What have you done to your HMMWV today/lately

Awhile back I mentioned that my driver's rear tire was wearing oddly on the outside edge, chewing it up. You all recommended that I check the toe-out IAW the 20-2.

I checked everything. I did the "grasp and shake" tests. Spindle bearings, control arm bushings, radius arms are all very snug. No play at all.
Next, I did the string test. 3mm gap between the string and the rear of the rear tire on the driver's side and 1mm on the passenger side. 3mm is max allowed.
Next, I did the chalk-and-roll test. The distance at the "point of measurement" was shorter on the rear of the tires than the front of the tires, which indicates "toe out", which is correct according to the manual.

A bit of background:

When I first bought the truck, it had crappy bias tires. I hauled a$$ home, 80 miles at 55mph without a hitch. The bias tires looked perfectly fine.
I upgraded to 12-bolt wheels and M/T's. (Admittedly used). We've driven the truck many miles at slower speeds around town and I never noticed the odd wear pattern.

I did not notice this wear pattern until I drove the truck to work and back one day at 55-60mph. I'm beginning to suspect that the problem is the tire and not the truck. I have a low tread spare tire that has perfectly evenly worn tread. I've installed it and I'm going to cautiously drive the truck and observe the outside edge.

If it starts looking chewed up then I know that I probably didn't perform my measurements precisely enough and I'll try again. I'll try to entice some local-ish M998 owner to come work with me.

Sent my rig in for:

4 speed 765R4 (700R4 upgraded variant) installation, along with new electric imitation X-door installation, rear Airlift-bumper installation, pintle extension, and assessment for lifting the frame 2" to allow install the Whipple AND assessment for installation of the Red-dot A/C. Also little jobs like installing the radio rack (might be temporary if I gotta change the doghouse to fit the Whipple). Gonna also install the front 12k winch and make a rear custom mount for a rear 12K winch.

Then gonna look into heating system upgrades IF this setup is lacking. Will first ensure all ductwork is intact as that is a primary cause of crappy heating IMHO. Ductwork falls apart with time so I will replace with something better.

If I need to make a custom doghouse, I will cover Whipple with 1"-2" of bubble wrap (to make a space to allow for engine motion), and mold a new doghouse inner over that made from heat resistant muffler type tape or something similar. Then fiberglass batting for heat and sound resistance, then a fiberglass outer/cabin side cover. Then figure out how to attach it all to existing mounting hardware. (Then of course I will remove the bubble wrap, as it is for templating only).

power steering pump was on the way out, so ordered a replacement.
Saturday it still worked fine, just noisy.
Monday turn it on to drive it and have no power steering.
Replaced the pump monday afternoon.
Had to go to NAPA for the pulley install tool (note: pulley removal requires a 2 slot puller, not a power steering pulley puller like in the kit from NAPA)
Spent hours trying to get the air bled out.
Finally, after advice from another member here who messaged me after I posted in another thread, got the air bled and everything working.


But enough of that. Last Saturday my truck got to spend some time with it's predecessors.

Finally got around to putting nutserts in and securing the blue force tracker base down.

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Finished installing a block heater on the M998 6.2L.
Installation was relatively easy after draining the system and removing a freeze plug. The heater can bring the block temperature up nicely after 2-3 hours.





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donquijote said:

Finally got around to putting nutserts in and securing the blue force tracker base down.

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Looks like you'll never can use the passenger side mirror, with all that there!

So, I have performed the "string check" and toe-out measurement and checked all of my rear suspension components and spindle nuts yet I am still experiencing excessive wear on the very outer edge of my driver's rear tire. The chalk test indicates that the rear tires are toed out as they should be but the string test seems to indicate that they are within spec.

I'm not an expert at these checks. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong. What I can say for sure, is that according to all the sketches and photos I can find on the internet, the tire is demonstrating excessive "toe out" and not a camber issue.

I guess I'm going to follow the TM procedure for adjusting the rear toe, and toe the tire "in" just a tad and then see what happens. If this fails, I guess I'll try to find a shop with a bay large enough to accommodate the truck for a professional alignment.

Ajax MD said:

So, I have performed the "string check" and toe-out measurement and checked all of my rear suspension components and spindle nuts yet I am still experiencing excessive wear on the very outer edge of my driver's rear tire. The chalk test indicates that the rear tires are toed out as they should be but the string test seems to indicate that they are within spec.

I'm not an expert at these checks. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong. What I can say for sure, is that according to all the sketches and photos I can find on the internet, the tire is demonstrating excessive "toe out" and not a camber issue.

I guess I'm going to follow the TM procedure for adjusting the rear toe, and toe the tire "in" just a tad and then see what happens. If this fails, I guess I'll try to find a shop with a bay large enough to accommodate the truck for a professional alignment.

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Adjusting it a tad sounds like a good plan. One must keep in mind the TM alignment settings are for a truck routinely carrying troops and supplies, some 1/2 to 1 ton (per it's 1.25 ton rating) and thus the toe out/in of the loaded suspension will be evened out by the loading.
I recall reading several posts of folks who know they will rarely drive fully loaded adjusting the toe out/in to a more level setting, and thus making the "normal" setting closer to a few passengers and small cargo (maybe a quarter of third of a ton loading), instead of 4 troops in gear and heavy cargo/supplies, which for us civilians is non-typical use.
BDGR

Bulldogger said:

Adjusting it a tad sounds like a good plan. One must keep in mind the TM alignment settings are for a truck routinely carrying troops and supplies, some 1/2 to 1 ton (per it's 1.25 ton rating) and thus the toe out/in of the loaded suspension will be evened out by the loading.
I recall reading several posts of folks who know they will rarely drive fully loaded adjusting the toe out/in to a more level setting, and thus making the "normal" setting closer to a few passengers and small cargo (maybe a quarter of third of a ton loading), instead of 4 troops in gear and heavy cargo/supplies, which for us civilians is non-typical use.
BDGR

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Great, thanks for that. I routinely haul stuff but it's rarely heavy. Brush and yard waste, for example.

Brand new Black Rhino Arsenal wheels and 37" Yokohama Geolander 003 tires. Holy Crap!!! what an improvement. Sooooo smooth.

Finally diagnosed a body water leak in the support structure under the A pillar/windshield frame. 3M Auto-body Sealant to the rescue...




So far no more leaks in the treated seams.

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rcamacho said:

Finally diagnosed a body water leak in the support structure under the A pillar/windshield frame. 3M to the rescue...

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Seems like a common leak point. I think they like to flex and crack the original sealant there. Mine currently likes to leak in there, right on top of my foot.

*sigh*
As usual, the fun never ends.
Went to hang out with some random people in another town, mostly because it was a block away from a store I like in that area.
75 miles from home.
Nice night, clear weather but a little chilly.

As I pulled into the parking lot I thought I heard a funny sound under my truck.
Crawled under, didn't really see anything.

As I went to leave, it was worse. A couple of the other guys helped me narrow it down to the passenger side front halfshaft area.
Finally figured out my brake caliper mounting bracket is loose, and the lower bolt (only one I could see) was backing out, coming into contact with the halfshaft bolts sticking through the rotor.

Of course this is the one time I had no tools with me.

Managed to wiggle the bolt in maybe 1/4 turn, just enough to not contact the others.

Drove 2 miles to Walmart (luckily they were still open) at about 9pm. Bought a pair of 11" needle nose pliers with a 45 degree angle on the end.
Managed to turn the bolt in another full turn.

Called it good enough, and drove the 75 miles home.
Looks like the diff is leaking at the output seal on that side, so need to order a seal and do it while it's apart.

But hey, I managed to get home alright, so I'm not unhappy about the whole ordeal.

Yeah, while I was doing my crawl under in the dark parking lot I also found one of my halfshaft boots leaking (different location) so I have a set of boots coming as well (12k axles ain't cheap).
I'm a little tight on money at the moment, so only have 2 of the bluehummer locking halfshaft bolt kits on order. My opinion is since this truck is still pretty low miles (4500) and I'm having to take things apart, I might as well spend the extra money for reusable parts rather than the torque to yield method where I have to replace the bolts and nordlocks every time it's apart. They don't cost all that much, but it does start to add up over time.

Finished rebuilding front and rear propeller shafts on my 998. New U joints and carrier bearing.

Rear universal joints are Spicer 5-213X
Front universal joints on A0 early model shaft are 5-153X










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Mounted a Smitty Bilt holder and Jerry can....

Not on my humvee but 1 I'm working on,,,Flushed and bleed the brake system, replaced all radiator hoses and replace the heather control valve.

Thumper580 said:

Mounted a Smitty Bilt holder and Jerry can....View attachment 820091

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I'm also looking to mount a fuel can bracket. I'm running the 2-man soft top configuration with troop seats. I'm having a hard time deciding what the best place is, to mount the can. I don't want to interfere with the troop seats folding down, nor do I want to burn up valuable space in the cargo bed.

Ajax MD said:

I'm also looking to mount a fuel can bracket. I'm running the 2-man soft top configuration with troop seats. I'm having a hard time deciding what the best place is, to mount the can. I don't want to interfere with the troop seats folding down, nor do I want to burn up valuable space in the cargo bed.

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When in 2 man configuration I keep a scepter can or two in the rear passenger footwell area that is covered.
Only place I can think to mount a fuel can holder if you are a soft top would be against the cargo divider in the center. You lose a little cargo space, but it doesn't interfere with anything there.