Steering Stop Broke - knuckle side - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

pismojim · 07-21-2003, 06:44 PM

I found the "ear" on my knuckle housing for the steering stop bent and cracked. It broke off easily when I turned the bolt.

I've heard of the stop hoops on the axle getting crushed but the knuckle housing tab? Any tips on fixing this - short of replacing the knuckle? Seems like it could be welded and tapped. What do you think?

pismojim · 07-21-2003, 06:46 PM

Since I don't know how to attach two pictures in one post.

After I broke it off:

Toploader · 07-21-2003, 09:42 PM

You can get rod to weld cast. Looks to me like it can be welded and cleaned up with a tap. Probably be ok with a good mig welder
and let it cool off slowly.

Good luck with it.

pismojim · 07-22-2003, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by toploader
You can get rod to weld cast.

That's what I thought. Can anyone say which rod so I can ensure my welder knows what's up?

Trying to stretch my limited metalurgy knowledge with some practical welding info here.

Thanks.

morgan · 07-22-2003, 09:45 AM

Jim, why not replace the knuckle? Seems a safer way to go, and pretty easy. And this would be a good chance to test the theory that minitruck knuckles and J6 knuckles are the same part number.

Everytime I see you post I think about its-its.

Morgan

pismojim · 07-22-2003, 11:10 AM

Morgan, not a bad idea but I'll need to find one first. Plus, and this may reflect my lack of knowledge, I'm hoping to avoid dealing with the knuckle bearing preload, shim, SST business. My plan is to replace the same shims and cross my fingers everything is still in spec. Using a new knuckle seems like it could affect it.

Regarding safety, it's "only" a steering stop. Which I'll be monitoring much closer in the future. I suspect my opposite sides were not working together.

I'm much more qualified on the its its than I am knuckle rebuilts.

morgan · 07-22-2003, 11:42 AM

Mudrak's suggested to me that the shims are there for variance in the knuckle-ball to axle-tube union. He said the knuckles themselves are cast and machined and therefore two knuckles for the same model-year cruiser should not be at variance and therfore the same shims could be used between knuckles.

I am more curious about whether it's true that minitruck and J6 knuckles are the same. I've had all four studs shear on the passenger-side knuckle, so I'm carrying a spare. I have both J6 and minitruck knuckles in the garage, just haven't compared them yet. (Have to dig.) FWIW I'm running mini-truck knuckles on my 55.

Anyway, I have no opinion on repairing your knuckle, just trying to add some other ideas. Pardon the tangent.

Morgan

morgan · 07-22-2003, 11:45 AM

Meant to write: Which side? I may have a knuckle for you...

Morgan

pismojim · 07-22-2003, 12:03 PM

It's the passenger side.

It's not a tangent if it helps me get it back together and on the trail.

I may be able to compare the J6 to a mini-truck once I get this cleaned up and visit a friend.

Thanks,

07-21-2003, 06:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
pismojim the dude abides... Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11429 Location: Central Coast Posts: 876	Steering Stop Broke - knuckle side I found the "ear" on my knuckle housing for the steering stop bent and cracked. It broke off easily when I turned the bolt. I've heard of the stop hoops on the axle getting crushed but the knuckle housing tab? Any tips on fixing this - short of replacing the knuckle? Seems like it could be welded and tapped. What do you think? Attached Images __________________ Jim Brantley, KI6TLC, TLCA #6433 FJ40, FJ60, FZJ80 realcruiser.com Pismo Beach, CA .

07-21-2003, 06:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
pismojim the dude abides... Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11429 Location: Central Coast Posts: 876	Since I don't know how to attach two pictures in one post. After I broke it off: Attached Images __________________ Jim Brantley, KI6TLC, TLCA #6433 FJ40, FJ60, FZJ80 realcruiser.com Pismo Beach, CA .

07-21-2003, 09:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Toploader Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Member # 16737 Location: Chillin with Clayton Bigsby Posts: 2,206	You can get rod to weld cast. Looks to me like it can be welded and cleaned up with a tap. Probably be ok with a good mig welder and let it cool off slowly. Good luck with it. __________________ 72 Rockwelled yeah whatever... All my shits heavy.

07-22-2003, 09:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
morgan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 228 Location: Oakland, CA, USA Posts: 1,380	Jim, why not replace the knuckle? Seems a safer way to go, and pretty easy. And this would be a good chance to test the theory that minitruck knuckles and J6 knuckles are the same part number. Everytime I see you post I think about its-its. Morgan __________________ Morgan Fletcher, Oakland, CA - 76 FJ55, 94 FJ80 - TLCA #5973 Ad Astra Per Alia Porci! - [url="http://www.birfield.com/~morgan"]http://www.birfield.com/~morgan[/url]

07-22-2003, 11:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
pismojim the dude abides... Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11429 Location: Central Coast Posts: 876	Morgan, not a bad idea but I'll need to find one first. Plus, and this may reflect my lack of knowledge, I'm hoping to avoid dealing with the knuckle bearing preload, shim, SST business. My plan is to replace the same shims and cross my fingers everything is still in spec. Using a new knuckle seems like it could affect it. Regarding safety, it's "only" a steering stop. Which I'll be monitoring much closer in the future. I suspect my opposite sides were not working together. I'm much more qualified on the its its than I am knuckle rebuilts. __________________ Jim Brantley, KI6TLC, TLCA #6433 FJ40, FJ60, FZJ80 realcruiser.com Pismo Beach, CA .

07-22-2003, 11:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
morgan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 228 Location: Oakland, CA, USA Posts: 1,380	Mudrak's suggested to me that the shims are there for variance in the knuckle-ball to axle-tube union. He said the knuckles themselves are cast and machined and therefore two knuckles for the same model-year cruiser should not be at variance and therfore the same shims could be used between knuckles. I am more curious about whether it's true that minitruck and J6 knuckles are the same. I've had all four studs shear on the passenger-side knuckle, so I'm carrying a spare. I have both J6 and minitruck knuckles in the garage, just haven't compared them yet. (Have to dig.) FWIW I'm running mini-truck knuckles on my 55. Anyway, I have no opinion on repairing your knuckle, just trying to add some other ideas. Pardon the tangent. Morgan __________________ Morgan Fletcher, Oakland, CA - 76 FJ55, 94 FJ80 - TLCA #5973 Ad Astra Per Alia Porci! - [url="http://www.birfield.com/~morgan"]http://www.birfield.com/~morgan[/url]

07-22-2003, 11:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
morgan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Member # 228 Location: Oakland, CA, USA Posts: 1,380	Meant to write: Which side? I may have a knuckle for you... Morgan __________________ Morgan Fletcher, Oakland, CA - 76 FJ55, 94 FJ80 - TLCA #5973 Ad Astra Per Alia Porci! - [url="http://www.birfield.com/~morgan"]http://www.birfield.com/~morgan[/url]

07-22-2003, 12:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
pismojim the dude abides... Join Date: Apr 2002 Member # 11429 Location: Central Coast Posts: 876	It's the passenger side. It's not a tangent if it helps me get it back together and on the trail. I may be able to compare the J6 to a mini-truck once I get this cleaned up and visit a friend. Thanks, __________________ Jim Brantley, KI6TLC, TLCA #6433 FJ40, FJ60, FZJ80 realcruiser.com Pismo Beach, CA .

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