Is it okay to "settle the knuckle" this way?

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turbocruiser

turbocruiser

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Hi all, I was just wondering and remembering something about my axle job - my RS knuckle was easier to "settle" than the LS knuckle was - with the RS I simply squeezed the top bearing cap and the bottom knuckle arm towards the center of the knuckle and it aligned itself and fully seated itself with minimal arm power. With the RS however I could squeeze the arm and cap to center on the trunion bearings but I could not get them to seat onto the knuckle fully without slowly tightening the bolts on the cap and the nuts on the arm. I did this in slow steady turns in star patterns etc and there was no binding or full out force to tighten the bolts and nuts its just that tightening them this way slowly settled everything.


So, is this okay?


Thanks!!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
 
Sounds ok to me.
As long as nothing feels like it is binding you should be allright.
 
topend yobbo said:
Sounds ok to me.
As long as nothing feels like it is binding you should be allright.
Click to expand...


Cool, nothing was binding but because it was different from the other side I thought that I should ask about it. When I tightened the things up it was indeed just a turn or two on each bolt or each nut with an extra effort to be even with the cap or arm as it settled. I guess the worst case was it pushing some on the bearings and races but I cannot imagine it putting more pressure than the vehicle does when driving. Does that sound sensible? Thanks. :cheers:
 
As with any taper bearing, it's important that the bearings are turning as their seated. Rotate the housing back and forth as you tighten them.
 
Both sides new knuckle bearings and races? Remember to put the factory shim back on for both sides? If these are both affirmative then you're good to go.

Unless... Unless. Well, never mind......<j/k>

DougM
 
IdahoDoug said:
Both sides new knuckle bearings and races? Remember to put the factory shim back on for both sides? If these are both affirmative then you're good to go.

Unless... Unless. Well, never mind......<j/k>

DougM
Click to expand...


Yup and Yup.

Wait what was the unless? :D

BTW, a sorta separate subject but has anyone had different thicknesses of shims between left and right? Mine were both .20 and I was wondering whether that was a coincidence or perhaps the people at the factory "match" knuckles?

Thanks. :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
 
I think mine were different side to side. They match the shim to whatever clearance they have. Mine are different now, though. I've had an experiment going on for 60,000 miles to recenter my DS shaft in the inner seal's center. Will know if it worked in a month or less when I repack....

DougM
 
IdahoDoug said:
I think mine were different side to side. They match the shim to whatever clearance they have. Mine are different now, though. I've had an experiment going on for 60,000 miles to recenter my DS shaft in the inner seal's center. Will know if it worked in a month or less when I repack....

DougM
Click to expand...


Hmmm, interesting, so if the axle shaft rubbed the bottom of the seal more than the top you put a thicker shim in and if the shaft rubbed the top more than the bottom you put a thinner shim in? Is that right? Clever thinking, but wait what if the seal cavity was off center? :D

:cheers:
 
Yeah, something like that. I'll have to consult my notes because it was quite confusing which size shim to correct with. Now that it's been several years i cannot recall off the top of the ol' bean which way I adjusted it. Had to buy several shims as a set to make it happen. From the looks of things, i nailed it as there has been nary a drop of gear oil come out.

DougM
 
Hey here is another question...the FSM refers to shims for both the bearing cap and the knuckle arm but I had no shims on either side on the knuckle arms. Did someone perhaps throw out the shims at some point in the past or do most 80's not have shims on the knuckle arm portion? Thanks.
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
 
concretejungle said:
sounds OCD to me ;) :flipoff2:
Click to expand...

So watchya gettin at??? :D

BTW, found out today that there are never shims on the knuckle to knuckle arm connection with the 80's. So its not just my vehicle! :cheers:
 
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