Rock Rings + Longfield knuckle wipers

[woytovich]

I just installed a set of Trail Gear rock rings on top of a set of Longfield lifetime wiper seals and MAN is there a lot of drag when cycling the knuckle back and forth...

I greased the knuckle ball before install so the wipers are riding on a film of grease. I can feel the irregularities in the knuckle ball as I move the wipers back and forth. IT takes 2 hands on the knuckle to cycle it back and forth.

Is this what I should expect to be seeing or did I do something wrong?

Mark

 

[QuackAxel]

There shouldn't be that much resistance. I think it's like 6-15 lbs or somethin. Nothin that should take two hands?

 

[Climbermac]

I did mine with that set up a few months back. They are very firm, it took some assembly and diss-assembly to get it together the way I wanted, slightly longer hardware gives a good "adjustment length". The UHMW wipers I got from Longs had a slight chamfer on the inside of one face, I could only assume to run on the face of the knuckle. I also only installed the rock rings and the wipers, no inner ring. YMMV

mac

 

[woytovich]

The UHMW wipers I got from Longs had a slight chamfer on the inside of one face
mac

Hummm... I didn't notice it and there was nothing about it in the "instructions"

 

[Climbermac]

That is what I remember, but I may very well be mistaken... No there was nothing in the instructions, but i do know Bobby Long is easy to reach, makes outstanding products and stands behind them all. Give him a call or PM him, he's here on Mud.
HTH

mac

 

[Tigerstripe40]

I noticed after installing my Longfield lifetime knuckle wipers that it took a considerable effort to move them. After assembling everything and driving the truck, though, it works fine. That said, I DO have a healthy saginaw box and have made pressure mods to the PS pump.

I pulled the seals apart a few weeks ago to check to see how things were looking inside. (I installed them about 2 years ago) and the grease was clean and uncontaminated.

 

[woytovich]

I pulled the seals apart a few weeks ago to check to see how things were looking inside. (I installed them about 2 years ago)

Were the wiper seals worn a bit to the shape of the knuckle ball (did they "work in")?

Mark

 

[Tigerstripe40]

Were the wiper seals worn a bit to the shape of the knuckle ball (did they "work in")?

Mark

I didn't notice, but i would assume that they would have.

 

[woytovich]

Ok... here's what I found out:

Bobby Long says: Yes, it makes them very tight.

Cam at IPOR says: Yes, they are tight but don't worry. They work great and will not be a problem like that.

So... I am going to leave them for now and see how it all plays it once I get it back on the road.

mark

 

[OB]

Final outcome??

 

[1911]

Been running the Longfield Lifetime wiper seals for more than a year now, and my knuckle balls are still squeaky clean and the (manual) steering is no different or harder than before. Great product!