Hey all,
Got a 2003 Sierra 1500, 4WD, 5.3 with 275,000km on the clock. I've had it about 3 years and done some maintenance on it (brakes, muffler, plugs & wires, EVAP codes, driveline U-Joints etc) but prior to that I don't know its service history.
I'm going to need some new tires going into next winter. My current tires have a bit of odd wear on them (see photo) and I don't want to wreck a brand new set so before that happens I'm directing my attention to the front end.
Other than the tire wear, there is a bit of a knocking, usually at low speed on uneven ground. I've heard that the steering intermediate shaft (with the u-joint into the steering box) can be the culprit there. Hard to say if mine's gone, there is a lot of rotational play if I wiggle the shaft by hand but I think that play is coming from the steering box. U-Joint at least appears to be ok at first glance.
When it comes to the front end I can't decide how much time and money I want to pour into it this year. I don't see myself buying a new truck within the next 18-24 months so it needs to be safe, reliable and not eat tires. On the other hand she's got some other issues (bodywork is rusting out pretty bad, exhaust leak from manifold where a bolt broke, intermittent passlock issues where it won't start) and I don't want to piss money into the wind and throw 2 grand into a truck that ends up being worth... Still about 2 grand.
So I have to decide how much work to do on it. And there's always the trap of "while you're in there, might as well..."
I have cracked ball joint boots. Aim to replace those at least but the control arm bushings are cracking too so "might as well" look into buying control arms. CV boots look fine but the inside mounting flange is covered in dirty oily mess... So "might as well" look into doing axle shaft/diff seals? And if the CV joints are off well you naturally consider replacing them while you're there. Tie rod boots are starting to crack... As are sway bar link bushings... Oily spots everywhere so start looking at pinion seals, p/s lines, pitman arms, idler arms... Where does it end? Should I put a levelling kit in it and buy bigger tires while I'm at it (Ok probably not going to do that last one).
I know RockAuto has some kits (mostly Mevotech Original Grade or Mevotech Supreme), something like this or this . $190-292 Canadian isn't so bad. Shipping is actually surprisingly ok as well (usually RockAuto shipping to BC doubles the price). Still would have to add sway bar links to that and consider the upper/lower control arms and pitman/idler arms. I don't know what the quality of these parts are though. If the cheaper "Original Grade" lasted 5 years I'd be happy with that, but maybe with that expectation you need to to the more expensive "Supreme"?
Anyway I'm rambling. The more I think about spending time and money on the truck the more I start wondering about buying rocker panels and welding body parts and going the whole restoration route. But I need my daily driver first and foremost.
What would you do in my position? How deep would you go, and how cheap could you go?
D
