Front-End refresh

I'm getting ready to do some maintenance work on my 06 DC, just rolled over 100k and looking for any ideas on what else I should work on. So far I'm ordered parts for:
- LBJ's (ordered OEM)
- sway bar links
- sway bar bushings

I was planning on doing steering rack bushings, but I'm seeing some leaks from the billows and am considering replacing the rack with something from maybe Detroit Axle, but that looks like a bigger job than I can do right now.

Any other ideas on what to update/replace while I have the the truck up on blocks?

 

100k miles isn't bad but make sure you check your lower control arm bushings. I didn't replace mine until 180k but they were overdue.

Also, I would install new bolts with those lower ball joints. It sounds like you're on the right track.

 

I started working on throwing together some informal info in another thread over here if it helps.

 

@FirstGenVol yeah, I bought OEM replacement bolts for the LCAs. I'll take a look at the bushings, my understanding is they are difficult to remove and require a press to reinstall, is that right? Did you have any trouble installing them?

Thanks @shifty` that's some useful info. I haven't felt like I needed UCA's since alignment has been good, and only get slight rub at full lock. Looks like the only thing I may be skipping is the rack tie rods, but they will get replaced when I do the steering rack, along with bushings.

 

You can do that but depending on who I asked here, the response ranged from "not that bad" to "terrible". One member tried to push his out with a bottle jack and bent the arm instead. Because of that, I just bought all new arms from Toyota that include new bushings. They were $500 during the Black Friday sale.

Even if you buy just the bushings, they are expensive. Some people have had success installing Siberian bushings. Apparently hard to find since the Ukraine war.

I'm glad I chose to get new arms. They should last another 20 years.

 

It's not just the LCA bushings that are supposedly a bitch, people have complained about UCA bushings also. Pressing in, pressing out seems to be the major complaint. Maybe if you have a dedicated press it's less of a PITA, but ...