King Pin Bearing Preload

I am in the process of reassembling my left steering knuckle after replaceing the king pin bearings and race rings, and I think I may have bearing preload issues.

First, I have to admit I have not put a sping scale on the knuckle yet, but I will buy one tomorrow and get that taken care of.

As I reassembled I used the original shim pack and torqued the king pin bolts to 35 ft. lbs. as specified. The knuckle was stiff and maybe a little higher than the 12-16 lbs. of pull the FSM specifies. When I put the oil seal and felt gasket on, the pull is almost to much to turn. The FSM states to measure the pull before installing the oil seal, so I guess the seal will increase the pull some.

Am I heading for a shim problem? A seal problem? To decrease pull do I add shims or remove shims:? the FSM does not say.

 

Russ,
To increase the torque on the knuckle, remove. Conversley,add to decrease the torque. Yep, you have to remove the seal. The manual calls out the torques you should have, and as I recall they are different depending on Ross or Saginaw according to Moses Ludel. I would also add to make sure that the torques between each wheel should be as close as possible, that is the way I did mine. I guess I was being anal that day. OH! Be sure that you are putting the shims in the right place according to your year/ axle.
Good luck,

 

Were you guys able to get new shims at your FLAPS or am I gonna have to give my "good friends" at Krage a call?

 

My guess would be Krage, because I gave my leftover shims to another jeeper. Sorry, you could have had these.
I didn'thave my races seated down snug, and that gave me a fit. But with new bearings and races, I had leftover shims. I guess PO was just adding shims, not taking care like he should have.

 

Thanks Mike and Steve. I ordered four packs just in case something terrible happens - I know what my Thanksgiving weekend project will be.