How's it going out there? name's Tony in the air force and stationed out of seymour johnson. we recently bought a k5 blazer and like most older 4x4's that have been abused and not taken care of it has it's issues. we knew of several that weren't bad at all. but this one I'm about to describe and what we've done so far is something we didn't know even after a test drive.
we test drove it and no problems other then it stopped horribly (no one has EVER changed the rear drums/shoes). so I drove it home on the way home randomly I'd hear a loud metal on metal clunk/clank from the rear and then the truck shakes.
we got it home pulled the rear tires and drums. the rivets were digging into the drums and the left (driver side) shoe adjuster was broken off with a smashed spring and one of the shoes was bent. we were like ok maybe we were hearing the adjuster hanging on the axel. so we installed new shoes and drums. test drove it of course it stops way better but we still have that metal on metal clunk/clank.
so we drain the rear differential and the fluid looks like muddy water. minor metal shavings on the magnet but no metal chunks. the gear and pinion look fine. we put everything back together and filled with lucas heavy duty gear oil. test drove it no pop. so we were like well since the rear gear oil needed changing we changed the front diff. gear oil with the same kind. we did find two metal chunks and located one tooth on the pinion that was missing a piece. put it back together. I then took it for another test drive. I forgot to unlock the front hubs (aftermarket hubs were installed superwinch) and started to back down the drive way. after realizing it I unliked the hubs. I then made a left out of the neighbor hood and it felt like the driveshaft binded and popped. drove home and parked it and started debating what to do. . .
we took it by a mechanic this morning and he test drove it. the first time the metal on metal clunk happened was when he started braking and it came from the front this time. then upon heading back to the shop it happened three times coming from the rear like it has been. he seemed more concerned with the front then the rear. I'm at a loss on what to do. I don't want to take it to a mechanic that is ignoring both myself and my wife (who went to Nascar techincal institute) but we are both at a loss on what the next step is. . .anyone got an idea? thanks.
we test drove it and no problems other then it stopped horribly (no one has EVER changed the rear drums/shoes). so I drove it home on the way home randomly I'd hear a loud metal on metal clunk/clank from the rear and then the truck shakes.
we got it home pulled the rear tires and drums. the rivets were digging into the drums and the left (driver side) shoe adjuster was broken off with a smashed spring and one of the shoes was bent. we were like ok maybe we were hearing the adjuster hanging on the axel. so we installed new shoes and drums. test drove it of course it stops way better but we still have that metal on metal clunk/clank.
so we drain the rear differential and the fluid looks like muddy water. minor metal shavings on the magnet but no metal chunks. the gear and pinion look fine. we put everything back together and filled with lucas heavy duty gear oil. test drove it no pop. so we were like well since the rear gear oil needed changing we changed the front diff. gear oil with the same kind. we did find two metal chunks and located one tooth on the pinion that was missing a piece. put it back together. I then took it for another test drive. I forgot to unlock the front hubs (aftermarket hubs were installed superwinch) and started to back down the drive way. after realizing it I unliked the hubs. I then made a left out of the neighbor hood and it felt like the driveshaft binded and popped. drove home and parked it and started debating what to do. . .
we took it by a mechanic this morning and he test drove it. the first time the metal on metal clunk happened was when he started braking and it came from the front this time. then upon heading back to the shop it happened three times coming from the rear like it has been. he seemed more concerned with the front then the rear. I'm at a loss on what to do. I don't want to take it to a mechanic that is ignoring both myself and my wife (who went to Nascar techincal institute) but we are both at a loss on what the next step is. . .anyone got an idea? thanks.
