Knuckle preload with or w/o gaskets

[JohnL]

Just back from Thailand...one single cruiser setting, an FJ45 with a hardtop rear and top/bottom rear doors. No time for a pic.

anyway, I have my knuckles apart and am reassembling now. I know how to measure pre-load and adjust with shims, but my question is the 20# preload measures before all gaskets are on (i think so...) or completely apart. The gaskets add a lot of drag...


btw, Liquidoffroad kit is terrible...wrong shims and large hub seal plate...

thanks
john

 

[Yoda]

Measure without the seals on. You want the bearing preload, not the seal drag.

 

[beanz2]

IIRC I measured the preload with the seals on...

Could it be that Liquid sent you a kit for the 79+ axle and you have the older (76-78) or drum brake axle?

Dave

 

[JohnL]

Yes, they did send the old set, but the inner felt and rubber seals around the ball end are teh same so I went ahead and installed those and the axle seals while waiting for them to send the correct brake drum brackets and shims.

I would thing the preload would be measured with the seals on (wouldn't you want to be able to adjust the preload without having to take everything off?) but then again un-broken-in gaskets and seals probably measure very different


so, two dissenting opinions here?

 

[woody]

seals off....how can you guarantee the slipperiness of the seals on the knuckle? WAY too much of a variable....so don't hook them up.

Also, axle/spindle NOT installed, since that will add additional unneeded drag...

and, isn't the fishscale number in the 4-5# range??

 

[beanz2]

You guys are right, I did not recall correctly So measure knuckle bearing preload without the seals.

Dave

 

[Isotel]

My liquid offroad Kit was Perfect!!! <-- just for the record..

i dont think the seals create that much drag! Its a Cruiser not rocket science