Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi all.

I am in the process of doing a front end overhaul on my recently purchased 91 Sierra. What was supposed to be a simple knuckle seal kit, has turned into new seals, bearings, and a new third member! This is all due to the fact that the old seals were so bad, that the diff has ended up full of water - destroying most of everything. I hate to think how long the last guy has been driving it around like this for...

Anyway, my question is to do with the balls. They were quite rusty, they have some minor pitting, and they have some groves worn into them. I have given them a light sand and cleaned them up a bit...

So my questions are:

1) At what stage are the balls buggered? Do mine look OK? I suppose if it is past repair that a new housing would be required?

2) I read on here that I should paint them. As for painting them, does this need to be 2-pack or will a spray can be good enough?

I have attached some pics of them for you all to have a look at.

Cheers all, and thanks in advance.

Pez

reffer to here
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... p?t=124699

hit em with a flap wheel on ur grinder, then paint em.

50 thread views and two replies, who's dissapointed

They look OK to me - I'd run them like that happily if I knew the seals were in good nick.

Steve.

And did you say there was anything wrong with them , with new seals should be fine , cheers Paul.

your swivel hub wont leak unless your axle seal is gone as it only has grease in it and the diff oil is retained in the diff housing by the axle seal. If the axle seal does let got go, then the swilvel hub will leak regaurdless the seal that goes over the swivel ball you refer to is mainly a dust seal not a oil seal so its fine.

Thanks for your help guys! Much appreciated.

I will clean them up some more and hit them with some paint... Cant wait until it's back together! I'm doing a 'budget' build - 31's, BL, Lockrights, reduction gears and maybe a turbo... Fun times ahead!

Pez

Sorry, one more thing guys...

I am fitting a Lockright to the front and have discovered that I have I have a 2 pin carrier. (This makes it impossible to add a lockright without changing the carrier.)

So I need a 4 pin carrier (all pre 88.5 zooks have a 4 pin carrier apparently. I believe that NT carriers will fit my 91 WT?)

If anyone has a good one (complete- including spider gears) that they wish to part with please PM me!

Cheers all,

Pez

If your seals are in decent condition I wouldn't bother with paint, unless it was very very durable it will just scrub off. Bear in mind the seals are tight enough to keep the swivels shiny even in a car that's not driven all that often.

If you put too much paint on the seals would get too tight and get damaged anyway, mostly because the paint isn't as hard as the steel and the seals will grab it.

steve.

'roger-that' Steve.

I was going to take it down to my mate at the paint shop to do it in 2-pack. Will be as hard (or harder) than what the zook's balls came painted with in the first place. But your point is a good one - soft paint would be pointless.

Pez

my balls were painted in epoxy 2 years on they were still goin strong.

As long as your Balls get plenty of use, they will be fine.


If your going to change the diff carrier in the front, why not just change both front and rear diff centres complete. Nt have a slightly lower ratio.

oh dear, i wasnt going to say anything but....

As long as your Balls get plenty of use, they will be fine.

hahahahahaha