RanniWins

Before you shop for a car, it's good to have a safety inspection list. Check the Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) to see if the car has been inspected.The VIR will show you if there are any issues with the car's brakes, lights, tires, and other important parts. Make sure the car passes all safety checks before buying. This
helps you avoid problems and ensures the car is safe to drive.

oliver foster

Yes, good idea.
I always check out the car report online when I wonder what shape the tires are on a rig I am looking at.
Actually looking at the tires themselves would be way too hard. It is better to make decisions by what your smart phone tells you.

Spoken like a true Bot.

BHD

Ollie,
I'm going to look at a 77 Club Cab this weekend. I will definitely pull the CarFacts report to see if it's had any previous damage or repairs. How else would I be able to determine that kind of info? I mean I've only been working on Dodge trucks for 30+ years, and it would be irresponsible of me to not get thar report!

oliver foster

I would also check that all the recalls have been done.

Those '77s had a lot of problems with the side curtain air bag systems along with faulty wiring for the back up camera. If the dealer has not done these recalls it can get expensive.

BHD

Not just the side curtain airbags, but the ejector seat moonroof limit switch tends to fail! I'm pretty sure my Thor1000 scanner can pick that up tho, so maybe I can circumvent the need for the BOTfacts report?

Oran

Does anyone know of a vendor selling complete dana 70 brake rebuild kits? springs, cylinder, shoes seals etc?

BHD

I don't know of any kit. I have had good luck with RockAuto piecing parts together

Rug_Trucker

I haven't needed to do my rear brakes yet. Check into doing GM wheel cylinders to increase braking power.

Oran

Yeah with out a doubt. I planned on doing that from the beginning, and also planned on upgrading to the larger shoes if I dont already have them. Thing is, this is the last item on my list before I can get my trucks 1 time safety inspection to be able to register it in the state. I dont even know or suspect for that matter, that they are bad, but they are going to have to pull the axle out to inspect them so I figure since I drove it from Indiana to Maryland just to find out it literally had no front brakes at all, it might be a good idea to just rebuild it anyway and buy extra seals for the axle/hub bolts side so that im not paying them a premium for it when they do the inspection.