gotta redo knuckle seals, dammit!

[Chang-kuao-lo]

Noticed my warn hub on the LH side was seeping oil, look underneath, and lo and behold, lots of greasy gunk leaking out of the knuckle, crap . Ordered the birfield seal kit, any pitfalls I should know about for this particular job? I remember redoing the seals many moons ago on my old '75 FJ40, BJ74 any different?

Is it worth getting new bearings while I'm at it? I had some front end problems when I first bought it, and seem to remember having the seals and knuckle bearings re/re'd, what would cause seals to fail in the space of 2 yrs.?

 

[crushers]

the 40 and the 70 series pre 1990 are pretty much the same. it is a messy job. when you have the front end apart check the bearings for pits and wear, if they look fine then just regrease and reinstall.
if you remove the kingpin bearigns make sure you do not mess up the shim count top and bottom or you can wear though the new seals in no time flat...
cheers

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

I have heard of packing the knuckle with lithium grease, and installing a grease zerk "fitting". Good idea? or myth?

 

[crushers]

never tried it so i don't have an opinion.
cheers

 

[PVCruiser]

I have heard of packing the knuckle with lithium grease, and installing a grease zerk "fitting". Good idea? or myth?

I use Molly grease. A Zerk Fitting is a great idea.

 

[wesintl]

Make sure you have a seal press set or some large sockets to install the seals and if your replacing bearings a race press makes things alot easier and less prone to damaging a seal on install. I've only ever packed the bearings with high temp and the birf and cavity with moly.

 

[PVCruiser]

I just rebuilt the knucles in the BJ-70 I am selling. It's my second time rebuilding a set of knucles.

Get lots of rags and wipe everything down well.

You will also need a Hub Socket. You can buy them cheap from sor at $13

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

Thanks, all, got me a hub socket along with birfield seals, and a Toyota chassis manual (this Max Ellery thing is a POS). I'll find me a seal press locally, I'm sure. I've got lots of synthetic grease laying about, I'm sure this will do the job nicely.

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

BTW, can I still run in the meantime? I gots alotta work to catch up on, the alignment seems damn near perfect, no excessive play in the wheel in question, just a slight shimmy at 100Km/hr+ (60~65MPH), which feels like wheel balance.

 

[brownbear]

my advice, read the write ups in the tech section here. zerk fitting in my op, is not needed. as the cavity is only supposed to be 3/4 full. one a year or more. a re grease is a good idea, depends on how much you drive and conditions.

also search thru the other forums, even tho this is on a 70 many of the write ups apply and lots of info is there.

its really an easy ordeal, just messy.

 

[saskdiesel]

Doesn't the knuckle have a threaded plug for greasing the knuckle like all other Land Cruisers do?
Anyway, it's a greasy but simple job. I would pay close attention to the knuckle bearings. If the race is hammered by the bearing the axle no longer sits in the center of the seal and can cause a leak.

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

Got the knuckle bearings redone about a year ago, hopefully they are still good.

 

[tlcruiserman]

Thanks, all, got me a hub socket along with birfield seals, and a Toyota chassis manual (this Max Ellery thing is a POS). I'll find me a seal press locally, I'm sure. I've got lots of synthetic grease laying about, I'm sure this will do the job nicely.

I have done hundreds of front seals and have never used a seal press, if you feel you need it great, but you can easily put in fronts seals without the need for the seal press. JMHO

Michael

 

[tlcruiserman]

Doesn't the knuckle have a threaded plug for greasing the knuckle like all other Land Cruisers do?
Anyway, it's a greasy but simple job. I would pay close attention to the knuckle bearings. If the race is hammered by the bearing the axle no longer sits in the center of the seal and can cause a leak.

Yes there is a threaded plug to grease the front knuckles, and interestingly enough a standard grease gun tip will just fit directly in the whole. I think they did not do a zerk because of how much grease and how long it would take to fill it with a zerk.

Michael

 

[wesintl]

I have done hundreds of front seals and have never used a seal press, if you feel you need it great, but you can easily put in fronts seals without the need for the seal press. JMHO

Michael

True.. even though I recommended it, I don't have one. Next time I will get some due to the fact that all my sockets are rough on the face and i've noticed that it can distort the seal even if it's in seated. I usually use the old races to put in new but it's a PITA too..

What do you use Michael?

 

[Chang-kuao-lo]

Yes there is a threaded plug to grease the front knuckles, and interestingly enough a standard grease gun tip will just fit directly in the whole. I think they did not do a zerk because of how much grease and how long it would take to fill it with a zerk.

Michael

that makes perfect sense.

 

[Greg_B]

Yes there is a threaded plug to grease the front knuckles, and interestingly enough a standard grease gun tip will just fit directly in the whole. I think they did not do a zerk because of how much grease and how long it would take to fill it with a zerk.

Michael

This has been discussed on various lists a number of times and I am in the camp that there is some value in placing grease through this hole (may help with coating everything in grease so rust does not form), but it will do liitle, if nothing for the top knuckle bearing. I have seen one set of arms that had a zerk fitting threaded into the top of the arm. You'd have to do some pretty facny passageway creating to get the grease to the bearings...where it would do the most good...

Use a good tacky moly grease on the knuckle bearings, the birfield, and in the cavity...and run it...

hth's

gb