I got the bushings pressed out out of the upper and lower controls arms, and ball joints out of the lower. Still need to remove the upper ball joints. Problem I ran into today, is that I ordered the wrong bushings for the lower control arms. So those should be in Friday.

Figured I'd get the brake lines and calipers in order while I wait on bushings. One of the caliper pistons is completely seized(I knew it was having problems that why I broke into it when I did). I tried everything I could to get the piston out, no luck. Buying new calipers tomorrow(only about 10 bucks more than a piston).

This week while I'm waiting on the bushings, I'm going to finish up with the brake calipers, put the hubs/discs together(all new w/new studs), tie rods built up, upper ball joints replaced, press in the upper control arm bushings in.

Basically my goal is to get it to where all I have left is installing the lower control arm bushings, then put it all back together, and tackle the rear brakes.
 

1952Chevy

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I am not sure if you got the steering kit or not, but if it were me (and it will be soon enough) I would get the control arms that already have ball joints and bushings installed. That way, you are just replacing control arms and you're done. It's fun putting life back in these older trucks. They really did build them well. They're just 30 years old is all LOL...looking good!
I could only find uppers, not lowers. But I ended up piecemealing my own kit together, mostly Mevotec TTX stuff, with a little bit of regular mevotech parts.
 

1952Chevy

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Finally got the front end rebuild done. It definitely sat on jack stands in my driveway for quite awhile. Once the new(proper) lower control arm bushings came in I got the LCAs on pretty quickly. Just didn't have a lot of time to dedicate to it at any point. Then after the front was back together it sat for another 1.5 months while I was out of town for work, before I was able to do the rear brakes.

Yesterday, I went to do the the rear brakes. Got it jacked up, took the wheels and wheel spacers off. Then took off the drivers side drum to find that the rear brake shoes/hardware are essentially brand new. So I will have everything for rear brakes in a few years when I need to do them. I figured if they were anywhere close to 1/2 worn I would just replace them, but that was not the case.

I stopped there and put it all back together, and bled the brakes as best I could. Flushed all the old fluid out, and got all the air out. Still have a pretty soft pedal, and the braking force doesn't quite seem what it should be. I have to take it in for an alignement anyway, so I'm just gonna have the shop do a bleed on it as well while they have it. I was kind of rushing to get it done, because I really needed the truck for this week.

Finally after not being driven since July, I was able to drive the truck yesterday. And it handles so much better than it did before, the front end is definitely more solid, I don't have any rubbing, or popping as I turn. So far I am super happy with all the new parts.

Also no power steering leak! I think that excited me more than anything( I replaced all 3 of the power steering hoses I can't remember if I put that in a previous post or not.
 

1952Chevy

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A while back I ordered a new headlight, and 4WD switch. Kind of forgot I had them. As I was cleaning the garage the other day I found them and set them somewhere I knew I wouldn't forge them. Then decided it would take 10 mins to swap out.
The headlight switch didn't have any issues, other than the rubber was torn on the main switch and looked bad. The 4wd switch was to attempt to fix my issues with 4wd. The light wouldn't stay on showing which selection was chosen. I never really could tell if it engaged 4wd or not. Worse yet I wouldn't know if it was back out of 4 LO and into 2 HI. So replaced the switch and everything works as advertised. Super happy that it was such an easy fix.

Now looking at tires. I'm between the BFG KO2's and Wildpeak AT/3Ws. Wildpeaks are about $150 cheaper for the set, as well as having a 55k warranty vs 50k for the BFGs. So still debating on those for the time being.
 

1952Chevy

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Unless you're married to RWL's, the Falkens are a better all around tire and will be much quieter on the highway.
I do love the RWL's but not a major concern. Gonna call my local Les Schwab this morning and see what they have available as well. I'm kind of leaning toward the Falkens, unless Les Schwab has something at an unbeatable price.
 

OutlawDrifter

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I generally run the Falkens or Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015's. The Yoko's are like a swiss army knife when it comes to a tire.

Currently trying the Hankook AT2 Xtreme tires on my wife's Tacoma Baja T/X. They are quieter than the BFG's that came off of it, time will tell how durable they are.
 

1952Chevy

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I generally run the Falkens or Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015's. The Yoko's are like a swiss army knife when it comes to a tire.

Currently trying the Hankook AT2 Xtreme tires on my wife's Tacoma Baja T/X. They are quieter than the BFG's that came off of it, time will tell how durable they are.
I had the G015's on my 08 Tahoe(RWD) and loved them, but they aren't as aggressive as I would like. I would also consider the Geolander X-AT's though, but they are even more expensive than the KO2's.
 

1952Chevy

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Ordered the Falkens. Les Schwab was ridiculous. They could order the Falkens but for 100/tire more than Tire Rack. Also highly discouraged me from ordering them and having them installed. The tires they quoted me were all more expensive than the Falkens, and brands I had never heard of. Installation was going to be twice as much as Commercial Tire. Overall not impressed.
 
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