02 3500 nv5600 2wd quad cab. 233k.

 

I've been as diligent as possible regarding preventative maintenance, but you know how it is, entropy is a ***** and things go wrong. 

 

Now getting ready to put down some serious miles - long distance cross country driving soon, multiple times this spring and summer from NJ to Florida towing a haulmark 20ft car trailer (approx 7,000 gvwr).

 

Here is a list of the repairs i've done, as well as some pro-active maint in anticipation of major highway miles.  

Is there anything else I should do? Thinking I've got the major failure items covered.. Is there anything else that's know to fail on these 2nd gen 24 valve trucks?  Opinions or suggestions appreciated. Thanks!

 

 

List of recent maint and repairs (in descending order of failure , most recent first

- May 2020: 233k Fuel filter, Water pump, idler pulley, serp belt & cam position sensor (FWIW: the cam sensor wasn't bad, I just replaced it pro-actively)
- April 2020: 232k Alternator (Also did the W-T ground mod and B+ 150amp circuit breaker ), front brakes
- July 2019: pilot bearing, (bronze oilite) rear main seal, trans input and output seals, trans mount, manual trans filter kit and syncromesh lube (overfilled), clutch kit (southbend stage 2), & 4" stainless exhaust
- Mar 2019: 229k 4 new rear tires, Front shocks (SACHS 310178, love em! I tried bilstiens up front but they were WAAYYYYY too stiff.)
- Dec 2018: 228k: ALL brake lines, brake hoses and brake fluid.
- Aug 2018: 227k BHAF (baldwin PA2820)
- July 2018: 226k: timbo APPS
- Jan 2017: 219k Driver side ball joints, upper and lower, 2 new front tires, differential oil
- Dec 2016: New front wheel bearings (and axle nuts)
- Jan 2016 ALL U joints and center bearing (dana/spicer)
- Nov 2015: Harmonic balancer
- Oct 2015: New high flow power steering pump, rebuild vacuum pump, rear shocks (bilstien B46-1908)
- Nov 2014 all radiator and heater hoses
- Oct 2014: Front suspension components, tie rod ends, idler, pitman, drag link,
- Oct - Nov 2013: Fuel boss mechanical fuel pump and big line kit, fuel filter, front main seal, thermostat
- Aug 2013 213k rear wheel bearings (all) and seals,, differential oil, calipers (all) new rear rotors, e-brake shoes, puke bottle delete, cleaned radiator, killed the killer dowel pin, manual trans filter kit and syncromesh lube (overfilled)

- April 2013 bought truck. 213k.
 

 

Edited May 19, 20204 yr by Ironforger
.

6 hours ago, Ironforger said:

So Ironically my wheel seals were not leaking while the axle housing was under pressure but now my drivers side axle seal IS leaking!  WTF?

If I had to guess, vent is plugged for some time and the seals were pushed against the axle tighter due to internal pressure, then you cleaned the vent and no more positive pressure on the inside so they started to sip a little 

If the vent was not clogged, then maybe they would last 500k who knows. I bet if there is someone out there with 500k on axle seals and they plug the vent, it'll probably leak then, being they already wore out. Clear vent just prolongs the life of them I suppose. 

3 hours ago, Towrigdually said:

While you have it torn down just make sure you can put a pick through the spot the hose goes and it’s clear of Debris.

 

@Towrigdually , yea I made sure it was clear when I put the new vent hose on. Blew air through it while the fill pug was off.

Edited June 9, 20204 yr by Ironforger

14 hours ago, Dieselfuture said:

If I had to guess, vent is plugged for some time and the seals were pushed against the axle tighter due to internal pressure, then you cleaned the vent and no more positive pressure on the inside so they started to sip a little 

If the vent was not clogged, then maybe they would last 500k who knows. I bet if there is someone out there with 500k on axle seals and they plug the vent, it'll probably leak then, being they already wore out. Clear vent just prolongs the life of them I suppose. 

I replaced the right rear a long time back. The other 3 have 506k and change on them.

14 hours ago, Dieselfuture said:

If the vent was not clogged, then maybe they would last 500k who knows. I bet if there is someone out there with 500k on axle seals and they plug the vent, it'll probably leak then, being they already wore out. Clear vent just prolongs the life of them I suppose. 

 

415k miles no leaks on the alxes and working as designed. I do check the vents from time ot time.

While you all are talking about axle vents-can anybody tell me why my front diff would push oil out of the vent? I wasn’t even driving it. Had it running on high idle while I charged a.c.  It was in 4 low but I don’t know why that would matter. 
Guess I know it’s not plugged!

9 minutes ago, Royal Squire said:

While you all are talking about axle vents-can anybody tell me why my front diff would push oil out of the vent? I wasn’t even driving it. Had it running on high idle while I charged a.c.  It was in 4 low but I don’t know why that would matter. 
Guess I know it’s not plugged!

No I can't. But I can say on about 3 occasions mine has done that on the front. Once so bad that it clogged up the BHAF with gear oil. The other 2 times just a trail of gear oil down the inner fender. Heat maybe???

11 hours ago, Royal Squire said:

While you all are talking about axle vents-can anybody tell me why my front diff would push oil out of the vent? I wasn’t even driving it. Had it running on high idle while I charged a.c.  It was in 4 low but I don’t know why that would matter. 
Guess I know it’s not plugged!

 

I've never had that happen... I've had the reverse of that happen and finding the front diff mixed with water. 

21 hours ago, dripley said:

No I can't. But I can say on about 3 occasions mine has done that on the front. Once so bad that it clogged up the BHAF with gear oil. The other 2 times just a trail of gear oil down the inner fender. Heat maybe???

Bhaf really has some suction!

Could it be vent being plugged and little bit of pressure build up pushed it out, being the vent is on the cad it may accumulate oil in it 

It was setting on a slight incline toward CAD, then moved it about ten yards and BAM vent made a mess. 

Never had any problems with my vents. Every 30k miles change the fluid then with the cover off and draining just use compressed air and blow it out. Not even when I was towing back from Mohave Valley, AZ.

 

Never used synthetics, and just standard old 80w-90 GL-5. 415k miles and counting.