1993 Splash in SC

[Curious Hound]

I need to scrounge up more outer shafts too, they are getting hard to find.

I checked 2 local junk yards this morning. They take crappy pictures of the vehicles. I don't think any of the trucks on the right year range are 4x4. Bronco Graveyard shows chrome moly outers on their site. I'm not ready to pay that much today.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I checked 2 local junk yards this morning. They take crappy pictures of the vehicles. I don't think any of the trucks on the right year range are 4x4. Bronco Graveyard shows chrome moly outers on their site. I'm not ready to pay that much today.

But by the time you blow a couple trucks apart in the yard to find worse shafts than what you have because NOBODY takes care of spindle bearings...

 

[Uncle Gump]

I have a spindle bearing greaser.

Think bearing buddy that screws onto the spindle... with a grease zerk. You have to be careful to not blow out the seal... but a pump or two with the grease gun keeps those spindle bearings around longer. I'll see if I can get a Pic of mine if you'd like.

 

[Curious Hound]

But by the time you blow a couple trucks apart in the yard to find worse shafts than what you have because NOBODY takes care of spindle bearings...

I know. I'm mentally preparing to order fron Bronco Graveyard. All new outers, all new U-joints, new spindle bearings again, because running temporarily on these shafts will not be good for them. New wheelbearing seals.

... and I really SHOULD do this before September.

 

[Curious Hound]

I have a spindle bearing greaser.

Think bearing buddy that screws onto the spindle... with a grease zerk. You have to be careful to not blow out the seal... but a pump or two with the grease gun keeps those spindle bearings around longer. I'll see if I can get a Pic of mine if you'd like.

Attaches to the spindle? Not sure that what you have in mind will work on 4x4 TTB. If the outer axle shaft was drilled and had an orifice at the spindle bearing journal, that would work. Pull the wheel and locking hub. Pump grease into fitting on the end of the axle shaft and it would squirter into the spindle bearing. But I don't think the shafts are drilled for that and I don't have a lathe to do it.

Even if I had the lathe, I'd be pretty nervous about drilling a 3/16" hole about 8 or 9 inches deep into a brand new chrome moly axle shaft.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Cup threads on the spindle...

There is a gap between the axle and spindle.

Grease travels in that gap to the spindle bearing.

 

[Curious Hound]

Everything is re-assembled and I roughed in the alignment. Had to stop and mow the lawn. I'll get the alignment done on Monday or Tuesday when I'm off work again. Just in time to go camping next weekend.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Everything is re-assembled and I roughed in the alignment. Had to stop and mow the lawn. I'll get the alignment done on Monday or Tuesday when I'm off work again. Just in time to go camping next weekend.

Corey is insisting that I go still. She's home but I will still have to be sure she can take care of herself and Zoey. I'm super excited. Round Mountain/ Hurricane Creek have been on my bucket list for a while.

 

[Lefty]

Well, that's depressing. I thought I had a complete spare set if Dana 35 axle shafts that I bought from someone here a few years ago. Apparently, all I bought were the inner shaft pieces. I'm missing the driver side outer, passenger side outer and passenger side piece with the female slip joint and outer yoke. Bummer. I do have a set of new u-joints. So, temporarily, I'll put a new joint in this and install it. The spindle bearing doesn't carry a lot of weight or force, so, with new bearing and grease, it should be OK for my next few trips. The passenger side soindle bearing journal isn't as bad. I need to start watching the junk yard for parts again.

Never a dull moment with you! You're always up to something!

 

[Curious Hound]

Alignment is finished. Not quite perfect. But much better than it has been over the last 2 years. I'll fine tune it some more after this weekend's trip.

 

[SenorNoob]

Corey is insisting that I go still. She's home but I will still have to be sure she can take care of herself and Zoey. I'm super excited. Round Mountain/ Hurricane Creek have been on my bucket list for a while.

I tried looking that up. I got too many results on a Google search. Is it somewhere local?

 

[Curious Hound]

I tried looking that up. I got too many results on a Google search. Is it somewhere local?

Link to the campground below. Nearest town is Del Rio, TN. Generally speaking, it is on the NC/TN border, just barely north of I-40. Fines Creek Rd and Max Patch Rd in NC are the easiest ways to access from I-40. They are a combination of paved and gravel roads. No 4x4 necessary.

If you want something a little more challenging on Friday, meet us at the rest area below Fines Creek a little before 1:00 and we will run Hurrican Creek rd up to Max Patch Rd. Hurricane Creek Rd will require high clearance and 4x4, based on the previous times I've been there. One app I looked at last week rated it as a difficulty rating of 4 out of 10. Otherwise, just meet us at the campground when you can.

Cherokee National Forest - Round Mountain Campground

Cherokee National Forest - Round Mountain Campground

www.fs.usda.gov

Here is a link to the original discussion thread. I have some map screenshot there, plus a link to the Facebook discussion.

Round Mountain/Max Patch Campout

Hey, y'all! The meet n greet at Max Patch fell through. I think the weather was semi-ugly anyway. So, here's version 2; June 14-16, 2024. We're going to camp at Round Mountain Campground. From there, we will visit Max Patch and explore various gravel and dirt roads in the area. The exact...

www.therangerstation.com

 

[SenorNoob]

Link to the campground below. Nearest town is Del Rio, TN. Generally speaking, it is on the NC/TN border, just barely north of I-40. Fines Creek Rd and Max Patch Rd in NC are the easiest ways to access from I-40. They are a combination of paved and gravel roads. No 4x4 necessary.

If you want something a little more challenging on Friday, meet us at the rest area below Fines Creek a little before 1:00 and we will run Hurrican Creek rd up to Max Patch Rd. Hurricane Creek Rd will require high clearance and 4x4, based on the previous times I've been there. One app I looked at last week rated it as a difficulty rating of 4 out of 10. Otherwise, just meet us at the campground when you can.

Cherokee National Forest - Round Mountain Campground

Cherokee National Forest - Round Mountain Campground

www.fs.usda.gov

I'd love to go, but since you say high-clearance my truck is out. It's still stock height right now.

If I could leave work a couple hours early Friday morning I could be in the area just in time to catch ya'll heading out. That's a big if and racing there tho. So is that the Haywood rest area?

 

[Curious Hound]

I'd love to go, but since you say high-clearance my truck is out. It's still stock height right now.

If I could leave work a couple hours early Friday morning I could be in the area just in time to catch ya'll heading out. That's a big if and racing there tho. So is that the Haywood rest area?

Yes. That's the Haywood rest area.

I'd love to go, but since you say high-clearance my truck is out. It's still stock height right now.

Don't let that deter you. Just take the other roads and meet us at the campground later Saturday afternoon or evening whenever you can get there. We'll be visiting Max Patch (easy 0.4mile hike) and exploring forest service roads on Saturday. At least 1 waterfall with a short hike. Everything we decide to explore will be by unanimous vote. No man (or woman) left behind. Your truck is capable, or at least it was last time I saw it.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Yeah man. At least come camp. I remember your Ranger being plenty capable.