Steering knuckle adjustment shims (1 Viewer)

[fullthrottle]

So I'm restoring an old cruiser and currently working on the front end.

Looking at the races of the steering knuckle, they have indentations of the roller bearings. It had 1 shim in there, so guessing that I need to add another, or two.

Does anyone know how to tell when you have the right number of shims?

I will be replacing the bearings and races.

 

[fjc-man]

40, 60, 70, 80 series?

 

[fullthrottle]

40, 60, 70, 80 series?

A BJ73

 

[fjc-man]

@woytovich might have a suggestion or two.

 

[woytovich]

This is super helpful on the reassembly.

 

[woytovich]

Otherwise the process with the shims, assuming you're not using the factory alignment tool, is trial and error.
I'll post some more info when I get to my computer a little bit later this morning.

 

[woytovich]

This can help also

 

[woytovich]

Get an FSM
Watch the videos
Disassemble
Remove bearing races
Clean clean clean
Paint if you want
Check/order/replace parts as needed, new bearings etc
Install new races
Grease bearings
Follow video to install knuckle with shims
Torque all nuts to spec
Check preload w/fish scale
Repeat as necessary

Do all of the wheel bearings and seals
Regrease birfields

Etc

 

[woytovich]

 

[fullthrottle]

View attachment 3802071

Many thanks for the info. You can certainly see that if the knuckle isn't centered correctly, then it can lead to the axle seal not obtaining a good seal and thus diff oil running through into the wheel bearings and hubs.

 

[woytovich]

As I reassemble my front end my fingers are crossed that the seal will in fact hold!

 

[fullthrottle]

Was thinking a bit more about this (probably too much), but there must be a fair bit of tolerance for the axle seal as there would be a number of other components contributing to a slight axle shift. Stub axle positioning, shift with the CV's and steering.

Anyway, will give it a crack