Offroad-Express

Hi all,

I've been lurking on IH8MUD for a while since buying my first 4WD truck, a 325000km, 2003 HZJ79 about a year ago. I haven't yet done any off roading - the truck was brought to help with carting stuff around the property, as a second car, and because I've always wanted one!

The truck is stock - I bought it with a diesel leak at one of the injectors and broken studs on the exhaust manifold, which I've been able to sort.

I'm now in the process of 'base lining' the maintenance and have so far replaced the rear brake shoes and cylinders, all fluids and filters, and run a grease gun over it. My next project is replacing the seals and bearings on the front hubs and knuckle joint - there doesn't look like there's much grease in there .

I'm also fairly new to NZ, and I'm still finding my way around parts suppliers.

If anyone has any experience of buying parts through the USA and/or recommendations on who is good or who to steer clear of, it would be really useful to hear from you!

Don Kyatts in Auckland are good for service parts like bearing kits, seals etc. Looks like terrain tamer have a dealer in Chch now as well...
http://www.terraintamer.com/wheretobuy/new-zealand

for stuff like axle rebuild kits, bearings, hose kits etc etc Don Kyatt in Auckland are hard to beat. They do the Terrain Tamer, have staff that know 4wds and the differences year to year and generally can overnight freight you stuff. Google them for number, and I think one of the staffis now a member here under user name Terrain Tamer.

Edit beaten to it but still applies

When you rebuild the front hubs check the stub axle where the bearing contacts for wear , they are very commonly mis diagnosed as wheel bearing play and terrain taimer stock them at a fair price , just a reccomendation for when you attack the job !!

Thanks Trundle, I'll keep an eye open for that.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Has anyone had any dealings with Trail-Gear http://www.trail-gear.com/knuckle-service in the USA? they will ship to NZ and their knuckle joint kits look comprehensive at a reasonable price - any thoughts?