85 Knuckle Rebuild
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
85 Knuckle Rebuild
Next fix on the list is my steering knuckles. For those of you out there that have done this rebuild, how complicated is it? I was thinking about upgrading my knuckles to tg's 6 shooters and rebuilding the whole knuckle. Am i better off paying a shop to do the work or is it a job i can do without the use of super specialty tools. I just want save as much money as i can. i dont mind takin my time and doing the work. I just dont want to be stuck with it all ripped apart and then have to take it somewhere for some specialty tool down the line. I'd like to rebuild it myself and then just take it to the alignment shop last. What do you think?
#2
Registered User
You can do it your self, you don`t need any special tools. As you take things a part just lay things out in the order that they come off. Clean and paint the knuckles and other parts, replace seals and bearing and put it all back together. Do have lots of old rags handy, this can be a very messy job.
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah i dont mind the mess i already installed a detriot locker in my rear end and and put a 4.70 gear reduction in the transfer case. If replacing my knuckle to the 6 shooters and rebuilding them is easier or comprable to installing a locker or gears then im totally up for it. I've just never attempted it before and am a little sceptical. Thanks for your input.
#5
If you can do 4.7 gears this is no harder.
FSM:
www.ncttora.com/fsm
Take a day even taking your time.
Only special tools you really need are 54mm socket and pull scale
Here are the knuckle rebuild kit and tools on this page:
http://www.wabfab.org/Knuckle-Servic...-products.html
FSM:
www.ncttora.com/fsm
Take a day even taking your time.
Only special tools you really need are 54mm socket and pull scale
Here are the knuckle rebuild kit and tools on this page:
http://www.wabfab.org/Knuckle-Servic...-products.html
#6
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Phheew...Sigh of relief. Thanks its great to know its no harder than the gears. I think im going to go ahead and order the hd knuckles and a rebuild kit...Anything im leaving out or should include while im tackling this? I figured i might as well do the HD knuckles since i need to rebuild the stock crap anyways. $300 for knuckles and about $50-$100 for rebuild kit = about $400? Also who sells the best rebuild kit or are they basically the same...TG Vs. Marlin's rebuild? Only Tg sells the knuckles ive seen.
Trending Topics
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: beaverton, oregon
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
only "specialty" tools i needed (that i didnt have already): brass bar and a 54mm socket. i used TG service kit with new bearings
Last edited by gary_the_4runner; 08-19-2010 at 02:20 PM.
#10
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Awesome... this rebuild is sounding more appealing now. hehe I can look forward to it instead of dreading how im going to get it done. Thanks. High steer is definately in the plans down the line but i dont want to spend money on the highsteer, lift, and tires right this minute. Slowly but surely it'll all get done. Thanks for all of your information! im glad most of the work on this toyota i can do myself. I hate all these new vehicles with 30 computers and crap u have to take to the dealer or service shop.
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Reno NV/Oxnard CA (805)
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heres a few links that might help
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/mainte...nd/solid_axle/
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/mainte..._end/teardown/
Good luck
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/mainte...nd/solid_axle/
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/mainte..._end/teardown/
Good luck
#12
Registered User
here is a run down of an 85 I just did. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f115...ctures-180536/
It took me a few days on this one but the recent one on my 82 I did in a day.
Hope it helps.
It took me a few days on this one but the recent one on my 82 I did in a day.
Hope it helps.
#13
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sweeet!!! you guys are all freaking awesome. Great Pics and Links to previous rebuilds. I will definately read all of the links and reference from them if needed. This should definatly put me on my way to the rebuild. Im feeling pretty confident i can do this job now that ive seen a little more about the process. Thanks Again all! My recent 85' addition is going to be better than new again without paying a mechanic!
#14
Registered User
Doing a knuckle rebuild is easy. Just remember where everything goes. Make sure to properly pack the bearings with molyblend grease and make sure you get all the torque settings correct.
I would suggest using Marlin Crawlers inner axle seal. If you are not familiar with it I would do a search. The one thing I kept reading about the solid axle was the little inner axle seal and its short life span. When it leaks the inner gear oil mixes with the outer packed full of grease knuckle and you get pea soup leaking down the knuckle and down the tire. Marlin beefed up that little seal.
I would suggest using Marlin Crawlers inner axle seal. If you are not familiar with it I would do a search. The one thing I kept reading about the solid axle was the little inner axle seal and its short life span. When it leaks the inner gear oil mixes with the outer packed full of grease knuckle and you get pea soup leaking down the knuckle and down the tire. Marlin beefed up that little seal.
#15
It's not a bad rebuild, I did mine this last winter and got my parts from wabfab. Drove a few hundred miles on it and no problems, then I started working on other things on the truck and it's been out of commission since, should be back up for the winter.
I laid out all the parts in the order they came off then just replaced them with all the new parts from the kit when reassembling. It's not too hard. Pay attention to the torque specs, bearing pre-load, and be sure not to lose the small metal ball and spring in the hub dial when taking it apart. I did this and it cost me a few extra $$'s. I think other than that I would say go for it. It was a very messy job when I did it and I took a while to do it since I had never done it before and wanted to make sure I was doing everything 100% correct.
I laid out all the parts in the order they came off then just replaced them with all the new parts from the kit when reassembling. It's not too hard. Pay attention to the torque specs, bearing pre-load, and be sure not to lose the small metal ball and spring in the hub dial when taking it apart. I did this and it cost me a few extra $$'s. I think other than that I would say go for it. It was a very messy job when I did it and I took a while to do it since I had never done it before and wanted to make sure I was doing everything 100% correct.
#18
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: california
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
here is a run down of an 85 I just did. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f115...ctures-180536/
It took me a few days on this one but the recent one on my 82 I did in a day.
Hope it helps.
It took me a few days on this one but the recent one on my 82 I did in a day.
Hope it helps.
#19
i just had to do the same thing - i wanted a whole marlin kit w/knuck bearings, wheel bearings and everything, but they were back-ordered for a while. finally got everything cleaned and painted, and am throwing everything back together today. ˟˟˟˟ing rain.
#20
Registered User