Author Topic: Colorado (Read 161595 times)

854RUN · « **Reply #450 on:** Jul 02, 2009, 05:14:06 PM »

hey its safer than it was, you have not rolled it yet. I say dont worry about it and wheel it

Volcom · « **Reply #451 on:** Jul 20, 2009, 11:23:58 PM »

Blanca wasn't nice to us this weekend

Started with some horrible "diff" noises from the rear. I haven't wheeled the 4Runner since March. Just some around town driving. Only thing I've changed is a solid 4x Inovations t-case mount and a cage. Load the 4Runner with camping gear for the weekend and start to head out Friday night. Rear end sounds like it's going to blow up while accelerating in 1st & 2nd gear.

Meet up with a couple of Denver Rock Frog members in Pueblo to head down to Medano. I pull the rear driveshaft and check for pinion play. None. Decide to drive down anyways. Get to Medano and the noise is twice as bad going up hill. My buddy James pulled me up and over Medano.

We arrive at camp @ 8pm. I decide to pull the rear 3rd to inspect it for damage. Looks like the pinion has been making contact with the carrier. There's my noise. We tighten the carrier bearing preload adjusters another 1/4 turn (and forget to install the adjuster locks

). Make the decision to pull the front diff and swap with the rear.

Takes us a couple of hours to tear down the frontend. Get the front diff out and it's got the same pinion marks on the carrier (not quite as bad though). WTF?? We've already gone this far so we might as well just swap them. Reinstall the rear diff in the front and get all the front axle rebuilt and tight. Move to the rear and get that done as well. I have to reuse my diff oil since I didn't bring enough for 2 diff changes. By the time I get everything done, it's close to 5:30am

An hour of sleep and time to get up to clean up the tools and stuff. We drive down Medano and head towards Blanca. Andy in the FJ-C blows a sidewall in a KM2 before we even get to Jaws 1. Swap it out for the spare and continue on. Andy almost falls off Jaws 2 and blows a bead in the process. We use all of James' CO2 to reseat the bead.

We continue up the trail getting through each Jaws sections. We drive by Lake Como and head to the top. We eat lunch at Blue Lake and start our trek down. Jeff ends up shearing all three knuckle studs on his passenger side steering arm. We're F'ed at this point. Takes us over an hour to move him 1/8 of a mile down the trail and off to the side. Not fun with no steering.

We work on his knuckle trying to extract the broken studs for several hours. Jeff got one out and we only needed 1 more out to be able to bolt it and get him off of the mtn. Not tonight. Jeff's rig gets to spend the night at 12,000 feet.

We drive down and James looses all the air out of a front passenger side tire. We swap to his spare and continue on. It's 10pm by the time we get off of Mt. Blanca. We head to the Sand Dunes in the nasty wind. We try to air up at the air station at the start of Medano. The compressor is turned off and we use all the air in the tank and it's done.

We head up to camp. It was a nice spot (thanks again Kimo for getting us a spot) but it was all the way up Medano. Takes us 45 mintues to get there and it's midnight. We all head straight for the tents.

Jeff and I pack up camp @ 6:30am to head to Alamosa to try and find something to extract the studs in the knuckle. I turn on the phone at 9:30 (cell battery is almost dead) and get a couple of messages that Eric and my dad are headed to meet us with Eric's knuckle from his YJ (in Denver FYI) in hand along with all of his steering.

We meet them at the trailhead @ 1pm. We packed up my 4Runner with a ton of tools and parts & 4 people. It was making the worst noise I've heard come out of a truck. I honestly didn't think we were going to make it.

Start getting noises out of my frontend partway up the bottom section. Stop to check it out and I've sheared one ARP knuckle stud and all of them were loose (3 on one side and 4 on the other). Same EXACT problem Jeff had

Tighten them up and continue on. Noise isn't getting any better. Stop to tighten the steering studs and Jeff sees that the rear CV on the driveshaft is rubbing a crossmember above it hard. That's the noise Reality sat in when I realized I wasted 9+ hours working on it the night before. Threw some grease on it to quiet the noise and continued up the trail.

Got to Jeff's 4Runner. Everything was still in one piece. Took them a couple of hours to fix it and I worked on my steering. I've now got 1 broken and 1 striped stud on the driver side knuckle. We turn around and head down. I'm riding with Jeff and Eric & Gary are driving my 4Runner. I ask Jeff if he needs a spot through Jaws 2.5. He says no and starts to drive through it. Doesn't take that bad of a line. Truck flops on it's driver side in the V notch of 2.5. I'm soooooo glad Eric was behind us. Strapped him back on all 4's and get him through it.

Starts to rain before we get to Jaws 2 to make the rocks nice and wet We have to stop probably 25-30 times down the trail to check steering studs and other noises & steering issues. Jeff gets hung bad on his driver's side front leaf spring. Eric straps him backwards. Continue down the trail. Jeff stops to see what the hell the clanking noise is on the driver side. Leaf spring is completely bent forward and shackle is inverted

We highlift the 4Runner up and get the shackle back to normal. We get over Jaws 1 and slowly down the trail. Finally got to the trailer @ 8 and on the road at 9. Got to Pueblo @ 11:30. Eric & Jeff continue to Denver and arrive @ 2am Monday morning.

hilux-1983 · « **Reply #452 on:** Jul 20, 2009, 11:31:22 PM »

That's wheelin baby! That's a long couple of days. Glad you made it out, finally.

Volcom · « **Reply #453 on:** Jul 20, 2009, 11:35:27 PM »

Airing down at Medano Pass trailhead

Here's my view up Medano. Thanks again James for the tow!

After an hour or so of arriving at camp.

Nice jack stands. Gotta remember to pack a couple of jackstands next time.

Pinion marks on the carrier.

Tearing apart the frontend

Line up at Blanca trailhead

Looks like we're in for a great day of wheeling, doesn't it :twisted:

Big rock fields

How the majority of the trail looks.

Good view of the valley below

Headed up the trail towards Lake Como.

Almost above tree line

Jeff on Jaws 1

Me on Jaws 1

Jaws 2

Jaws 2.5

Me spotting my buddy up Jaws 3

Lake Como.

Blue Lake and our lunch stop.

Sunday at Blanca trailhead, ready for Jeff's repair & rescue mission

Working on Jeff's steering.

Slightly wrong line at Jaws 2.5

Don't worry, the fluid is only cooler water :shock:

Jeff climbed out of the sunroof and I went out the passenger side door. Tough to get out of a rig on it's side.

Good thing Eric was behind Jeff to pull him back on all 4's

You can see the damage to the fender, hood, and exo bar

At least he rolled it in a safe spot. Over a couple of feet and we would have been down the mtn.

Cool pic my dad took while on our way down.

COToy91 · « **Reply #454 on:** Jul 21, 2009, 09:09:25 AM »

If you need any help volcom or need some parts i am off on friday this week and i am willing to wrench on it and help in any way i can

hilux-1983 · « **Reply #455 on:** Jul 21, 2009, 02:54:46 PM »

That's awesome looking country!

REG535 · « **Reply #456 on:** Jul 21, 2009, 06:09:04 PM »

very nice.

4x4yota · « **Reply #457 on:** Jul 22, 2009, 05:58:01 PM »

any one near Alamosa CO ...

I need help with my 81...
Im putting high steer on but need a welder and some help...

Volcom · « **Reply #458 on:** Oct 01, 2009, 11:33:12 AM »

Anybody want to run Iron Chest / Grizzly Lake on October 11th? You'll need to be on 33's and at least one locker for Iron Chest. Let me know.

boggerunner · « **Reply #459 on:** Oct 01, 2009, 07:42:34 PM »

hows the web site coming, do u need anything more to get it started?

Matty · « **Reply #460 on:** Oct 04, 2009, 10:36:11 AM »

Quote from: Volcom on Oct 01, 2009, 11:33:12 AM

Anybody want to run Iron Chest / Grizzly Lake on October 11th? You'll need to be on 33's and at least one locker for Iron Chest. Let me know.

hmmm, ill ask jared. i know he wants to get out at least 1 more time before ski season.

wakkjobb · « **Reply #461 on:** Oct 05, 2009, 05:00:34 PM »

I'm up for a trip... but as a co-pilot/spotter since I have no rig yet (soon!!

) Anyone got a seat? I can kick in some gas/food $$ too; might be able to meet at the trailhead if nobody's coming from north of Black Forest/Colorado Springs.

>>Dan
(719) 201 9713, text or call $Beer Chug\'n$

jarboarder1 · « **Reply #462 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 07:58:26 AM »

I would love to. Unfortunately Im not going to be in Colorado.

Volcom · « **Reply #463 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 10:20:31 AM »

Quote from: wakkjobb on Oct 05, 2009, 05:00:34 PM

I'm up for a trip... but as a co-pilot/spotter since I have no rig yet (soon!! ) Anyone got a seat? I can kick in some gas/food $$ too; might be able to meet at the trailhead if nobody's coming from north of Black Forest/Colorado Springs.

>>Dan
(719) 201 9713, text or call $Beer Chug\'n$

Sorry, I don't think anybody going has an open seat. I'll have 4 & the other guy going has a full TJ. Sorry Dan!

Quote from: jarboarder1 on Oct 06, 2009, 07:58:26 AM

I would love to. Unfortunately Im not going to be in Colorado.

Let Matty borrow the truck

One weekend, you need to come down and run Liberty down in Penrose. It's the easier of the 2 trails and your truck is more than capable of running it. It's rates between Chinamans and BV Carnage for difficulty. It can also be ran year around!

wakkjobb · « **Reply #464 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 11:12:28 AM »

Dammit... $I\'m Down$
Well that gives me more time to get parts for my next ride... anyone got some hi-steer parts? Like a whole kit? Then:
5.29s
30 splines/hubs
locker or two
seats/interior
winch
OBA
etc etc etc

Well you guys have fun and be safe out there! $Beer Chug\'n$
>>Dan

854RUN · « **Reply #465 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 12:41:19 PM »

Quote from: wakkjobb on Oct 06, 2009, 11:12:28 AM

Dammit... $I\'m Down$
Well that gives me more time to get parts for my next ride... anyone got some hi-steer parts? Like a whole kit? Then:
5.29s
30 splines/hubs
locker or two
seats/interior
winch
OBA
etc etc etc

Well you guys have fun and be safe out there! $Beer Chug\'n$
>>Dan

i got seats you can have
iv got a front axle built with 5.29, lockright, high steer, vented rotor and what not, old school longs and cromo inners for 700.00 (got 1300 in recipients)
rear v6 3rd with 5.29 with a detroit locker 600.00
got a steering box with a ram assist for ... $100.00!
bead lock wheels for $200
37" tire for 500
frame and body (4runner bobbed and dove tailed) free

Volcom · « **Reply #466 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 01:40:05 PM »

Quote from: 854RUN on Oct 06, 2009, 12:41:19 PM

i got seats you can have
iv got a front axle built with 5.29, lockright, high steer, vented rotor and what not, old school longs and cromo inners for 700.00 (got 1300 in recipients)
rear v6 3rd with 5.29 with a detroit locker 600.00
got a steering box with a ram assist for ... $100.00!
bead lock wheels for $200
37" tire for 500
frame and body (4runner bobbed and dove tailed) free

What?? Did you part out the 4Runner? I didn't get to see it on the trail. Headed a different direction?

854RUN · « **Reply #467 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 03:40:15 PM »

ya i did

but i am really just consolidating to one multi-purpose rig. That being my t100 so the runner had to come apart. I would love to maybe build another 1st gen runner but keep it in one peace and with a 3.4l some day but for now i am going to build up Big T.

COToy91 · « **Reply #468 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 04:25:56 PM »

Quote from: 854RUN on Oct 06, 2009, 12:41:19 PM

i got seats you can have
iv got a front axle built with 5.29, lockright, high steer, vented rotor and what not, old school longs and cromo inners for 700.00 (got 1300 in recipients)
rear v6 3rd with 5.29 with a detroit locker 600.00
got a steering box with a ram assist for ... $100.00!
bead lock wheels for $200
37" tire for 500
frame and body (4runner bobbed and dove tailed) free

Are your wheels 15xx8? If they are I think I want them

854RUN · « **Reply #469 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 05:07:44 PM »

Hey Ryan, ya 15x8 and they come with all the bolts. I think you wont them to lol just let me know

COToy91 · « **Reply #470 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 05:20:30 PM »

do you know what backspacing?

854RUN · « **Reply #471 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 05:37:30 PM »

3.5" backspacing

wakkjobb · « **Reply #472 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 09:55:03 PM »

Dang I want the axles... that would save me SO MUCH time and $$ instead of building the stockers that are on my future project. 4.10s open/open/ 4cyl rear. Boo. How would that front Lockrite hold up against some 37s? I have heard mixed reviews about them; maybe it was rear Lockrites that got a bad name?

>>Dan

boggerunner · « **Reply #473 on:** Oct 06, 2009, 10:04:33 PM »

ive got a lockrite in the front of my 90 4runner with 37 mtr's and a heavy throttle foot on the 3rz. and i havent had any problems yet

854RUN · « **Reply #474 on:** Oct 07, 2009, 06:44:51 AM »

x2 i was running 37 mtrs and never had a problem with it. I have a lockright in the back of my t100 and it has a supercharged 3.4 and 37 and i am a little heavy on the go peddle.

wakkjobb · « **Reply #475 on:** Oct 07, 2009, 12:51:22 PM »

Maybe it was some other locker I was thinking about... a pin would get sheared off and *poof* no more locker. Well in that case I'm interested in the front axle and seats and will PM you about getting them soon like between tomorrow and Saturday.

>>Dan

854RUN · « **Reply #476 on:** Oct 07, 2009, 01:18:59 PM »

you where thinking right the older lockrights and Detroit EZ Locker uses 2 pins and they will snap, with the Detroit EZ Locker i think they say no bigger than a 33" or 35" tire

mine has 4 pins

COToy91 · « **Reply #477 on:** Oct 07, 2009, 02:14:48 PM »

i am working on getting those rims for an xmas gift lol

854RUN · « **Reply #478 on:** Oct 07, 2009, 02:17:29 PM »

LOL awesome, ya i am in no rush, maybe a thanksgiving gift?? lol

4x4yota · « **Reply #479 on:** Oct 07, 2009, 02:46:15 PM »

Quote from: 854RUN on Oct 06, 2009, 12:41:19 PM

i got seats you can have
iv got a front axle built with 5.29, lockright, high steer, vented rotor and what not, old school longs and cromo inners for 700.00 (got 1300 in recipients)
rear v6 3rd with 5.29 with a detroit locker 600.00
got a steering box with a ram assist for ... $100.00!
bead lock wheels for $200
37" tire for 500
frame and body (4runner bobbed and dove tailed) free

Ill take those 37s

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