This is the last straw...CV replacement 95 chev

[Blk94fiveOh]

:angry: Welp.....Its official I hate my new truck. In case any of you have missed any of my previous posts...I'll get you up to date...

I purchased the truck (95 2500 silverado 8 lug) in november, and so far I've put over $700 worth of parts/towing into the damn thing. Now, I realize that the truck is used with quite a few miles on it, but it was maintained well, and I *thought* it would be good for another few years of reliable plowing. Boy was I wrong. Not only is the truck terribly underpowered (whoever designed the gm tbi should be shot), gets terrible gas mileage (270-300 a tank), but it can't even run for a week without breaking down. When its running, its a nice truck, and it plows great...the problem is keeping it running. Don't blame all these problems I'm having on lack of maintenance/driving either, because I maintain all my vehicles very well, and I drive my trucks like a grandpa. I have a 95 f-150 with almost 190K on it that has had only a few minor problems. I'm begining to think that if I would of put a plow on the ford it would of been more reliable plow truck than this GM piece of trash. :angry:


ok, now for this weeks repair...
We got a few inches of snow today, so I was out making the rounds, when bam...I hear a loud "clunk clunk" from the front axle area. I take a peek under the truck, and sure enough, the drivers side Inner CV boot is cracked (grease everywhere) and the halfshaft has a tremendous amount of play in it. (on the inside. Near the carrier). I think I totally destroyed the inner cv joint, because the front tire wouldn't even move after the clunk. I could hear something spinning up front, but the tires wouldn't move. It also made a terrible sounding clunk when I limped it home. (even in 2wd) CV JOINTS BELONG ON IMPORTS, NOT IN TRUCKS!!!!!!:angry:

From what I gather on the internet, It seems like my best bet would be to replace the whole axle shaft with a rebuilt unit from autozone, or checker. It sounds like its a fairly straight forward job, but I wanted to ask on here for some tips/suggestions. Does anyone know how long this procedure will take? Are there any special tools I need besides a 35?mm socket?

Anyone want to buy a 95 silverado? :(

BTW: I'm also taking bets on what my next repair will be, and when it will happen. Place your bets now.

Sorry for my rant...i'm just real fed up with this truck. :(

thanks for your help,
scott

[jajwrigh]

I bet you lose a few cylinders....hope not, but you said to guess.

[Grassmechanic]

Unfortunately, your experiencing the pitfalls of buying a used plow vehicle. Personally, I'd never use anything that didn't have a solid front axle for plowing. U-joints are cheaper than CV's. Hope good luck comes your way soon.

[GLS]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck.

I have the same truck as you and havn't had near the problems you are experiencing. Mine was also a plow truck and still is.

How many miles are on it? WHat did you pay for it? I know you said that YOU maintain your vehicles very well, but what about the previous owner(s)?

When I first got my truck I had to put a litle bit of money into it. But so far it's been running like a dream (knock on wood). Things I have done to mine: intake manifold gasket, brakes, exhaust, thats about it. It's a hell of a work truck.

[goodbeus]

I'd stay away from AutoZone...any part I ever purchased there didn't fit right or didn't last that long...I now go to Pep Boys or NAPA and I've had better luck with their parts...May pay more, but you get what you pay for...

[Eric 1]

Wow, you must have a bum!My family has a total of 20 chevys with combimed miles of over 1 million! I would NEVER buy any other truck. IN all those miles we have had about 3 beak-downs, and 1 was our own fault.
Sorry you are having the problems with it, but i would replace the cv and keep driving it.Like GLS said ''you take good care of it, but did the other guy take care of it''

[UNISCAPER]

First, how many lugs on the wheels and how much GVW? GM had 2500 series with 6 lugs, and those are a bit different than 8 lugs. I plowed with mine for 550,000 miles, then changed from a 350 to a 454 and moved to the west coast. CV joints were replaced at 210,000, and once again at 480,000 miles. I would find yourself a good driveshaft shop and keep out of Crap Auto and the other discount houses. Assuming you get the right parts, they buy the cheapest stuff out there and then pass it along to you.

Get yourself a book by Haynes, or Chilton for that year. They have a step by step or if you give me afax number I can copy the pages you will need and fire it off to you...You will need to remove the spindle housing, and, this could have 3, or 4 5/8" diameter bolts, depends on the rating. Once they are off, you may need to tap that housing slightly with a hammer to get it separated. Once that comes off, and you have the axle nut off, those charming brakes removed, it is pretty easy...

[UNISCAPER]

Don't let ths one get to you...All trucks have thier issues...Ford has what i call the best cab/frame, but the E4OD transmission belongs as a boat anchor not in a work truck, and the new 5 speed they have has more issues than I care to list.

GM's L88E and 700R4 trannies are the best electric shift 4 speed out there.

Dodge has the best engine with the Cummins, with all the other second rate junk on that truck, like frames that crack from torque behind the drivers door, and the worst automatic tranny in the business, there is not one truck that will work like the old vacuum shift T 400, C-6, or 727 Torqueflight trannies did.

Live axles are better for plowing, but if your truck was speced right to begin with, it will last fine.

[Eric 1]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by UNISCAPER
[B]Don't let ths one get to you...All trucks have thier issues...Ford has what i call the best cab/frame, but the E4OD transmission belongs as a boat anchor not in a work truck, and the new 5 speed they have has more issues than I care to list.

GM's L88E and 700R4 trannies are the best electric shift 4 speed out there.

Dodge has the best engine with the Cummins, with all the other second rate junk on that truck, like frames that crack from torque behind the drivers door, and the worst automatic tranny in the business, there is not one truck that will work like the old vacuum shift T 400, C-6, or 727 Torqueflight trannies did.


Boy you said it all. :blob4:

[kennyb]

you can get a lemon with any manufacturer. i'm a gm man. i have 7 of them. my 88 2500 has 576,000 miles on it. 2nd engine, 3rd tranny. it is a everyday driver and plow truck. mufflers, brakes, fuel pump etc are all items that don't last forever.

[ksland]

Thats not that much money to put into a truck, its 9 yrs old for Christ sake! Still better than a $600 truck payment every month, and then horrible resale to purchase price ratio. Yes the Cv joints are a bad design for strength but $129 part that requires the same labor as a $20 part is onlt $100 a whack difference, and in the meantime you get a much smoother ride. There are goods and bads about both designs. The truck will still clunk in 2wd because the axles are always turning. Some preventative maintenance from someone who knows what to look for would have prevented downtime on the job. It amazes me how much hype goes with the chevy ford dodge race. There are goods and bads about every truck on the road, new or old.

[Metro Lawn]

So many people dump on the Dodge trucks.. I don't care for the newer Dodges myself, but I won't buy anything but a Dodge (an old one) I hear it all the time. Why do you buy these old trucks? Because they are bullet proof. Out of 8 trucks, 6 of them are 91 or older Dodges. They run and work with very little down time and NO trans problems. I do have a 96 Ram and a 95 Chevy as well. The Chevy came with a package deal when we bought another lco out. That Chevy has been ok, but has let us down in a pinch a few times. The Dodges have always pulled their weight. I can't say enough good things about them. I just hope I can keep finding the older trucks as we grow. I don't have much faith in any brands newer models. I hear the same complaints about them all. You see it every time we get a big snow. All kinds of new trucks sitting on the side of the road or at trans shops. They just don't make them as they use to. I really think they should bring back the old style transmissions as an option in the new trucks. TF727,C-6, TH400 Now there's an idea!!!

[Katwalk]

Scott......my suggestion is to take out the 94 mustang and beat the ever living crap out of it and see if anything breaks....I doubt it will because ford seems to have built those specific cars bullet proof. I have the same 95 Chevy that I bought in October and spent $900 for an updated 4WD actuator and front passenger side axle end. The truck has over 140k and is getting tired. Good luck

[Blk94fiveOh]

Sorry for the delayed responce, but i've been busy gearing up for spring...The axle was a piece of cake to replace. I just had to unbolt the shock to gain enough room to remove/replace the cv axle.


Thats not that much money to put into a truck, its 9 yrs old for Christ sake! Well If I have to put this kind of money into it every month, then yes it will be alot of money.

Some preventative maintenance from someone who knows what to look for would have prevented downtime on the job. I had checked the boots for tears when I changed the oil about 2000 miles before it broke. Is this the preventative maintenance you speak of, or am I missing something else?


First, how many lugs on the wheels and how much GVW?
Its the 8 lug. 8600 lb I believe.?

Scott......my suggestion is to take out the 94 mustang and beat the ever living crap out of it and see if anything breaks....I doubt it will because ford seems to have built those specific cars bullet proof. I have the same 95 Chevy that I bought in October and spent $900 for an updated 4WD actuator and front passenger side axle end. The truck has over 140k and is getting tired. Good luck

Its funny you say this because I do beat the living crap out of my mustang. I have broken the stock t-5 transmission powershifting, which has been replaced with a (almost) bulletproof tremec tko for $1200. Other than the tranny, I havn't broken anything..NOTHING. Keep in mind I have upgraded many things on this vehicle including, clutch, heads, and the valvetrain, not because of breakage, but because of the performance gain. But I drive the mustang HARD, and I havn't been standed yet. ( I blew 3rd gear so i could drive it home) If I drove the mustang like I drive my trucks, it would last forever, and I would still be shifting the stock tranny. Yes, I know this is comparing apples to oranges.



Sorry again for my original rant, I was just real frustrated with the amount of repairs that I was having to do with the new truck. I agree with what some of you have said; that all mfg.'s have good and bad designs. I don't want to come across as some kind of ford tool. I'm going to keep the chevy, and keep my fingers crossed. I do like the truck, it just needs more power.

have a good day, and thanks for the replies/ moral support ;)

scott

[Dragonscapes]

5 lugs are 1/2 ton 4x2 6 lugs are 1/2 4x4
8 lugs are 3/4 1 ton 4x2 and 4x4 I've played with and owned enough GM/chev's and ready to many books for it to be wrong. Your not doing to bad on repairs vs. purchase price my dad supervised the last truck that was purchased big mistake he bought it as is for 8k. we put 2900 into the front end 3 days later the alternator the 4x4 linear actuator (really stupid design). He had a hitch put on it the truck has a power tailgate with a skidplate to guard the motor and such. The place that installed the hitch cut out most of the skid plate when they didn't need to even cut it. My dad told them ohh ok if you know what your doing that's fine didn't have them repair it, well backed over some ice this winter now the power tailgate don't work. we lifted the Bed liner only to step though the bottom of the box it's completely rotten. We still have to replace a CV joint and belt tensioner. No tranny problems though it somehow got downgraded from 4spd auto to a 3 spd auto. It's a diesel (6.2 converted gas) we had to replace the glowplugs $220 the block heater is shot. had to redo the fuel lines,fuel heater and replace the fuel pump. I think we have you beat on repairs :) it runs pretty reliably now get's great mileage 7-800km in 4x4 plowing was costly and taught my dad a lot about used trucks but it will probably run another 10 years without any problems at all after this :) 8k truck has had 9 K put into it almost the price of a almost new truck

[pottstim]

Originally posted by Dragonscapes
It's a diesel (6.2 converted gas)


The 6.2 L Diesel is not a gas converted engine. You are thinking about the 5.7L 350 diesel.

[mulchmonkey2000]

Originally posted by Dragonscapes
5 lugs are 1/2 ton 4x2 6 lugs are 1/2 4x4
8 lugs are 3/4 1 ton 4x2 and 4x4 I've played with and owned enough GM/chev's and ready to many books for it to be wrong.


Chevy does make or did make??(not sure if they still do) a 6 lug 3/4 ton k2500 series truck. My 95 diesel is a k2500 with 6 lugs.

[Dragonscapes]

It was documented that the 6.2 was a converted gas engine. the 6.2 had many problems most of which were fixed by the mid 80's and the 6.5 was build from the ground up. The 6.2 was made quickly to get Gm's light duty trucks into the diesel market. I could plug the glow plug holes and pull the bolts out of the spark plug holes right now and with a few other little changes make it into a high compression gas engine. You can check this at chevytalk.com

As for the lugs I'm pretty sure any chevy owner in Canada would agree with me. Unless it was an option that was only made on US trucks

[GLS]

First of all there was a light duty 2500 with six lugs (7200 lbs gvw)...it really was more of a heavy duty half-ton in my opinion. See attatched pic for proof.

Secondly, i'm pretty sure the 6.2 and 6.5 diesels were NOT converted gas engines. THey were designed by detroit diesel for GM.

In fact, none of the diesels were CONVERTED. They may have been based on gas engines, but not converted.

I guess I would just like to see some proof because I think that statement is false.

Anyways, I looked on ebay real quick for a 6-lug 2500. Here you go:

[LeoS818]

The 5.7 diesel of the late 70s and early 80s was based on the Oldsmobile small block.

[Dragonscapes]

I'll post a pic after I charge my batteries haven't used camera in a while.

Like I said I had never seen a 6 lug 3/4 ton or heard of or read about any but picture is proof they do exist

[Dragonscapes]

did some double checking
5.7 absolute converted gas
6.2 diesel was designed off of GM's 400 gas for GM as an economical reliable Diesel which is why it can be converted to Gas with a few changes.
6.5 Designed from ground up.
Apparently I was mistaken about it being "converted gas" however I will post a pic after my batteries are charged.