Yet another birf/bearing question (1 Viewer)

[KliersLC]

Well, I did a front wheel bearing repack today and decided while I had them apart to take off that little cap thing on top of the knuckle and have a look see at the birfs, as The truck has 150k and I have no idea about PO maint. The grease was grey, felt and smelt nice, and looked very clean.

two questions:
What exactly is the function of that little cap, and what color would the grease be if it was an original pack?????????

 

[KliersLC]

One other thing, The driver side had silicone on the drive flange but the pass side had a handy little gasket?????????????? Did they only do one side??

 

[cruiserdan]

They may have torn a gasket and had none in stock. A proper job would have included new drive flange gaskets. Maybe you didn't get any.

The original knuckle grease is black molly. it should look like grease and not have any gear oil odor to it. I assume the cap you refer to is actually the fill-plug. It is a tapered-thread plug with a square top. It is removed in order to inspect, as you did, and to add grease to the knuckle cavity.

 

[KliersLC]

No, I didn't get any drive flange gaskets, my friendly toyota dealer doesn't stock many landcruiser parts and I only noticed the slop yesterday so I didn't figure I had time to get them shipped before my 1400 mile trip on sunday.

Thanks for the info about the grease, it seems that the front repack had been done, but I'll probabaly do it again so that I know when it was done.

The cap I am reffering to is not the fill plug, it is inboard and forward of that plug and held in by two 17 mm bolts aligned front to rear. It looks like it has a locator pin on the bottom and sits inside what appears to be a bearing that sits horizontally.

The birfields in the USMC 5 ton truck, and 22.5 ton heavy haulers do not have this part in the knuckle and they call for silicone on the front drive flange and gaskets on the rear axles because the rear wheel bearings are lubed by gear oil and the fronts are lubed by grease. this is my first civilian full floater so I am still learning, but all info is greatly appreciated
Thanks,
Dan

 

[cruiserdan]

You took off the upper trunion bearing cap. Not a good idea unless you are disassembling the knuckles. You prolly didn't hurt anything but don't make a habit of it.....

The knuckle can shift, especially if the axle is supporting the vehicle weight.


Drive flange gasket, 43422-60060, I have a couple dozen in stock at the moment...

 

[KliersLC]

The knuckle did shift but I shifted it back and everything went back together just fine. Its too late for flange gaskets this time around, but I'll be more prepared next time and hopefully I won't be so rushed. Thanks again for all your help.

Dan