This can't be good

I had one side of my Jeep jacked up higher than the other to remove the wheels and fluid leaked out passed the drum. I'm assuming I have a bad axle seal. Any thoughts before I dive in?

View attachment 8217

 

Jack up the side that leaked and pour it back in?

Sounds like a wasted seal. But the day I'm having I'm the wrong one to say.

 

That's the reason we all use "knuckle pudding" it won't pour out and contaminate brakes!!
Check for a missing spindle bolt!!

 

Update: It looks like it's leaking from only the knuckle. Do I just unbolt it from the back and replace the gasket? View attachment 8238

View attachment 8239

 

Does someone have a good source for that part?
Now I'm really behind schedule for the Death Valley trip.

 

Okie dokie. Best way to learn is by doing it. Any special "watch out for.." or "don't forget to.." items I should know about.

 

Mike,
Definitely go ahead and remove the upper & lower kingpins now and inspect the bearings and races. LOL you'll know if theyr'e toast or not. If ok, then you'll just need the seals and fish scale, and I have both that I could overnight to you on Monday if necessary. But if the bearing(s) are bad, then you'll have to get new ones and it may make sense to tear down the other knuckle as well. Either way, the next step is to yank off those kingpins and have a look-see.

 

Okay, I'll have to show my ignorance here. The kingpins are the ball studs? I didn't realize there were bearings there as well. I really have know idea what your talking about Sparky, as far as pre-loading. Will this all make more sense once I finish taking everything apart? That's the part I'm good at.R) I've been reading through my Chiltons, but it has info like "re-assemble in reverse order" - big help.

 

Mike, I just read the Chilton's take on this, and yes it's less-than-stellar. R)
Pg. 8-7 has a diagram, and calls the Kingpins, # 11 & #23, "Upper Bearing Cap" and "Lower Bearing Cap". Yes there are bearings in there.

If necessary I could type out or send you a photocopy of the preload instructions from the FSM for you.

 

The '72 manual shows the closed knuckle axles.
http://www.c104.net/manual/Section_10.pdf

 

That would be great! For some reason I'm just not picturing it.

I found the bearings. No slack in them, but one sounds like its got some dirt in it. Guess I'll pull the other side apart and get a complete list of parts needed. Yes, the gasket was bad. It looks like the rubber gasket was pinched or folded over. I felt like an archaeologists as I was chipping away at the crud to expose the bolts that haven't been seen for decades. R)
View attachment 8248

 

Why do I need to take the tie rod off?

 

Here's Vern's write up if you need more info:

http://www.vernco.com/frontaxle/id373.htm

Jim

 

Umm, yeah I neglected to mention that tid-bit 'o info about the pickle fork. Might not be necessary; I survived for years just banging the heck out of the tie rod bolt out of the knuckle hole. R) The tie rod end is tapered to match the knuckle hole, so when tightened it's pretty much 'pressed' on. Can be a Beeatch to bang out, but can be done w/out pickle fork. Just twist the castle nut on flush w/ the TRE and bang away w/ a BFH :twisted:.

Be not afraid of the "bearing preload" part. It can be explained when you get to that point. Piece 'o cake.

The kingpin bearings look ok? You'll definitely know if they aren't. They should look ok; sure wish I had a pic of my bearings how I discovered them, lol.
-Alan