Work on the axle project continues at a slow pace due to my infirmities. My helper took a wire wheel to the wheel studs and cleaned the surface rust off of them. Cleaned up the axles we're going to use and the bearing surface looks fine but there are some light grooves where the seals go. They weren't leaking. $800 for new axles and studs delivered or just run what I got?
Picking up some more front end parts, another hub, CV axles, wheel hub covers (my truck didn't have them but the pickups do), new bolts for them and the spindles, etc.
Then there's the parking brake. I was going to change it over to the JNC, push to release instead of the manual release that came on the truck. 5 years ago all of the parts were $135 and now they are $400 and one cable is unobtanium in factory form. If I drop 25 pounds, that release lever is a lot easier to get at! LOL
Don't get fat guys, it's ****** on your body.
Tomorrow we're supposed to clean up the garage some more, get parts off the shelf and onto the work bench, staged for use. Then we're going to store the other 14-bolt axle, keeping it for spare parts, have to put wheel bearings back in it so it will hold axle shafts, stick the center section back in, button it up and stick it in a corner for a rainy day. Then we have to take a wire wheel to the axles and finish those up and clean up the mounting surfaces of the front differential, pull the old mounting brackets, etc.
The band saw stand was finished and put in its place in the garage, the band saw bolted to it and maybe we'll finish setting up the blade and run it tomorrow too. Lots of projects for that machine.
The trucks have been running great. Still waiting for my Blackstone-Labs report for the 2013 Sierra's oil swap to Quaker State Full Synthetic over ACDelco. Should be any day now. My driver's door hinge bushing quit moving and the door stuck open, when forcing it to close it made a bang and sparks flew. Hit it with SuperLube and worked it in but still giving some resistance. I use the folding mirrors all the time, something the driver's mirror doesn't want to unfold, just needs a little nudge and another press of the button and it opens right up.
Oh, someone bumped into it knocking the bumper cover and RR splash guard out of position. No marks, nothing appears broken, just have to loosen up the bumper cover, put everything back in place and replace the screws and pins and all should be good.