GMC Van mini Update

[ianjpage]

Well  been doing a few bits n bobs to the truck since last update...

Its now had New ball joints, new inner & outer track rod ends and new idler arms both sides.

As per the last update, myself and dean had replaced the shoes, drums & springs within the rear brakes but as most of you will already now they were binding / grabbing on one side and also rubbing constantly on the other.

Well over the past couple of weeks (since hastings!) me / dean have replaced the slave cyclinders in the rear drums and once i had changed the whole of the brake fluid (it was trully 'orrible) all the rear and front brakes are working spot on now - no binding / snatching or rubbing at all  

Whilst under the truck I investigated the noise coming from the rear diff - well to start with the fluid in there was like treacle - black and gooey....  then i found a load of swarf on the magnet as well, not looking good....

After completly cleaning the diff cover, magnet, gears and bottom of the diff i found that some of the teeth on the 4 little gears are worn / missing bits - the main drive one is fine .... checked on a few specialist van forums and ideally need replacing but will be ok to use so long as good quality heavy oil put back in - which i have since done and i must say it druives fine, very very little noise now so all looks good

Oh yeah and i have now (hopefulyl) done a long term / medium term repair on teh exhaust join (it kept coming apart after the hastings trip!) - it now has fire engine grade joiners and bonding cement on it (the joys of a father in law thats a fire engine mechanic!)

So all back on the road, and 99% of problems sorted - just need to change the coil over and clean the plugs up to finally get rid of that damned misfire!!!

[Gator]

truck you have a truck ? pics


good work btw

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Gator

truck you have a truck ? pics

Truck - GMC Van - same difference lol!

[ianjpage]

there ya go i changed the title

[Gator]

you lied

theres loads of astro parts on ebay atm mate

[Andy]

Yikes, swarf in a diff is never good. Are the shagged ones the 4 small ones in the centre? Believe they only take any load when going around corners (if my mechnical knowledge serves me right...)

[F Body]

Quoting: ianjpage

i had changed the whole of the brake fluid (it was trully 'orrible)

Quoting: ianjpage

I investigated the noise coming from the rear diff - well to start with the fluid in there was like treacle - black and gooey...

Quoting: ianjpage

just need to change the coil over and clean the plugs up to finally get rid of that damned misfire!!!

You can't beat 250,000 mile servicing whether it's needed or not

[Andy]

Quoting: F Body

You can't beat 250,000 mile servicing whether it's needed or not

I'm looking at doing a major service on my car at 160k, really don't want to know whats going to come out on the engine flush...

[philoldsmobile]

Quoting: Andy

Yikes, swarf in a diff is never good. Are the shagged ones the 4 small ones in the centre? Believe they only take any load when going around corners (if my mechnical knowledge serves me right...)

kinda, but due to things like differences in tyre diameter (caused by wear), road camber, and the fact thats its incredibly rare you are ever driving in a completely straight line, the gears are constantly turning, as all four wheels in a vehicle are turning at a slightly different rate at all times, all be it only by a very small margin a lot of the time.

[Andy]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

kinda, but due to things like differences in tyre diameter (caused by wear), road camber, and the fact thats its incredibly rare you are ever driving in a completely straight line, the gears are constantly turning, as all four wheels in a vehicle are turning at a slightly different rate at all times, all be it only by a very small margin a lot of the time.

Ah true, am thinking in a perfect world.. which as a rule of thumb, never exists

[Gator]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

as all four wheels in a vehicle are turning at a slightly different rate at all times, all be it only by a very small margin a lot of the time.

i guess they are never really thought about that before mate id imagine a low pressure tyre would put quite a strain on running gear over time

[Roadkill]

Good news !

I knew those slave cylinders would make a difference . . and after seeing the fluid that certainly couldn't have gotten worse, either !

[art b]

we must get a service manual for ian,

[ianjpage]

Quoting: art b

we must get a service manual for ian,

I got one LOL"!!

[ianjpage]

Quoting: Roadkill

Good news !

I knew those slave cylinders would make a difference . . and after seeing the fluid that certainly couldn't have gotten worse, either !

Yeah quite!!! huge difference to it now!