1998 awd ball joints and most steering components

ANYTHING TO DO WITH STEERING, FROM STOCK TO RACK AND PINION UPGRADES
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Topic author
maing bus
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2011 6:36 pm

1998 awd ball joints and most steering components

Post by maing bus »

So I took the 98 awd to get an alignment done the other day. Long story short is they told me it needs to have about 1500 dollars work done. me being me, i took the list of to do items from the local les schwaab and headed straight for napa. got all parts on the list for about 500 dollars!

I am new to the awd astro vans....where is the best place to jack up the front of these things. I am going to replace the upper and lower ball joints, brakes on all four corners and all steering related parts. anybody have any tips on how to make this service go quick and easy?

thanks guys!

Jamie
I want to replace that slug bug thing with Maing bus!

ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

Re: 1998 awd ball joints and most steering components

Post by ihatemybike »

Sounds like you need to do what I'm currently in the middle of with Green. I used a floor jack in the middle of the front cross member then put a jack stand on both sides of it. Looks a bit close, but it's stable.

It's really pretty straight forward. The rivets for the ball joints are a pain. A 3/8" hex on a ratchet speeds the brakes a bit.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86

Topic author
maing bus
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2011 6:36 pm

Re: 1998 awd ball joints and most steering components

Post by maing bus »

I need to spin this thing to get access to the bolts behind it. Can I spin the front wheels if its in neutrground both front wheels are off the ground? Van is awd.

Thanks for any help guys!
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I want to replace that slug bug thing with Maing bus!

ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

Re: 1998 awd ball joints and most steering components

Post by ihatemybike »

I had four wheels off the ground and the van in neutral when I did mine.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86

Cobra
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Re: 1998 awd ball joints and most steering components

Post by Cobra »

in park with both front wheels off the ground you should have absolutely no problem rotating the hub assembly, the other side will just spin the opposite direction
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone
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