I agree totally but right now I'm sitting at 400,000 kms on the old girl and everything other than the front shocks and obviously the front shaft is factory original. The front end has never been apart, unit bearings, axle joints, tie rods, ball joints, everything is as delivered when I bought the truck with 17 kms on it.

When the time comes, I will drop a free spin kit onto the front and be done with it, until then the shaft is simple to replace. The mileage I get per tank more than makes up for it so for the most part, I'll call it even.

Jeff

 

You are still on your origional trackbar???? In 02 I factory ordered my truck in Calgary and put the first 40K on the truck in the first two years. the track bar was gone at 20K , front axle seals went at 25 K (almost sold it right then and there it ****** me off so much , comming from toyotas this stuff never happens) and I brought it in just before the warrenty was up for a general check in 05 approk 42K and the 4 balljoints needed to be replaced .Keep in mind also this truck has never seen a dirt road or a winter snow flake. I find it hard to believe at 400K nothing is gone but I suppose it is possible , you are doing good shes a keeper.
Problem is with removing the shaft all the time is someday you will need it and it won't be there been there on a wet lawn with everyone laughing at me .
Also removing/installing the bolts for the shaft on the TC is a pain in the ***. Another thing is the straps on the front diff are a one time use as they strech when they are torqued , if you keep reusing them bad things happen (ask me how I know). Also remember to clean the strap bolt holes and bolts good with brake clean and use blue loctight on them and use the correct torque on them.

 

Factory track bar, factory everything. Don't get me wrong, she is not in factory new showroom condition, it doesn't steer like she did new. The shocks died about a year ago to be honest. When I had new tires installed about 80,000 kms ago, they checked the alignment and everything was fine

I have never had the dreaded death wobble yet, it never touches dirt other than the 40 feet of gravel on my driveway. I work it hard but don't beat it and it is basically a highway cruiser back and forth to work as well as hauling trailers.

I have everything sitting in the shop for when the time comes. New track bar, control arms, tie rods, ball joints, etc, etc but have never gotten around to putting them in. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I know about the front shaft retainer bolts and have replaced them once already due to a snapped off one in the front yoke. Ended up replacing that also.

The old tub is a keeper, it runs better now than when she was new. It gets stupid awesome mileage per tank so I just keep driving her.

Jeff

 

I had to use my log splitter to pop the caps off my cardan joint- huge PITA. You can use a greese needle to get greese on that centering ball every year or so.