SoCal Knuckle Re-build Holiday

[Brentbba]

Wow - that is some nasty birf soup! looks like you dug into this just in time!!

Wish you were closer, I'd have lent my 54mm socket, seal puller, Marlin 'fish scale' to check the hub resistance, etc. Don't recall if I got the tool to properly seat the new seals or not.

 

[Dan2722]

Wow that is the greenest birf soup I have seen.

I get to do this all over again next November. Hope you got it all buttoned up.

 

[E-train]

Brent - I would have definitely taken you up on the 54mm socket too. After searching high and low in town, then placing the order for one and then waiting 3 days for "overnight" delivery I was over it. That ended up pushing my project into the weekend instead of during last week. I couldn't finish by Sunday night (needed the rig to get to work Monday), and that got everyone in my family involved in my little project. Wifey was none too pleased having to chauffeur me to work with the kids. But all that said...

Got it all buttoned up Tuesday night. It took me three solid days, mostly cleaning...and trying to get the inner oil seal on the hub to sit. Someone had taken a hammer pretty good to the back of the hub and it was just out of round enough to make seating that seal a pain in the ass. That and aligning the axle splines to re-install were the main issues. Otherwise it is pretty straightforward. Air tools helped a bunch and being prepared with enough brake cleaner and paper towels.

If anyone in the San Diego area wants to borrow my 54mm socket I'd be more than happy to let you. It feels good to have it done and the rig and I definitely bonded.

 

[E-train]

Dang. i missed this. I wish I could have lent a hand. I need to do this soon and helping you would have helped me. How did it go? Pretty straightforward? Any tips?

That would have been great to have a second set of hands. I'll offer my own for when you do yours, but can't guarantee I'll be available when the time comes. That might get vetoed by the "president" and "cabinet" in my house but I'll put that out there.

Tips:

- When pulling the axle out, make sure you rotate and line up the flat spots on the birfield so they're on top and bottom. You can stick your finger in and feel them before you pull it. This makes re-installing the axle easier because the splines will line up. I just pulled it out and then (doing the job solo), had to slightly turn the driveline then try the axle again, then turn it more, try again...to get the axle in.

- The tip in the write-up about soaking and cleaning the underbody before you start to tear down is right on. Definitely do that. I did but could have done more.

- Print out the write-up also. This was a huge help. Not noted on the write-up is the torque for the hub to rotor bolts, which is 54 ft/lbs.