What an ordeal. Thursday I decided to check the rear brake shoes on the Suburban. A year or so ago it had a rear seal leak. I replaced the seal and the shoes. Guess what? It had been leaking again. (Still?)

Investigation found the seal area of the axle has a groove worn in it. I have 2 NOS axles in stock so I'll just swap them out. I needed to swap the lug studs though. No problem. I have a hydraulic press. Problem. On the first stud the press blew a seal. No problem. I'll just beat them out. Problem. Beating them out bends them. That shut me down Thursday.

Friday morning I picked up new studs and nuts. I ran errands for a couple of hours then came home to finish the truck. First thing I did was open the box of studs. It was a box of bolts labeled studs. My wife called and explained that I had bought a box of studs and it had bolts in it and asked if they had another box in stock. The guy checked and told her they did have another box in stock and it does have studs in it.

So back to town I go. When I got there I had to explain the situation over and convince some guy that the box marked studs actually came from his store with bolts in it. Then I found out they only had 3 studs in stock. The guy told my wife he had a box of studs. "She didn't ask how many." She said a box, dumb butt.

Anyway, he called the Mineral Wells store and they had some in stock. So I had to drive from Weatherford to Mineral Wells. I got home with the goods about dark. I got the new studs in the axles and got one set of shoes changed before calling it a night.

Today I went out and finished the job. I filled the differential and the cover leaked. I tried this fancy Permatex gasket maker I've been hearing so much about. It leaks. So I had to drain it and fix that. I have a roll of gasket material 10" wide. It was just barely wide enough to make a gasket with 2 flat sides. But it works. No problem.

I now have NOS axles and new shoes and seals. And I rotated the tires while I was at it.

"It's just a phase. He'll grow out of it." Mama, 1964

1956 Chevy 1/2-ton 3100
1953 Chevy 6100 "The Yard dog"
1954 GMC Suburban Now with a new proud owner.