Biting Off More Than You Can Chew

The latest punch list for the truck went as follows: replace trailing arm bushings, de-rust and paint trailing arms, disassemble, inspect, clean and reassemble rear brake drums, replace rear wheel bearings.  I had five days two of which I hoped to do some monkey bike riding.  I have used the term 'snowballing' to refer to the phenomenon of a two day job exploding into a four day job.  This is typical of mechanical work but it is de rigueur for an old vehicle like this.  As it turns out I didn't finish the job having to leave the driver's side rear drum and trailing arm for later.  I did, however, get both wheel bearings replaced which took some doing.  I had to go to Harbor Freight and purchase a slide hammer which is a sort of reverse-hammer for pulling things out after they have been pounded in (like wheel bearings).  As tools go slide hammers fall into the 'blunt instrument' category which is to say that there is only a limited amount of finesse involved and what really gets the job done is pure brutish persistence.  In other words: there was a lot of grunting and swearing and general destruction of the bearings being removed.  I got new bearings in at last after two trips to the auto parts store but I had to reuse the old oil seals which were not in great condition.  So far no leaks so we shall see.

More detail than you need section:  To replace the wheel bearings in this old truck the two piece axle shafts must be removed.  To do this the center pin in the rear end must be removed which means that the rear end must be drained.  GOOD GRIEF.  When the center pin is out it is important to NOT spin either wheel as the pinion gears and brass shims will roll out of place.  I learned a lot about the rear end but what a pain in the butt.  I did eventually figure out how to put the pinion gears back in but it took me a while hunched over under the back end of the truck to get it right.  The next time I have to pull an axle I will be much faster.

Eventually I figured out that there was no way I was going to get the list done and get in some mountain bike riding.  I had to remind myself that all this work was intended to be something that I enjoy and working like an idiot toward a deadline would not accomplish this goal SO I just got the wheel bearings on both sides done and the rest would have to wait.  Oh for a garage!!  I dream.