Well, when I bought my truck, 1986 F250 sc 4x4 with 6.9 diesel it made noise when in 4 wheel drive. I knew it needed a ujoint in the front axle. I pulled the right front axle and replaced the u-joint, still made noise so I just didn't use the 4 wheel drive. well they are calling for really heavy snow yesterday and I figure I better fix it as I'm going to need it. I crawled under the truck and checked around and found another u-joint in the left axle that was bad so I bought one went about changing it. Got it all back together and locked the hub to make sure everything worked and heard a telltale clunk checked some more and found another bad u-joint in the front driveshaft so I called the parts store and had them deliver all the rest of the u-joints for the front end. It has 5 replaced them all now. good thing I ordered more because when I took the front drive shaft out the second u-joint was frozen and not moving. so the tip here is if you have to change one in the front DO ALL OF THEM while you are in that deep!!!! I had to take the right front apart again because I didn't. anyway the 4wheel drive is as quiet as the 2wheel drive now and the weather man says today we are going to get mostly rain!!!!! it figures I fix it and don't need it. John

 

John, better to be prepared then not! Nothing worse then being in the snow and the truck not running properly. Besides, now you are prepared for the next big snow. Lol
Last weeks snow showed me several problems with our snow removal equipement. The truck my dad was driving had the joy stick rip right out of the control box. The hydraulic pump for the plow on my pickup burned up. Two of the plow pivot pins fell out due to rust on the truck my brother was driving. Needless to say, I repaired everything AFTER last weeks storm. Now we were supposed to get the storm of the century this week and you saw what happened. Rain and melted snow. Oh well, that's how it goes. At least you did do the job and the truck is proper now. I knew one guy who blew the rear diff and drove around for two years in 4x4. A front wheel drive Jeep! Lol. Jake.

Jakegypsum // Ford fleet, soup to nuts.

 

John, One last thing. I agree 100% about replacing everything in one shot. If one part is bad, it is only a matter of time before the rest haunt ya. They can't be far behind. That is a "rule of thumb" that a lot of people don't follow. Jake.

Jakegypsum // Ford fleet, soup to nuts.

 

That is so true! Also known as the "might as wells". I too got ready for the big storm that never came (Lol). Hurried back from Atlantic City at 7:00 am on Saturday morning. Just when I was winning at the roulette table too! I won $560.00, so I guess it was a good thing I left anyway.
Here in piscataway, we got about 2". One business wanted me to plow anyway (He was afraid it would freeze up tonight), so I went there and it was half melted away. I wasn't going to charge the guy, but he insisted on paying me. I guess it made hooking up to the blade Friday night worth it.
Kenny

 

Jake,
When I did the first axle shaft it was the right side outer what a job they say take off the bolts on the spindle and just slide it off YEAH RIGHT!!!! 2 hours later I'm still trying to remove the spindle. well this time I used the famous BFH and a block of wood 4x4 put the wood on top of the spindle and went at it one shot (big one though) with the hammer on the block and the left side popped right off. after I did that axle I found the drive shaft was in dire straits so I did that and figured well theres only one left now so out came the right axle again what a PITA but worth it!!! now I don't have to worry about the front end for a while. Only have one U-Joint in the truck that wasn't replaced but with my shoulder still mending I can't do it just yet, it still hurts to hold the driveshaft at arms length so it doesn't hit me in the head.LOL But when my shoulder gets better I have to replace the front U-joint in the back shaft.

BTW where is your shop is that the one on fire rd.? I'm going to be in Northfield tomorrow on tilton Rd. and figured if you were around I would stop in and show you my baby.
John

 

Kenny, you should have stopped by I'm only over the bridge in Brigantine. John

 

Hey John, You are correct. It is the place on fire road. I am normally there during the course of the day. I am normally out for lunch somewhere between 12:30 to 2:00. If I do step out it is usually for a moment and the guy's can call me on my cell phone if need be. Which baby are you bringing by? From what I understand, you are the proud father of several.
As for the BFH, I find that to be a very useful tool. I refer to it as either "the persuader" or "sledge-o-matic". I have also had projects where I figured I would just replace one U-joint and let it go at that. Two months later, there I was again under the truck. Ugghh! Lol. Jake.

Jakegypsum //Ford fleet, soup to nuts.

 

Jake,
I'll stop by probably around 9:30-10:00 you need coffee? Iam going to bring the diesel its to nasty for the mustangs and the forty still looks the same haven't touched it yet. John

 

Kenny, It is just as well. If you didn't leave, you could have been under $560.00 and possibly stuck driving in the mess, not to mention the other nut cases driving on the road. One of those idiots run into you and all that does is bring up your total losses even more. Ugly.

Jakegypsum // Ford fleet, soup to nuts.

 

John, 9:30 - 10:00 is fine. I'm good on the coffee. The coffee pot is the first thing we turn on in the AM when opening up. By then I'm normally wired. I figured that you would have the diesel. The perfect machine for this time of year. I was checking out your picture thread a while ago. Nice looking stuff. You are a busy man. I gotta figure out how to work in time for a project. The kids get most of my free time and then after that, lookout sofa! lol. See ya tomarrow. Jake.

Jakegypsum // Ford fleet, soup to nuts.

 

Yeah, time is a very valueable thing here too. I have the diesel the wifes mustang my mustang the 40 and now my sons mustang whew, i'm tired just thinking about all the stuff to do!!!LOL my mustang is the first to get done (it's already started) then the 40 and my sons mustang are going to go pretty much the same time. he will be here this summer though so that will help. and the diesel and the wifes mustang are everyday drivers so it is basically just little things with them. John

 

The trip to A.C. was a last minute decision. (Gotta be spontanious once in a while to be considered "still romantic". You know how it goes. LOL. We didn't start heading down until the better half got out of work at 10:00 PM friday. I am glad I came back when I did. I know I would have wound up giving it all back. Next time we know in advance that were going, I'll give out a hollar. Might be nice to maybe meet up there someday.
Kenny

 

Hey John,
You get to spend a day crawling around under your truck and you are complaining? I wish I could get started on my truck. The movers are coming today to pack up and move our household goods. Maybe I can finally get some work done around here after they leave. lol. Just figured I would bust on ya for a minute. Take care Buddy.

Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6

 

Brad, it only bothers me that I spent the day crawling around under it and fixing it then didn't get a chance to play with it!!!! I might have to go to upstate NY just to play I hear they got some snow!!! John

 

Thats what I hear too John! I have to drive from baltimore to around syracuse in a rental car on the 20th of march and back again on the 23rd. Hope the snow fairy takes a break for a few days then. lol The bad part is that I can't evenfind a decent rental car that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Looks like we are going to wind up with a Chebbie Cavalier. I'd take an escort or a focus or anything over that. lol. Take it easy.

Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6