So what if I don't use the special tool???...

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F-junker

F-junker

Joined
Oct 25, 2005
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Location
Hagerstown MD
Yeah I'm sure to hear some stuff about it.
I need to rebuild one steering knuckle and don't have the SST spec'ed in the manual. Can I get close using all new oem toyota parts? Can I substitute something and improvise?

What if I tear it down and replace all (with New)bearings and shims back in the same order. Am I asking for a problem????
 
Get a heavy duty mechanical fish scale for 1/10th of the price. It will get you very close. Make sure you get one with a rigid hook on it. You can throw it in your tackle box after you're done with the axle.
 
You will need a micrometer to measure the shims. Just measure the old shims and match the new shims to the old one's measurement. The shims should be equal top and bottom. This will get you close. If the knuckle is to tight then add shims as needed to get the right resistance. A fish scale can be used to measure the turning resistance of the knuckle.
 
JJS said:
Get a heavy duty mechanical fish scale for 1/10th of the price. It will get you very close. Make sure you get one with a rigid hook on it. You can throw it in your tackle box after you're done with the axle.
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Thats what I did.


I did not know that Toyota made a tool for this application?
 
Thanks gents. Maybe I should get some more shims???
One quick question-- I lost my silverstar and can't figure out how to resubscribe.
 
There is also a special tool for determining the shim thickness needed and I was referring to using that tool. The spring-tension tool is nothing more than a glorified fish scale.
 
JJS said:
The SST is the spring-tension tool that Toyota made for service. It's still available, but it's over $100. The guy who taught me used a fish scale, and I think it's what most people use.
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I used a Chilton manual when I did mine. I think they had a picture of a fish scale. I'll have to double check it.
 
just put the shims you took out back the same way you found them and dont worry about it.

youll be fine.

trail gear sales on for 10 bucks
 
My understanding of the knuckle centering tool is that it is used for centering the knuckle on the housing. The fish scale (spring scale) is for the bearing preload measurment. Totally different things.
If you are rebuilding and using the same parts and reinstall the shims back in the same order as they were top and bottom, then you wouldn't need that centering tool , because the original shims will take care of that.
The spring scale you still have to use to adjust the bearing preload.
Which if you find to be out of specs, you can correct by adding or subtracting the same thickness shims from both top and bottom to keep it correctly centered. That is how I see it .
Vic
 
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thanks guys I feel better about tearing back into it, new tre and budbuilt relay rod ordered today. I'm gonna stave off the saginaw for another year or so and stay with the popeye power steering!

Any advice on the factory style steering dampener as far as replacement? OEM etc.
 
KY854RUN said:
The shims should be equal top and bottom. This will get you close. If the knuckle is to tight then add shims as needed to get the right resistance. A fish scale can be used to measure the turning resistance of the knuckle.
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This is true for bearing pre-load. It is NOT true for knuckle centering.

When you rebuild, use the same shims in the SAME locations and add or subtract equally from the top and the bottom for bearing preload.
 
lost??? something tells me it will be found and a pm will be sent on how to subscribe............ oh, fish scale is great......... just don't lie about your axle like you do about the fish!!!!!



F-junker said:
Thanks gents. Maybe I should get some more shims???
One quick question-- I lost my silverstar and can't figure out how to resubscribe.
Click to expand...
 
F-Junk, if you use a kit when you reassemble everything, it will/should have shims in it. I have some shims if you need them. I'll stick them in an envelope and mail them to you.

Ed:beer:
 
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The last rebuild kit I ordered from Marlin had shims for large and small pattern Knuckles. I just reused the ones that were in the knuck in the first place though. I pulled on the steering arm, It felt like 15 lbs or whatever the spec is and left it at that.
 
Marlin Crawler sells a scale for $10 for this anyway.
 
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