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MaxPF helped with some Hummer projects today: rebuilt the passenger side lower control arm (new bushings and ball joint), swapped out the diff, put a new diff mount on the driver's side, swapped in a new axle since my last new axle shot out all of its grease. And put on a new skid plate. And new axle seals. I think we spent about seven hours on these projects.
The LCA isn't really that fun to do. Took about 10-15 minutes to get the forward bushing out of the control arm, and another 30+ to put the new one it. The bushing has rubber at each end that's wider than the LCA opening and the bushing do not easily go through that hole. It was a fight it until you think you're going to break it kind of deal.
The rear bushing sits inside the crossmember. It wasn't likely going to come out using a standard ball joint press, or at least the kit that I rented from O'Reilly. MaxPF had to innovate some solutions with parts from the garage, including Cummings head bolts and other miscellaneous parts. Probably 45 minutes messing with this bushing too.
The ball joint was stubborn but finally came out with an impact and the ball joint press. A nice feature of the OEM replacement is that it has a greasable fitting.
Not sure I would go through this project again. It was a heck of a lot of work getting the LCA out of the truck and back in, including three attempts at adjusting the front bushing to slide in just right into the frame crossmember.
One nice result was that my driver's side diff mount - original and six years old - had not failed. I replaced it anyway. I tore up 2 passenger side mounts and five or six crossmember mounts, but the rubber driver's mount has held up. Perhaps because more of the weight of the diff is on the passenger side, or perhaps the drivetrain torque has something do to with it. I don't know.
The new skid plate was interesting (the black ribbed one, not the aluminum splash shield). There are vent holes in the vertical bend on the passenger side, maybe to allow cooling air for the diff. Also there are two rear mounting holes on the passenger side to accommodate the two different type of OEM crossmembers. And the two leading bolt holes are now both slots vs. previously one was a slot and one was a hole. Makes it a bit easier to move it around and get it lined up properly.
The LCA isn't really that fun to do. Took about 10-15 minutes to get the forward bushing out of the control arm, and another 30+ to put the new one it. The bushing has rubber at each end that's wider than the LCA opening and the bushing do not easily go through that hole. It was a fight it until you think you're going to break it kind of deal.
The rear bushing sits inside the crossmember. It wasn't likely going to come out using a standard ball joint press, or at least the kit that I rented from O'Reilly. MaxPF had to innovate some solutions with parts from the garage, including Cummings head bolts and other miscellaneous parts. Probably 45 minutes messing with this bushing too.
The ball joint was stubborn but finally came out with an impact and the ball joint press. A nice feature of the OEM replacement is that it has a greasable fitting.
Not sure I would go through this project again. It was a heck of a lot of work getting the LCA out of the truck and back in, including three attempts at adjusting the front bushing to slide in just right into the frame crossmember.
One nice result was that my driver's side diff mount - original and six years old - had not failed. I replaced it anyway. I tore up 2 passenger side mounts and five or six crossmember mounts, but the rubber driver's mount has held up. Perhaps because more of the weight of the diff is on the passenger side, or perhaps the drivetrain torque has something do to with it. I don't know.
The new skid plate was interesting (the black ribbed one, not the aluminum splash shield). There are vent holes in the vertical bend on the passenger side, maybe to allow cooling air for the diff. Also there are two rear mounting holes on the passenger side to accommodate the two different type of OEM crossmembers. And the two leading bolt holes are now both slots vs. previously one was a slot and one was a hole. Makes it a bit easier to move it around and get it lined up properly.
