Steering Spindle

malcolm · 12-25-03, 11:34 AM

I bought a 95 and repacked the steering knuckles. I noticed that the bronze bushing in one of the steering spindles has been turning in the spindle. It's supposed to be pressed in. I didn't think it was an emergency so put it back together but ordered a new part from ToyotaParts.com. The new part has a combination bronze bushing and needle bearing (i.e. very small rollers). Before I take the knuckle apart I just wanted to confirm that this part is an inkind replacement with a design upgrade. Anybody been down this path?

sleeoffroad · 12-25-03, 11:57 AM

Did you order a new spindle or just the bushing? New spindles come with roller bearings. However you can purchase the brass bushing on it's own and just replace that.

malcolm · 12-25-03, 08:51 PM

I was concerned that the ID of the spindle may have been machined out so that I wouldn't get a good press fit if I bought only a new bushing. The bushing is like 70 USD but the bushing and spindle assembly is 200 USD. I didn't want to buy a bushing then discover I had to then get the bushing spindle assembly.

Thanks for your reply, malcolm

cruiseroutfit · 12-26-03, 08:49 AM

$200 isn't a bad deal for the spindle/bushing/bearings... I would rather have more than enough parts to do the job...

Any pics of the bushing "turning into the spindle"?

landtank · 12-26-03, 09:59 AM

I'm planning on going to the new style spindle on the next axle rebuild. The brass bushings will have @160k on them. I've already had a problem with one going dry and it seems that in a AWD setup and the shafts turning constantly that the needle bearings are worth the expense.

malcolm · 12-26-03, 08:22 PM

I could see galling type marks where the shaft had grabed the bushing and spun it. The inner seal leaked and 90w apparently washed the grease out of the knuckle. Now I look at the knuckes for signs of oil leakage. I'll put the bearing spindle in and let you know how it went.

malcolm · 01-03-04, 05:50 PM

I installed the new spindle in my 95 and it seems to work fine. The new variety has a bearing in it rather than just the bushing. It runs fine and a minor clunk I had on occasion seems to have has gone away. It took about 2 hours to change it out.