Grooves in Knuckle Spindle (1 Viewer)

[AlfaCruiser]

I'm in the middle of Birfield job for the first time and I have found grooves on the knuckle spindle on the first flat surface from where it bolts to the knuckle housing. It seems that this is where the seal bolted to the brake shield would ride but that doesn't spin so I don't know how the grooves were created. But I could be wrong and this is where the seal near the inner wheel bearing rides. Either way I need to know if they are serviceable. The grooves are about 1/16 to 1/32 inch deep. These are on both sides in the same place with the right side being one narrow groove and the left more than an 1/8 inch wide.

Jason
Boise, Idaho

 

[nakman]

doesn't sound good.. happy first post!

Can you post a pic?

 

[IdahoDoug]

What model? What year? How many miles?

Welcome to the board.

DougM

 

[atijerino]

I did this job recently and don't remember seeing any grooves where you describe. I took some phots of mine, let me see the photos one more time to see if I can see what you described.

Antonio
1994 FJZ80

 

[atijerino]

Picture of spindle

See picture included. Are those the grooves you are talking about?
My 94 has these grooves you see in the picture, I think these belong there for grease, becuase they look like they are machined into the spindle and they don't look like they are accidentally made.
I may be wrong. Hope this helps. BTW: I am also in the Boise area.

Antonio
1994 FZJ80

 

[Rookie2]

Honestly, I didn't remember seeing any grooves on my spindles, but looking in the FSM.., the illustration shows two grooves on the spindle similar to the pictures shown by antijerino.


Rookie2

 

[OGBeno]

Yeah, those are normal, IIRC.

Good luck with the birf. job...if you need help feel free to post a Q.

And welcome
-onur
Akron, OH

 

[OGBeno]

Here's a couple of pics...

 

[AlfaCruiser]

The grooves I'm talking about are not the ones pictured and are obviously irregular. They are on the first innermost step of the spindle. This is for a 1994 Landcruiser with 103,000 miles on it. The birfields and axles look good. The spindles have the problem mentioned but the bushings looks good. A couple wheel bearings show some evidence of heating up with bronze discoloration of bearings and races.
The grooves must be where the inner bearing seal rides just judging from the wear but how could I get grooves this deep. There is no groove at the other seals. Could this have been from a loose wheel bearing or trunnion bearings? Either way I think that I'll need an overnight from Dan (ouch$$$$$).

Jason
Boise, Idaho

 

[semlin]

I know the inner axle seal can wear a groove in the axle shaft so your theory that it is the outer axle seal is possible if you are sure that is where it meets. It is possible to have the axle groove machined and then filled instead of replacing the axle so perhaps you can get a machine shop to do the same with the spindles? If the damage was caused by the outer axle seal wearing a groove then your problem will be grease migrating out of the wheel bearings through this groove, and I would replace or have the spindle relined.

 

[AlfaCruiser]

This is just one of those things that won't work without pictures so I borrowed the neighbors camcorder with snapshot ability and hopefully I can attach some of the pictures.
The first one should be the left side which is the largest groove.
The second one is the right side with a smaller groove.
The third picture is of the inner wheel bearing and race showing discoloration and what I guess is a history including overheating.

Jason
Boise, Idaho

 

[RavenTai]

Yep that is where the inner wheel bearing seal rides,

Don’t think the bad side will seal properly anymore, the better side might

Must have got some mud or sand in there, really bad bearing that let the hub flop around some letting the meatl of the seal hit might have done it also,


New spindles are not cheap but at least new ones have been upgraded with needle bearings replacing the bronze (brass?) stub shaft bushing

 

[cruiserdan]

As Raven has observed, a pretty nasty groove. it MAY POSSIBLY still seal for a short period but I would recommend considering new spindles if you plan on keeping the vehicle for a long time. You should also replace the wheel bearings.


D-