Do I need to replace my axle shaft seals when I change out my ball joints? I have looked for how to's on this but have found nothing could some one maybe send me a link so I can see what to do. Thanks..

 

Somewhere in here they changed some of the parts so yours may be slightly different than my 99. This project is not complicated but it is a lot of work and I would reccomend changing everything you can while you are in there. This will keep you from having to do it again a few miles down the road.

As long as you work slow the seals should be fine. In my truck the whole bearing, hub and rotor had to come out to get to the ball joint. Put the truck on jack stands, pull the calipers and the bolts holding the assembly in place. Start the truck and put a deep well socket between the hub assembly and the axle housing. Turn the steering wheel using the power steering to pop the whole thing lose. Once it's loose just pull it all out of the housing.

If these are the factory ball joints they will be a pain to break lose. In my case I twisted on a ball press while the kid hels the air hammer on them and they finally broke lose. If all else fails just takem to a shop and pay em $10 to press em out. I used anti-seize on the new ones so I don't have to fight like that the next time.

When I did this I changed the rotor w/studs, bearings, ball joints and U joints. I did not want to do that again for a long time. Al of these things weren't bad, but they were close enough for me while it was apart.

 

Thanks for the reply, I am going to change them this weekend so wish me luck. I just bought the truck 2 months ago so I don't know what I am getting into..

 

I had my axles out almost once a month for a while when I had my 98 (wheel bearings, u-joints, balljoints ect.) and the seals were fine. just try not to hit the inside of the axle tube too much, if you do you'l push or introduce crud into the seal and pumkin