I think i broke a birf

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BigSur

BigSur

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So over the last 2 weeks i have noticed a roughness or what i think is a something loose in the front end and this would happen whenever i hit a bump of some sort. I thought maybe a loose tie rod end, loose knuckle or front drive shaft rattle but last night while pulling out of a parking spot i heard a POP and then i noticed a more prominent rattle or looseness up front and so i pulled in the garage to take a look. i removed the hub and then i tightened the nut holding the knuckle on but as i was finishing up i noticed that the knuckle was still loose. I can move it up and down and it will move but sided to side it seemed tight. Did i heard the dreaded birf pop?

btw...this is on my daily driven 40.

Jason
 
If the knuckle is loose it's prolly the trunion bearings top or bottom. Is the steering difficult or binding? Try engaging the hubs & see what happens. How long has it been since you've serviced both knuckles? May be time for a knuckle R & R.....
 
i don't get any binding or steering issues. What would of caused the pop sound? Should i be worried about driving it? i only drive 12 miles round trip to work and back.
 
BigSur said:
So over the last 2 weeks i have noticed a roughness or what i think is a something loose in the front end and this would happen whenever i hit a bump of some sort. I thought maybe a loose tie rod end, loose knuckle or front drive shaft rattle but last night while pulling out of a parking spot i heard a POP and then i noticed a more prominent rattle or looseness up front and so i pulled in the garage to take a look. i removed the hub and then i tightened the nut holding the knuckle on but as i was finishing up i noticed that the knuckle was still loose. I can move it up and down and it will move but sided to side it seemed tight. Did i heard the dreaded birf pop?

btw...this is on my daily driven 40.

Jason
Click to expand...

Tightened which nut holding the knuckle on????

BigSur said:
Should i be worried about driving it? i only drive 12 miles round trip to work and back.
Click to expand...

I certainly think so!!!!

Any excessive slop/play in your suspension and steering is a serious safety issue (for both yourself and other road-users).
 
D'Animal said:
Did you jack your rig up when you tightened the nut?

How loose was it?


Your wheel bearings may be shot.
Click to expand...

I, like Dan, believe you have a semantic isssue, and are discussing a wheel bearing/spindle nut, but referencing it as a knuckle nut.

The pop may have well been your spindle cracking.

I would DEFINITELY disassemble ALL suspected parts and THOROUGHLY clean and inspect them BEFORE driving the vehicle any more. You could be a danger to yourself AND INNOCENT BYSTANDERS.

Best

Mark A.
 
OK, since this is my only car (besides my wife's who needs to go to work) i drove today to work. I kept below 30 (got alot of honking) but i stayed away from the freeway and took back streets home. Now, i imagine that the wheel bearings are bad and since i had planned on replacing anyways i plan on getting a wheel bearing kit from marline long with a knuckle kit. Can ya'll recommend anything else i need to get?
 
I would get the wheel bearing and knuckle bearing kit as well as the seal kit with HD seals from Marlin Crawler.

Tear down one side, clean and inspect everything very closely.

Assemble per manufacturer recommendation.

Then do the other side. Both sides have probably seen the same maintenance.

Allow at least 5 hours for the total cleaning and repair. If this is your first time, it may take longer.

If your spindle is cracked or your birfield is broken, plan on riding you bike to work until you get the parts you need to fix your rig correctly.
 
x2 what Mark said. Make sure your spindle isn't broken.

If it is, all you have is a small "C" clip on the inside of the axle holding your stuff together. Scary. Pop the diff cover and remove the clip. If your axle (wheel and all) pulls out, then your birf is probably OK...

I've managed to break 3 spindles but never a birf.

I would get several locking washers for extras as the tabs can break off when re-used and they're cheap. Keep your old bearings as they may be able to drag you home in case of breakage elsewhere.

If you are at all worried about the work, have a professional do it. This is NOT the area to be doing half-arsed work.
 
Didn't the newer front axles have the diff cover on the front?

I know my old stuff doesn't, but I thought that was rectified in later years.
 
Yea, it's been pro'ly 5 yrs or more since my last disc upgrade, so my recollection could be dim. More like 10 years since I've broken a spindle.

When I've broken spindle it's where they attach to the knuckle. I'll have to go back and review the drawings I suppose but when jacked up the whole assembly would come out (minus the clip of course).

And these were also the course splined axles and I've since upgraded to disks/fine spline axles.

Don't the minitrucks also have a front diff cover?
 
Jeebus, I dern got confused. I had to crack the books for a breakdown again. I think I confused myself with some locker problems I had several years ago. Now I get your Q's and deserved laughter.

Anyhoo...nevermind the crazy guy in the corner...

How did the birf/spindle episode end for the OP?
 
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