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Steering Knuckle Slop

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by GillaFunk, Apr 14, 2021.

  1. Apr 14, 2021
    GillaFunk

    GillaFunk I'm the Dude, so thats what you call me. 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Graeagle Calif...
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    Please excuse my lack of knowledge.

    Upon replacing the ball joints in my CJ, I found that the hole where the ball joint slides into the steering knuckle has been wallowed out and creates a bit of slop in the steering. Can be knuckle been welded and re-drilled or do I need to replace the entire knuckle itself? Or can a sleeve be used?

    if a steering knuckle replacement is necessary, I assume that as this is all original equipment it is probably worn out after 60 years. I’d assume that while I’m at it, just rebuild the entire axle with bearings and what-not. Or am I over-thinking?

    thanks in advance. I appreciate your patience.
     
  2. Apr 14, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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  3. Apr 14, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    An insert would be a solution. For me, I would just find another knuckle. Should be easy to find and inexpensive. Post up as a WTB ad in the classifieds here.

    Also, terms, the ends of the steering linkage are TREs, tie rod ends. The pivots for the closed knuckle are king pins. Another type of knuckle (open) uses ball joints to pivot on, not yours.

    Generally speaking, if the Jeep was not owned by an enthusiast, lots of stuff in the front end will be worn out. Lots of parts are intentionally service parts and replaceable, like the TREs. Steering gear, drag link, bell crank, king pins, grease seals, wheel hubs, brakes - all have parts that will wear and are meant to be replaceable. Maintenance on a closed-knuckle axle is one reason why they were phased out in favor of open knuckle axles.
     
    GillaFunk likes this.
  4. Apr 14, 2021
    GillaFunk

    GillaFunk I'm the Dude, so thats what you call me. 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Graeagle Calif...
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    Yeah. this girl will eventually get a full frame off. I am however doing small work on her as things come up. I figure If I’m taking off the steering knuckle for anything, I may as well just R/R everything as needed. No sense in half a$$ing it.

    I guess I’ll just tear into it, order the replacement parts, and do the work. Here as steering knuckles for pretty cheap. Between him and Walcks, I guess I’ll order what I need.

    thanks gents. (y):bow:
     
  5. Apr 15, 2021
    Twin2

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    Virginia Beach, VA
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    now would be the time to install a two hole knuckle
    since you'll have the one off anyway - for power steering up grade down the road
     
  6. Apr 15, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

    East Tennessee
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    This brings up something I have been pondering. I have two 67 Cj5 Jeeps. One has the two hole horns on the knuckles, the other does not. This surprised me, as I am fairly confident both have original front axles.
     
  7. Apr 16, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Never heard of that. The two-hole knuckle was used on Wagoneers and Jeepsters and probably J-trucks, but not for the CJ AFAIK. All the Jeep knuckles are interchangeable, again AFAIK.
     
  8. Apr 16, 2021
    Oldpappy

    Oldpappy A.C. Fults - Curmudgeon at large 2022 Sponsor

    East Tennessee
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    Yes, I also thought that the two-hole knuckles were on the Wagoneers and not CJs. To make this even stranger these are on the CJ5 I got from an estate sale which only has 33K miles on it and the owners son said never had any major work done to it.

    The paperwork I got on it shows the car dealer, the father of the man I bought it from, took the Jeep as a trade in on a new Buick in 1968 and used the Jeep as a tender in their used car lot to jump start cars and move them around until it was parked in 1979. Included with the paperwork was a service record which shows things like safety inspections and dealer tag registrations, oil changes and lubes, and the installation of a "Safe-T-Boost" system and a push bar on the front. No repair work is listed and with this kind of detailed paperwork I would expect a change like that would have been noted, so I am thinking it must have came with them stock.

    While it has the two hole knuckles they are not being used as the tie rods are the expected two from the bell crank.
     
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