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Steering Knuckle/Sherical Surface on Axle Housing Eye Prep

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Jamco6000, Jan 11, 2013.

  1. Jamco6000

    Jamco6000 Member

    Ok so I don't know what it is called but it's what the steering knuckles pivot on the axle housing. The question is how smooth does it need to be? I ran over it for the past hour with a grider fitted with an abrasive disk. I have some pitting at the ends and was wondering if that needed to be grinded smooth. Tips comments concerns?

    [​IMG]


    Lance
     
    Jamco6000, Jan 11, 2013
    #1
  2. uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    The last time i did this job, i believe i used some fine emory cloth to polish the bell. You only need to do the parts that the wiper seals actually ride on.
    No leaks after 2 1/2 years.
    My FSM didn't say anything abot this.
     
    uncamonkey, Jan 11, 2013
    #2
  3. nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Some folks have reported good luck with filling the pitting with an epoxy like JB weld then sanding smooth.


    Sent from my iPhone
     
    nickmil, Jan 11, 2013
    #3
  4. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Yes, it works perfectly.

    H.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Jan 11, 2013
    #4
  5. CJ Joe

    CJ Joe Truckhaven Tough!

    The smoother it is the less it will leak.
     
    CJ Joe, Jan 12, 2013
    #5
  6. uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    If the Jeep sits for even a short amount of time, you might think about spraying a bit of oil on the bell to prevent rust.
     
    uncamonkey, Jan 12, 2013
    #6
  7. Southtowns27

    Southtowns27 Custom Title

    Wait, so it's not supposed to leak?
     
    Southtowns27, Jan 12, 2013
    #7
  8. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Nope, they don't leak *if* you use the proper goop in'em. Do a search on "knuckle pudding".

    You can also find the proper GL-0 lubricant at john Deere, they call it corn head lubricant.

    i suspect that any grease intended for CV joints would work well also.

    H.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Jan 12, 2013
    #8
  9. 1955CJ-5

    1955CJ-5 Member

    1955CJ-5, Jan 12, 2013
    #9
  10. djbutler

    djbutler Sponsor

    I cleaned up the pitting on one of mine using an 80 grit flap disc on a 4 1/2 angle grinder, followed that up with a wire cup brush on the same grinder tool. I used a series of alternating diagonal direction passes with the flap disc to keep the spherical surface as close as I could to spherical without flat spotting it.
    With knuckle pudding in it I don't see it leaking.

    Don
     
    djbutler, Jan 12, 2013
    #10
  11. johnsotd

    johnsotd Member

    [​IMG]
     
    johnsotd, Jan 12, 2013
    #11
  12. Jamco6000

    Jamco6000 Member

    With JB weld, sanded down smooth.

    [​IMG]


    With JB weld sanded down all the way to bare metal, didn't really fill in much of the pitting.

    [​IMG]

    Should i just leave the JB weld on and smooth it down? I don't think I'm going to have leaks with the gear puddy either way. Advice?
     
    Jamco6000, Jan 27, 2013
    #12
  13. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    I'm not sure what happened there- I can't really see how the sandpaper could have gotten into the pits to remove the epoxy. I'd say try it again but when sanding uses a block to keep the paper out of the low spots.

    H.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Jan 28, 2013
    #13
  14. djbutler

    djbutler Sponsor

    Maybe remnants of grease trapped in the pits prevented the epoxy from bonding, so it just pulled out during the sanding.

    Don
     
    djbutler, Jan 28, 2013
    #14
  15. Jamco6000

    Jamco6000 Member

    I'll try it again, maybe use some of the spray degreaser. Got plenty of the stuff.
     
    Jamco6000, Jan 28, 2013
    #15
  16. nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Use a spray degreaser that leaves no residue like spray brake cleaner.
     
    nickmil, Jan 28, 2013
    #16
  17. Steve's 70-5

    Steve's 70-5 Active Member

    I would work a small area first and figure out the best way to do it.
     
    Steve's 70-5, Jan 28, 2013
    #17