Steering Knuckle bearings

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Helomech

Helomech

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jul 27, 2006
Threads
8
Messages
230
Location
Cloverdale, B.C.
Hey guys, hoping to get anyone's thoughts on this....

After putting on new tires and having an alignment done, the shop informed me the caster between the two knuckles differs by one degree. Apparently they've seen this with Cruisers before. In regards to how the axle housing is assembled, I can see how this could happen. To correct the problem they recomended installing offset knuckle bearings on the one side to match up the caster angle.

I have heard that using anything other than the bearings with the proper taper shortens their lifespan. I replaced all the bearings in the knuckes a while ago so they're in good shape.

Has anyone had the same problem and used the offset bearings? How well do they hold up?

Other than a slight pull to the right under heavy braking, it doesn't seem to affect the steering much. It's still a hell of a lot better than before the alignment was done.

Thanks for any input.
 
Thanks for the advice Dan. You're right, a BJ60 is definatley not a race car.... especially when you throw on some larger/ fatter tires and leave the 3.70 gears in.
 
I would not touch that if your tracking fine.

The knuckle bearings just position the housing and the shims put the appropriate preload on the bearings. I wouldn't screw with it.

caster can be controlled with shims under the spring pack. The shims are angled and made for that purpuse. They say the more lift you put in the bigger the angle shim??
 
Installing caster shims still wouldn't correct the difference between the two knuckels. That's why the shop recomended the offset bearings for one side.

I have since spoken with the shop and they said it should be fine as long as I was happy with how it tracked. They also pointed out the excess play in my steering box which I will turn my attention to next. Anyone here ever rebuilt one?
 
me
call for $$
 
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