83 K10 Spindle

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Boone83K10

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This past spring I swapped in rebuilt 10 bolt axles with 4.56 gears. Almost everything is new. The only things I didn't buy new were inner/outer front axles, rear axles, front hub assembly and spindles. I picked the two best inner axle/outer axle and rear axles from my truck and swap axles and used two best spindles. One spindle out of 4 was trashed, the threads were stripped.

I have noticed some wobble when driving. I attributed it to needing new tires and a professional alignment ( did a good redneck driveway alignment and it drives perfectly straight). I have only put 500 miles on it since I did the swap.

I decided to check the bearings. My front tires have play at 12 and 6, none at 9 and 3.

I took off the hub and the inner bearing inside surface and the spindle where it rides is blackened. Almost looks overheated. There was absolutely no noise from anywhere on the truck.

I will get pictures. I did everything to spec according the FSM I have. The only thing that was NOT spec'd was the outer lock nut. 205 ft lbs just sound ridiculous and I wonder if that is why one spindle has stripped threads.


Any body help me out. I am not sure what went wrong.
 

bucket

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Your up/down play would lean more towards a loose ball joint. If the bearings were loose, I don't think they would build excessive heat in just 500 miles worth of driving. Heat would come from bearings being adjusted too tight.

And when you get the bearings properly adjusted, always get the jam nut as tight as possible (within reason of course). Along with getting the little keepers in place.
 

Boone83K10

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I tightened according to FSM but you never know.They are new ball joints and I was thinking since the movements are just 12 & 6 that it could be ball joints.

But when the ball joint is bad, doesn't that throw the alignment wayy out? Truck drives straighter than our 08 tahoe.

EDIT: I don't see up and down movement, just when I grab tire at 12 & 6 and move it like if you adjusted camber.

I tightened outer lock nut to 100 ft lbs and there is still play at 12 and 6.
 

bucket

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These trucks can still drive well with a bad ball joint.

You need a helper to wiggle the tire while you look for what is loose.
 

Boone83K10

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Yeah, I know. Do you think I need new spindles or are they pretty resilient? They sure are expensive which is why I didnt buy new ones when I did the swap.

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Boone83K10

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@bucket, what do you think?

Inner bearing, spindle, outer bearing.

There is a lip for outer bearing on spindle that I can feel with fingernail.

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Honky Kong jr

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@bucket, what do you think?

Inner bearing, spindle, outer bearing.

There is a lip for outer bearing on spindle that I can feel with fingernail.

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Replace it. If you need one I have a few extras pm me your addy and I will send you one.
 

Boone83K10

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Replace the spindle?

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Boone83K10

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I videoed while I shook..its the upper balljoint

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Honky Kong jr

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I videoed while I shook..its the upper balljoint

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I'd still replace that spindle your there already and it's gonna come off anyway to do the ball joints I say joints because I would hope your gonna do both.
 

Boone83K10

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I took it apart and tried torqued everything to spec again. Still loose. The only thing I can think of is that I reused the adjusting sleeve that was already on the axle and not the adjusting sleeves that came with the ball joint. I found the NEW adjusting sleeves and will see if that fixes them.
 

bucket

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Did you adjust the sleeve, or leave it where it was before?
 

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