Now I read the FSM on how to do this.

Do I really need to do everything in the FSM to remove the knuckle arms?

I am working on doing a high steer conversion and I'm trying to do so as easily as possible. I just finished doing my brakes and had everything taken apart down to the spindles but I didn't read up yet on how to remove the knuckle arms until I had my brakes finished.

Did I just completely waste my time? I'm going to be really depressed if everyone says that I did...and I'll feel really stupid that I didn't read ahead.

If someone has a trick to remove the knuckle arms without tearing down the knuckles, I would love to hear it!

Thanks for the help!

 

just remove the 4 nuts on top of the knuckle holding the steering arms down and replace with the new ones. easy as that.

 

I removed the nuts etc. but when I try to pull off the old ones, they seem stuck. For the life of me I can't seem to get them off.

 

The steering arms are seated in the top knuckle bearing so they aren't going to just fall off/out. Use a brass drift and a hammer and persuade them out with some light tapping of the arms upward. Nothing but 4 cones/washers/nuts on each after you remove the factory links.

Try finding the manufacturer's install instructions too.

 

Well...I didn't mean "pull the old ones off" like just gently lifting up on them and assuming that they would just pop right off. There was a hammer among other tools in my attempt.

So just hammer upwared on the arm with a brass rod? I'll give that a try.

 

Yep. That's it. Just persuade them off. Might even try a pry bar once you can get one in there.

 

i put the nut on till it flush with the top of the stud then *gently* tap it with a hammer to pop the cone washer out... then its easy to remove.

 

Thank you everyone for persuading me that I'm not screwed into stripping everything back down again!

The reason I was hoping I didn't is because I read through numerous high steer manufacturers instructions and it just says "Remove your knuckle arms" like it is somewhat easy peasy and doesn't say "You need to pretty much disassemble your entire axle assembly to get these off!"

I was so frustrated last night thinking I would have to tear it all down again.

 

Thanks everyone for all of the advice!

I'm actually almost done with the high steer conversion.

I finished with the steering knuckle arms awhile ago, got my tie rod dry-fit, got my new steering box mocked up (as far forward as humanly possible ) and got my frame drilled out for the gear box frame mount kit.

Just waiting on my friend to help me weld it up and then wrench down some stuff and I'll be done!

THANKS AGAIN!