Dodge First Gen Cummins Suspension rebuild D350 4000lb axle Increased Height Parts List

[@ironjohn5914]

Back when Dodge made ah truck!!

[@ironjohn5914]

🇺🇸

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

I managed a fleet of Cummins Powered D350s, year models ranging from 1988 to 2000. We had one of the first Cummins powered D350s in the South. We had to completely rebuild the front ends about every two years. The ball joints were hopeless. We tried every brand on the market and finally just accepted the fact that the front end had a two year life span. Of course they were on the road 10 - 12 hours a day, six days a week. I hope yours lasts another 33 years!

[@bcbloc02]

My yellow truck in my thumbnail is a summer of 88 truck. It has the earliest Serial # I have ever seen. It is only a 3/4 ton and it doesn't trailer because of the utility box but I have over 125000mi on the ball joints in it. I use a heavy duty moly grease in the steering components that is specially designed for high shock load and wear. It seems to work really well at making them last. most normal greases get squeezed out of the spots that contact and you end up with metal to metal contact. One of the guys at work had just done the ball joints on his 09 3500 4wd and I was surprised how much smaller they were than in my truck. He still got 100k out of his though and they weren't regreasable like mine. Of course you figure the mileage running 6 days a week and they probably had 200,000mi on them in 2 yr pretty easy.

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

The ball joints on ours looked like 1/2 ton pieces. And yes, we were running the wheels off ours. 100,000 plus per year. You must have a very unusual truck as ours were not greasable either. We actually were a candidate for Cummins field test of the 5.9 in highway use but lost to Coca Cola. Of all the ones we owned over the years, we only had one injector pump problem! They were bullet proof!

[@mattcurry29]

Nice work Brian.

[@bcbloc02]

Thanks!

[@oldschool6345]

And the coal miner award goes to....... you did a terrific job considering you were filming this, anyone who has done a whole front end knows how much work and aggrevation comes with it. Then to break off and play with cameras and get that footage, bravo. I was "schooled" many years ago by a chassis man who told me when replacing all wear components in your front end, reinstall all your shims or eccentrics exactly as they were. Marking cams or counting shims whatever applies. The idea is that all the varibles in production have been predetermined when you took it apart. When it is reassembled that way, it will be close enough to actual alignment it can be safely driven and used until you can get proper alignment. I've personally done this it works. I know its late to tell you now but it might be useful later or help someone else. I bet you will like driving it when its done, knowing the difference.

[@bcbloc02]

After a little tweaking it tracks perfect now and is smooth. It was pulling hard one way before I started working on it so I know it needed help. I am amazed how much noise it has reduced. I guess those old hard bushings really made it rough. Drives better than it ever has since I have owned it!

[@oldschool6345]

I''ll drive like new money with new tires. It's true you never realize how bad it gets as you are wearing it out. What the chassis man told me was that even if its pulling or toe out/in, camber is bad doesn't matter. you can measure center of tie rod ends to the tie rod, mark your cams etc, keep all the shims exactly the same. The end result will be very close to true alignment. I did that with one work truck, never did get it aligned, the tires showed correct wear for thousands of miles. Of course that relies upon certain knowledge that the vehicle hasn't been altered trying to compensate for worn out parts that should have been replaced. The vehicles I've done it to were 250,000 to 300,000 mile trucks that i was the primary owner and ran most of those miles in my ownership. Haha it'll be like a vacation just driving it for a while.

[@peteferguson7024]

When that lower control arm let go I think I heard the bang up here in Canada :) Good call on getting ready for a heavy haul.... most prepare with a cell phone once stranded... . Good luck on the trip. Take Care

[@bcbloc02]

That was what happened when the radiator hose blew. LOL

[@aaronbrown284]

good job buddy

[@TODDFINK1]

I love seeing all that grease. Shows good maintenance. My jeep is a greasy and anti-sieze mess but she sure does come apart and go back together nice when i need to work on it. Nice job!

[@bcbloc02]

Extra grease and anti seize is low budget rust proofing. :-)

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

You got a lot done on a weekend.

[@bcbloc02]

It was a long day and a half. I had to saw most of the bushing into to get them out of the arms as they were rust frozen in too tight to press without bending up the arm. No fun!

[@ypop417]

Well that will improve the ride for you Brian!

[@bcbloc02]

The truck makes a lot less squeeks and creaks now. After some fiddling with the alignment adjustments it drives better than it ever has since I have owned it.

[@ypop417]

Hold on they're speedy it's no Viper! LOL

[@gabriellaferrunaj3362]

Really wish you showed how to get the upper off

[@bcbloc02]

The upper ball joint is threaded into the arm, you need a big socket and probably a torch and some penetrating oil to get it to screw out and not mess up the threads.

[@mostlymoparih5682]

Nice job. Oh and nice truck too.

[@bcbloc02]

Thanks!

[@justinnokes1190]

Your so lucky to have a beauty like that!

[@carryitaround]

When I look over my list of youtubes to view. I always chose yours first

[@bcbloc02]

That is an awesome honor!!!

[@bcbloc02]

@Maddog worker Rockauto

[@donc81]

Is that a truck shop? Nice gantry hoist. Good video Brian

[@bcbloc02]

No it is a tractor shop. I work for a John Deere dealer.

[@donc81]

bcbloc02 that's cool. I figured you were some sort of mechanic. I'm a diesel mechanic myself for a trucking company in Washington

[@travisshrewsbury7169]

glad to see you taking such good care of the ol girl

[@63256325N]

Thanks for the video.

[@RGSABloke]

H iBrian, is that hose burst at 3:49? (Top leftish) Also I cannot believe (given the age of the truck) how little rust is on the chassis legs. Here in Scotland even metal at 1/8inch would be rusted through with the road salt on a truck of that age. The councils are now using salt which is 3 times more corrosive that a few years ago because it is cheaper???????? God job, I can only image the work you had getting the left hand side joint to drop. Kindest regards. Joe . PS. You look like a guy who had spent a day working on suspension, we have all been there young man.

[@bcbloc02]

The key is I don't ever drive the truck when salt is on the roads. We too have localities now using a brine chemical that will even corrode aluminum so the semi trucks aren't safe from rusting down either anymore. I am going to put on stainless braided brake hoses.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Here in Canada, the heavy road seasoning is also hell for cars and trucks... :(

[@RGSABloke]

bcbloc02 I knew your razor sharp eyesight would have caught it Brian. Cheers. Joe.

[@binks166]

Hey Brian, I do all of the repair work on our cars. Kids, grand kids, and occasional niece and nephew Just worked on my son in laws KIA. KIA wanted over $800, I did it for $142 Well worth the effort and saving them money. I'm trying to pass on the knowledge to my 14 year old grandson. I enjoy your channel and good on you ! Harvey from Nebraska ,

[@bcbloc02]

Thanks Harvey!

[@joejohnston6306]

what were the AC DELCO part numbers for the springs you used ?

[@autoapple6915]

like to know P/N also on thew coils

[@tinkermouse-scottrussell3738]

I liked this content Brian, nice work.

[@SuperYtviewer]

congrats on the rebuild of an old friend. - Annie

[@infoanorexic]

Brian, something to keep an eye on with those trucks is the mounting plate for the steering box which could be prone to flexing and cracking, and the raised areas that it mounts to in the frame. I had to repair mine at around 400,000. Those that have 4x4 need to keep an eye on the top of the frame rail near where the spring fastens on the front. there is a recess where cracks are known to appear.

[@bcbloc02]

No mounting plate on a 2wd the steering box bolts straight to the frame. The broken plate is a 4x4 thing usually aggravated by tires wider than stock. I think they did make a backing plate you could add to stiffen the frame mounts. Sad yours only made it to 400,000mi before it needed fixing. :-) Thanks for the tips.

[@infoanorexic]

bcbloc02 oh,goody! well, the info might help someone else...

[@MyShopNotes]

Great vid, I learned a bunch of stuff. Thanks Brian.

[@bcbloc02]

Glad to hear it and thanks for stopping by Steve.

[@caemaridwn]

Man of many talents Brian keep it up, are you a video of the road trip.

[@bcbloc02]

Jack of many trades master of none as they say.

[@caemaridwn]

No Brian your a very skilled man without blowing your trumpet lol

[@FirstGendodgegarage]

how did you get the spring in , i have a 1986 d250 and ive upgrded my spring its a little larger , do you reccommed using a spring compressor ?

[@bcbloc02]

I was able to stick them in with the ball joints loose then just jack them up with a floor jack to reattach the ball joint. I did not use a spring compressor most are not heavy made enough for diesel truck springs.

[@meocats]

what do you need a radial drill for when you got a boring mill?

[@bcbloc02]

Sometimes it is a lot easier to do setups to drill down rather than having to bolt to an angle plate to use the HBM. Besides I think drill presses are a fairly common and handy shop tool and I don't have one, so why not get the king of drill presses?

[@meocats]

maybe you won't use it that often and rather spend those funds on something else

[@anthonyrusso2423]

its a peace of shit Dodge what a waste of money

[@johnhebberd2248]

Can you give me the part numbers for the springs and shocks?

[@bcbloc02]

Part numbers in the description but looks like the springs have since been discontinued. :-(

[@johnhebberd2248]

@@bcbloc02 damn. Thank you for the reply, sir! I replaced most of the front but have the ball joints, springs, and shocks to do, as well as the brakes to do one of these weekends. Thanks again.

[@FirstGendodgegarage]

WHAT SPRINGS DID YOU USE AND DID IT LIFT IT

[@bcbloc02]

First Gen Zac The heaviest rated ac delco brand springs rock auto showed for a d350 it sits up pretty good now, at least 2” higher than the old saggy springs.

[@bcbloc02]

All Part numbers used are in the description.

[@FirstGendodgegarage]

@@bcbloc02 got it and got mine installed I added a 1 inch soon spacer on top worked nicely

[@nynoperales6521]

Does the moog 7226S coil springs fit my 1992 D350?

[@bcbloc02]

As long as you have the 4000lb axle rock auto says they do. I don’t have any personal experience with that spring to confirm.

[@nynoperales6521]

@@bcbloc02 how do I can find what axel my truck have?

[@JeffHeathTheVintageWorkshop]

Nice job. Ready for another 100k miles. Nice low mileage truck. My 2012 Ram just turned 100k.

[@bcbloc02]

It took me about 15yrs of watching to find a crew cab in this good of shape. Congrats on the milestone with your Ram.

[@auburnfolsom]

Good job Brian ! I've done several of those (ball joint / control arm bushing replacements) in my youth. I too am a big fan of Never-Seize & use it on just about everything where threads are involved. Sure makes future disassembly a lot easier & also saves on breakage as well. I don't use Loctite on anything, unless it's absolutely necessary. Mostly just on worn or high pressure press fit applications only. I've run into too many situations where it was used where it shouldn't have been & parts got destroyed in the disassembly process as a result. Hope your road trip is enjoyable & successful (you make some neat acquisitions). I'll look forward to seeing those & hearing of your road trip adventures. Perhaps you could do some filming while on the road (?), like Abom79 did on his trip to the swap-meet in GA & his trip to Pensacola recently.

[@bcbloc02]

I have multiple strengths of loctite for different applications I usually use the medium(blue) for something that I will need to take back apart again that I don't want to need heat to get to release. Since loctite seals the threads it prevents corrosion between the nut and bolt and can actually make disassembly easier because of that. If you use the low strength(clear) you get the sealing benefits with virtually no resistance to disassembly unless of course you work with watch sized bolts or something.

[@jamesrobinson7108]

thank you for the video tell bailey I said hellow

[@bcbloc02]

Baily says thanks!

[@chevy6794]

What year is that? 4 door? Full back seats? I didn’t think they existed?

[@bcbloc02]

Cheviesel Cheviesel It is an 84 4 door crew cab with full bench seats front and rear and even legroom!! Probably the roomiest back seat in a Dodge until the mega cab became available.

[@chevy6794]

You must have changed the grill? Nice truck.

[@bcbloc02]

@@chevy6794 Yes I had to change the core support to use the factory intercooler and radiator. As such the grill had to be changed to match as the old grills won't clear the intercooler without mods, well at least if you have air conditioning they won't.

[@jimzivny1554]

Hauling RR track and another machine, gotta be safe. The springs will settle some after a few days of driving, I'd wait a day or two before the alignment just to be sure. I'd check the ujoints and hangar bearing(s) before the trip, it's easier to replace them in the garage than the side of the road somewhere. Be safe

[@bcbloc02]

I had to redo the rear driveshaft when I did the Cummins conversion so it is already all new.

[@jimzivny1554]

bcbloc02 I wasn't accusing you of bad maintenance, in my life being a mechanic I've found it to be something that's overlooked often especially these days since the factories have eliminated grease fittings. To me nothing is "maintenance free" and I think they've done the public a disservice by making vehicles with that mindset. I don't have to tell you everything machine needs maintenance, big, small, all. Sorry about the rant, it's a pet peeve of mine.

[@joetiller1031]

Good job Brian, the truck looks really good, front end work is a pain to fix I see you got it done.

[@rayeddy528]

Thank you Brian for sharing!! You seem to" have your feet on the ground " as my Papaw use to say!! Be safe and God bless you!!!

[@wvrockcrusher]

That's still a good ole truck Brian! It will still be running when all this new junk has started its new life as a soup can. You have a nice variety of videos which I enjoy and I thank you for your time involved with them. Are you getting near Morgantown, WV on your trip? I'm in Preston Co. near there. Have a good trip and be safe Brian!

[@bcbloc02]

Not too much, I am headed to New Haven which is far west West Virginia. I am glad you enjoy the videos!

[@mog5858]

if you can get a good deal on a radial arm drill press you will never go back to a drill press are shop could not function with out one that's why we have 2. :) keep up the good work

[@timothywaterreus9618]

How did you get the lower ball joint out from the knuckle? I am doing my ball joints and can’t seem to remove the lower ball joint to press out as the lower arm is hitting against the brake rotor.

[@bcbloc02]

Is yours a dually? I don’t recall it hitting the rotor. I know I had the hub jacked up good and had to heat it and beat it pretty good to get the stud to come out of the spindle.

[@timothywaterreus9618]

@@bcbloc02 it’s a D350, I ended up having to remove the wheel hub to get the rotor to clear the lower control arm. I got it done but I had to do more work to get it done

[@boatshaper]

Brian, my mom said that when I worked on my car, I transferred all the oil and dirt from the engine onto my coveralls. That was about 60 years ago, but your appearance indicates that things haven't changed much. Maybe dirt is proof of accomplishment?

[@bcbloc02]

I have a lot of success with dirt! lol

[@w056007568]

I'm very surprise you can still get parts for a vehicle of that age - are those manufacturers or alternative suppliers? Hard days work but it must be most satisfying when you get it done.

[@bcbloc02]

Between MOOG and AC-Delco you can buy all the parts new. It cost me about $500 for everything and that was buying the high dollar USA made AC-delco ball joints. I could have saved $100 using Mexican MOOG ones.

[@plnmech]

You should check the headlight adjustment also they may be off with the new ride height..

[@KnolltopFarms]

So @ 3:10, is that why it's called a drop light? LOL, sorry but I couldn't resist using an old one from my autobody days. I really hope it didn't break or I will feel like a jerk...

[@bcbloc02]

It is a pretty tough LED cordelss with a mag base. It sure is handy!

[@jusb1066]

yeah it did sound like it broke, but i doubt any one sane is still using 100w bulb lights. who hasnt burned their head or near set fire to the car whilst using one, that and buying the special heavy duty bulbs that still break every time you put it down a bit hard!

[@rogerjennings5846]

Would of liked to see u put uperball j in and press bushing in

[@ethanashley8347]

Dose anybody know the wheel bearing part number inner and outer on a 90 d350 2wd 4000 pound

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Brian, You're a lucky one with over 30 years of salted treatment and no more rust than this.... Salt is hell for everything that needs to go on the roads in Winter... I find that Dodge trucks are kinda weak on the front end suspension, my 1999, 2500 had to be redone even before 60,000km (less than 40,000 miles....!) and now there is ventilation everywhere cause of the rust... :( I got some third party parts with greasing zerts cause the originals were sealed and no way to grease, so they all got dried FAST... Imagine your bones without cartilage and rubbing together... Ouch...!!! Pour old truck. Cheers, Pierre

[@bcbloc02]

On these old trucks all the ball joints and tie rods could be greased from the factory which really helped their life. Nothing can be done for the old rubber though, it just falls apart with time. This truck does not see use when salt is on the roads. Nice old trucks are very hard to find in this part of the country so I try to take care of it by not subjecting it to the corrosive goo.

[@garyc5483]

Pretty low mileage for a truck that age Brian. She looks to be sitting nicely now. Are you doing the rear as well? regards from the UK

[@bcbloc02]

It is actually the lowest mileage vehicle I own. Everything else is over 200,000 and some are over 300,000mi. Even though my Mercedes is almost identical age to this truck it has 3 times the miles. Of course it rides a lot better so is nicer for the drives where large work doesn't need done. :-)

[@jasonmushersee]

I bet that truck is as powerful as a tank. I worked at a dairy that had a 1991 dodge 3/4 4x4 with diesel engine. It's like tractor. I remember how nice the power steering & brakes were. That thing could pull 2 18ft chopper boxes corn silage across a field like nothing. We used it to transport/rent those 5200 gallon liquid manure tanks and not many pickups could pull those.

[@Volcker1929]

Ok, so dumb question but I will give it a shot. At 7:21 the wheel hub spacer, that seems to be superfluous. Couldn't the engineers just have greatly reduced or inverted the dish on the rim, so the rim mounted directly to the face of the brake disk and keep the tire in the same relative position to rest of the suspension? When I was younger and dumber and looking for aftermarket rims, most people said wheel spacers were a very bad idea. I cannot see the benefit of that huge 5"? spacer, there must (should) be a good reason Dodge engineered it that way...

[@bcbloc02]

It is so the front wheels have the same offset as the back so you can rotate tires. The wheels on a dually have to have an extreme amount of offset so they can mount to each other on the same flange and still allow space for the tires to not rub each other. The spacers allow them to use the same axle on single wheel or dual wheel trucks. You can take the spacer off and mount a standard wheel but then you can't ever use that wheel on the rear axle. I hope that explains it and makes sense.

[@Volcker1929]

That makes perfect sense, thanks for the clarification.

[@theheavydutyamerican807]

What are the part numbers for all the parts you used? I have a 93 and it has 500,000 miles on it and it is needing some TLC.

[@bcbloc02]

I am afraid I don't have a list. I think the ball joints and springs were ac-delco. I know I used the heaviest rated springs rock auto listed.

[@Zach.Smith68]

Was that upper ball joint threaded or pressed in?

[@bcbloc02]

Threaded

[@allen7060]

Check out Purple Wave auctions, location Fairbury, NE. There are a lot of lathe tools up for auction.

[@BillyTpower]

where are you going on your trip?

[@bcbloc02]

WV OH and PA

[@BillyTpower]

Sounds like a fun road trip, I was in Charleston WV last year, it's awesome there. if you get a chance take a tour through the coal mining exhibits, it really makes you appreciate your job that's for sure.

[@kmcwhq]

Somehow I was thinking you worked in a machine shop. If they'll allow it, how about a video tour of the workplace?

[@bcbloc02]

We are supposed to be getting a new store, maybe it will be video worthy. This one is a pretty hacked up mess. I have done work in machine shops but not where I work. In fact I sometimes contract machine work to them. :-)

[@kevinhornbuckle]

Have a safe trip. Bring your camera on the road with you.

[@phillipyannone3195]

Were those cracked brake hoses I saw?

[@bcbloc02]

Got braided stainless ones ordered

[@kenarrigo]

I bet u .bring home big.go with 6030 .430. big cleavland .

[@oldschool6345]

Brake hose brake hose brake hose---- lol poor guy does all that work and everyones telling him what he didn't do.

[@pastorjustin4181]

We need to "see the how to" 😣

[@mccarman3573]

Do you think you got your regulator ghost taken care of? Have a great trip ;)

[@bcbloc02]

I hope so! Won't know for a couple of months though.

[@rhubarbcrumble3792]

Brake hose !!!!!!!

[@bcbloc02]

Got braided stainless ones ordered.

[@waynep343]

if those brake calipers have phenolic pistons.. put new calipers on also. with phenolic pistons not steel.. the phenoilc stop the fluid in the calipers from getting IR from the brake pads and rotors.. reman calipers are cheap and come with new phenolic pistons. if the rotors have any taper to them.. turn those also to get the best braking. in a shop i worked at that did a bucket load of front suspension.. we had a floor jack that had chain hooks in several locations on the sides... so we could hook chains to the usual truck frame when putting springs back in to stop the truck from lifting off the stands while trying to compress the thick springs.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Maybe that was what was wrong with your voltage regulator. It was running down hill all the time. 4k springs for the 2800 h.p. and up a bit will help the weight transfer. And another LARGE machine won't surprise me OR Baily. You better take him with you when you go. He'll sull for sure OR maybe he'd rather stay home being the guard BED dog.

[@bcbloc02]

Baily loves to ride but I doubt his ADD could tolerate a 16hr drive.

[@charlescompton4495]

Good Job! If you come my way stop by and pick me up for one of those trips. Maybe we can go down and visit "Abom79", Greg.

[@bcbloc02]

I don't think Florida will be on the route but I do want to go visit the ABOM79 machine shop someday for sure!

[@ccfoam]

Do you ever sleep? lol

[@AverageJoe2020]

Hi Brian, Nice work, I especially approve of your use of never seize-good stuff. One thing I noticed, not sure if it's my sight, but, is the brake flexi on the left split?, please tell me it's okay? J.

[@bcbloc02]

The outer rubber is dry rot cracked. It has suffered the same age fate as the suspension bushings did. I have got braided stainless ones ordered

[@limuemu4364]

the brake hose (not line) is cracked. I have seen hoses cracked like, have a weak inside layer that acts as a one way valve, preventing release of caliper. High five for not tightening until on the ground. Edit: added high five

[@bcbloc02]

I think in one of my videos I showed putting braided stainless brake hoses on it. I have them front and rear.

[@limuemu4364]

I did see it on the rear end video I watched after so I figured you had it covered. Sorry, still catching up.