I've got a 74 i h heavy duty 8 lug 44 that I'm trying to get the knucle off of and there seems to be some odd nut that threads intothe knuckle and arount the top ball joint stud..it's grooved in the top like several different shaped keyways. I have never seen this before. any idea on how to get this thing off ?? And before you spank me, it's not the castle nut, it lives under it. Found it when I removed the crown nut..

HELP MEEEE !!:confused:

Sounds like you've never been into one of these axles before. That "thing" is an internal nut used to set the preload on the balljoint during assembley. You will not be able to get it out during disassemble and there is no need to try. Take the castle nut off the top ball joint, take the nut off the bottom ball joint, separate the knuckle from the yoke.

Nope I haven't, that's why I asked.. And thanks !

Any info i need to know that you could offer on re-assembling it when I'm ready to do that ?? As far as setting the pre load ?

I'll have to look the actual numbers up tonight, but you torque the bottom balljoint nut, then torque that interanl nut and then torque the castle nut.

100/70/50

I think you torque the lower to 100lbs-ft, torque the sleeve to 70, and torque the top nut to 50.

From memory, so let TORC back that up. :D

The "sleeve" socket is $25, but JDJanda made one from a 15mm(??) socket and a grinder.

HeeHeeHee !!

Thanks.....And I like the idea of fabbing the socket too, I've got a bucket of off brand junk, so I can afford the time to grind a couple of them up a lot better than the 25.00 !!

Jeff

The tool you need for that pre-load nut is available at NAPA. Your new ball joints should come with new nuts, so you might as well replace them.

Napa has two tools listed, a "cheap one" (~$10) and a more expencive "good" one (~$20-$30, can't remeber). Get the good one, the cheap one's tangs tend to smear/bend. Make it a PITA to use.


I'll try to remeber to look at the box tonight and get the part # of the one I got, been working good for me. (Hooper got the cheaper one, and its has worn, pain to use when I borrowed it, when I wnet in to get my own the parts guy hooked me up with this one, looks the same, but seems to be allot stronger)


edit:

damn, in the time it took me to write this (between phone calls and interuptions), you guys went nuts!! :rolleyes:


fine!

very cool, I'll take all of the help I can get !!

At least if I go in with a part #, I don't have to go through the blank stare routine...

Jeff:D

Originally posted by Heep-II
very cool, I'll take all of the help I can get !!

At least if I go in with a part #, I don't have to go through the blank stare routine...

Jeff:D
If you get a blank stare on this one, check the counter guy for a pulse and/or call 911 accordingly. That preload nut design is used on all D44's, IH, Chevy, Ford, Jeep, Dodge....

My FMS says: torque the bottom ball joint nut to 80 lbs-ft, then torque the threaded sleeve to 50 lbs-ft and finally torque the upper balljoint nut to 100 lbs-ft. Then line up castle nut with cotter pin hole. When lining this up, tighten the nut more if need be, but DO NOT loosen it to achieve alignment.

Originally posted by TORC
My FMS says: torque the bottom ball joint nut to 80 lbs-ft, then torque the threaded sleeve to 50 lbs-ft and finally torque the upper balljoint nut to 100 lbs-ft. Then line up castle nut with cotter pin hole. When lining this up, tighten the nut more if need be, but DO NOT loosen it to achieve alignment.

Yep! I just installed a pair and that's the numbers on the instruction sheet!

And, yes, NAPA carries the spanner nut wrench required. It's retails for 12.99 :)

Thanks for all of the great info guys !!

Now the problem is the blank looks I keep getting from the counter guys when I'm trying to locate the spanner socket. I get one more blank stare " your outta your mind look " You'll be reading about a fat guy in Texas that went postal in a Napa store while trying to find a common tool....Has anybody maybe got a part # for this tool....been to 4 different Napa locatons including the distrobution center for this area.....I ask for the tool, eyes glaze, and they tell me to go away...


*SIGH*

Try this p/n- 278-2030 :)

Good luck!

well, I'd have to say the NAPA web site SUCKS!


I'll make every attempt to find the PN of the tool I got this evening, if not, I'll stop by the NAPA I got it from and get the part number from them... sounds like you have lame NAPA's nere you..... at least one of the the 5 in mmy area rocks!!!

VERY COOL, THANKS..:D