Knuckle time - I do not think these are as shiny as Project Wrong Way

[kpadawe]

this was where I left off before today. The left side seemed fine and cleaned up well. The right side was a different story, when I went to pull the birfield and short axle, the birfield came out in my hand, the snap ring was floating in side the grease and I found the original snap still on the outer ring of the shaft. the inner C-Clip was beat with a hammer and the bearing housing was not optimal but it cleaned up. Here are the pics and yes, my floor was very neat and clean when I started. I just this week got the steering damper, ball joints and the new C clips and snap rings, time to get back on this so I can roll it.

 

[MWM1]

Great job, keep us posted with more photos! FYI, I have watched the following video on doing this kind of work.

 

[pb4ugo]

The scaring in that ball is most likely from a broken birfield. It's not uncommon. From what you describe, the new birf may not have been installed correctly on to the inner axle and they didn't clean out the old grease and c clip, or they didn't even know the wire clip was supposed to be on the inner axle. Did you happen to look at the end of inner axle spline where it slides into the diff? Is there a tack weld on those splines? The wire c clip keeps the inner axle sliding too far into the diff. Instead of using the C clip some folks would apply a tack weld on the inner axle splines at the diff to stop axle from going in too deep. The weld is placed at a strategic location. You can search here using "martack" to find info on this mod. It makes replacing a broken birf easier.

 

[kpadawe]

The scaring in that ball is most likely from a broken birfield. It's not uncommon. From what you describe, the new birf may not have been installed correctly on to the inner axle and they didn't clean out the old grease and c clip, or they didn't even know the wire clip was supposed to be on the inner axle. Did you happen to look at the end of inner axle spline where it slides into the diff? Is there a tack weld on those splines? The wire c clip keeps the inner axle sliding too far into the diff. Instead of using the C clip some folks would apply a tack weld on the inner axle splines at the diff to stop axle from going in too deep. The weld is placed at a strategic location. You can search here using "martack" to find info on this mod. It makes replacing a broken birf easier.

Thank you and no there was no tack weld there. The inner clip on the left axle fits tightly in the groove the right side new inner C-Clip can spin freely. definitely a learning experience. Was up too late last night, going to grab a bite and get back to it.

 

[zerotreedelta]

It's a dirty job...but it's satisfying when it's done. I'm not sure my garage floor has recovered, though.

 

[pb4ugo]

It's a dirty job...but it's satisfying when it's done. I'm not sure my garage floor has recovered, though.

View attachment 3639842

Wow, that polished ball is above and beyond. Fyi, your shock washer is on backwards.

 

[zerotreedelta]

A little polishing rouge goes pretty quick after teardown....and indeed, well spotted.

 

[kpadawe]

It's a dirty job...but it's satisfying when it's done. I'm not sure my garage floor has recovered, though.

View attachment 3639842

That is seriously a mirror finish. I fear I am not that dedicated.

 

[kpadawe]

Hopefully the special service tool will arrive today so I can get these back together. Post office says it is out for delivery, I ordered it from Australia before I saw the one offered in the US. I am swpping out all the bearings and hopefully this tool will help me calculate the correct shims and centr the axle. The one from the US looks very close to the OEM tool from Toyota. This one looked to be functionally accruate but it was just a bit over a hundred delivered. I will post pictures of it when I have it. Back to packing the house in prep for the estate sale.

 

[kpadawe]

Hopefully the special service tool will arrive today so I can get these back together. Post office says it is out for delivery, I ordered it from Australia before I saw the one offered in the US. I am swpping out all the bearings and hopefully this tool will help me calculate the correct shims and centr the axle. The one from the US looks very close to the OEM tool from Toyota. This one looked to be functionally accruate but it was just a bit over a hundred delivered. I will post pictures of it when I have it. Back to packing the house in prep for the estate sale.

 

[kpadawe]

Ok, the SST arrived from High Octane Tools in Australia today. this is their description:
Steering Knuckle Centring Tool to suit Landcruiser 40, 55, 60 and 70 series.
This tool is a direct aftermarket replacement for Toyota tools 09634-60013 or 09634-60014
These tools are required when replacing front axle knuckle bearing to obtain correct alignment and preload.

IMPORTANT- Please make sure this is the correct tool for your model before purchasing. Refer to the correct workshop manual for you series and year. Please do not order if you are unsure!
Note- It will not work on very early 40 series where 09634-60012 is specified. It will not work on 79/80 and coil spring front axles.

My note, I ordered this on May 26 and it arrived today to Central Oklahoma. total cost delivered was 116.44 and it looks like the one in the Toyota Service Manual.

The service manual tells how to used the tool and refers to coating the black bolt with Red Lead in the center for alignment measurements. Anyone know what that is? I am planning to use a metal marking tool that uses a similar crayon material and seeing how that works, I think it has a red refill.

 

[Pighead]

I bet Red Lead is just an Ozzie Blue Dykem. Something you can scribe a line into. Any paint pen or white out will work

 

[kpadawe]

Ran into another snag. part of this upgrade included replacing the 6 spline Birfields with the 30 spline birfields. The previous owner obtained the 30 spline birfields and their associated housings. Went throu

I bet Red Lead is just an Ozzie Blue Dykem. Something you can scribe a line into. Any paint pen or white out will work

View attachment 3649666

thank you, did similar to what you show. I had some steel marking pencils (not soapstone) and I used that. Ran into a new wrinkle which I will describe and did not expect.

 

[kpadawe]

thank you, did similar to what you show. I had some steel marking pencils (not soapstone) and I used that. Ran into a new wrinkle which I will describe and did not expect.

So, I marked and measured the ball and then moved to the knuckle housing. The previous owner had gathered the 30 spline birfields and the 30 spline axle housings so I went to attach the 30 spline axle housing to the knuckle and it would not fit.n the inner diameter of the 6 spline housing is 1.18 inches and the inner diameter of the 30 spline is 1.36 inches. More importantly, the 30 spline housing will not fit into the knuckle as shown in the photos. I took these to my local FJ40 parts place, Cruiser Corps, and they recommended I retain the 6 spline birfield and housing as the cheapest. They brought in a knuckle housing from a FJ80 which my original owner thought the 30 splines were from but they would not work and recommended a place in Colorado to call for the knuckles. I did go to the local NAPA and they felt the bolt holes lined up and I asked if they could turn down the inner lip on the 30 spline housing to match the diameter of the 6 spline. They could not but recommended a local machine shop.

Has anyone encountered this and what did you do to resolve? I am open to suggestions.

 

[pb4ugo]

Your terminology is confusing me. 30 spline axle housing? The part you are measuring is the spindle. It looks odd, but it hard to tell from your pic. Is that from the drum brakes? The seal and bearing surface doesn't look like a disc brake spindle. Do you see the difference?

 

[pb4ugo]

I read thru your previous posts and I'm not sure you have all the correct parts. To go from 6 spline to 30 spline birfs I think you need to upgrade to disc brakes. You might need the disc knuckle, spindle and birf, along the rest brake components.

 

[peesalot]

IIRC those bronze bushes do not play with the 30 spline stuff. The 30's use a roller bearing & seal there. Call Georg at Valley Hybrids.

 

[DeskJock]

Well. shenanigans. Buying that tool. Thank you for the thread.

 

[DeskJock]

Subscribed. Ordered the same tool. From my digging - what you got is the replacement- generational tool. Looks like it’s is as close as we can get.

 

[kpadawe]

Your terminology is confusing me. 30 spline axle housing? The part you are measuring is the spindle. It looks odd, but it hard to tell from your pic. Is that from the drum brakes? The seal and bearing surface doesn't look like a disc brake spindle. Do you see the difference?

View attachment 3657432

IIRC those bronze bushes do not play with the 30 spline stuff. The 30's use a roller bearing & seal there. Call Georg at Valley Hybrids.

thank you, and yes these are the spindles. So I spoke to Classic Cruisers and the suggestion there was to retain the current spindles and 6 spline birfields. So I am going to regroup and pull the 30 spline spindle off the axle and put the 6 spline back on to get the brake job completed so I can get this rolling again.