1999 Suburban K1500 Front-end work

[ts18997]

I will be doing some major front end parts replacing very shortly on my 99 Suburban 4x4 125k miles. Upper/lower ball joints, Pitman arm, idler arm, inner/outer tie rods, and adjusting sleeve. The work will be done over one weekend. I'm looking for suggestions what sequence to perform these to minimize time and do them in the order that makes the most sense. While I'm in doing this work, are there any other parts that make sense replace while this is being done? Also, are there any "gotchas" that anyone can point out? Looking for your . Thanks!

[maxwedge]

Ball joints first as then you will have the tie rods disconnected, other than that go for it.

[ts18997]

That easy huh? Anything else to check for replacement at this time?

[maxwedge]

Check for any play in the ft wheel bearings, then get it aligned.

[sub006]

Want your job to last as long as possible? Use polygraphite bushings instead of rubber, and grease the fittings once a year with Mobil 1.

[maxwedge]

Correct, but he does not seem to be replacing the upper and lower arm bushings here,or sway bar bushings ( he may find them bad as the work progresses). Plus they do cause more road feel to be transmitted into the body, some people may object.

[ts18997]

Thanks for the input. Started work this weekend but stuck on something. I had to remove the steering box to get the pitman arm off and the new one on and torqued down to specs (170lbs.. ugg). It went back in but I cant get the steering column to seat fully on the slotted stud coming out of the steering box. I've got the compression collar at the end of the steering column as loose as i feel comfortable (dont want to back the screw out all the way, or can you?). It still has about 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch to go before it is fully seated. It is lined up correctly and did go partly on. Any suggestions?

Also, is there any way to tell if the steering dampener is worn? This is what attaches to the idler arm and bolts to the frame(maybe called a idler-arm mounting bracket instead of a dampener). Since I am changing the idler arm and I have the dampener, I want to to this at the same time if necessary.

The lower ball joints have to be pressed in on a 4x4 by a shop, what a pain!

Thanks loads.

[ts18997]

Here is link to the Idler arm part I am asking about: