steering knuckle question?

well i just got done putting the passenger side knuckle back togetherwith the new seals and all . i was jus wondering how hard are you suppose to tighten the 4 bolts on top of the kingpin and the bottom four also? Also should the knuckle be very tough to move? its tough for me to steer the knuckle back and forth.

 

I could not find a kingpin cap bolt torque spec in the FSM. In a case like this I just use the standard chart thta is in the book. For a 3/8 bolt the chart lists 18-30 pounds feet. If it is a different size bolt let me know and I will check, but I think it is a 3/8.
As far as the knuckle, the book says measure the knuckle "effort" with a fish scale, it should read be between 12-16 pdsft with no seal installed. A seal would increase it I would think. It also says to use four shims under the top kingpin only, 1- .003, 1- .005, 1- .010, 1- .030. Then measure the resistance (12-16) and then add or remove shims as needed to get within specs.
Hope that helps.

 

Mike,
Yes the knuckle should be "sorta" difficult to move by hand after all is installed. The proper level of difficulty, or drag, in moving the knuckle back and forth is just as Greg mentioned: measured with a cheap-o fish scale. But that's done with the seal uninstalled. If you already haven't filled the knuckle up with 140wt. oil, go backwards a couple steps of removing the seal and metal retainers. (besides, it'll be easier the 2nd time ) Go to WalMart to their sporting good section and pick out a fish scale that measures up to 20 lbs. Go home and hook the "hook" up to the knuckle at full articulation and pull the knuckle via the scale across its full sweep and note the lbs. of resistance. Proper bearing load should be 12-16 lbs., and adding/subtracting pounds is accomplished by those shims and tight kingpin bearings. For the record, I only found the correct bearing preload of the 12-16 lbs. by means of NO shims. Your results may vary.

 

I didn't know this procedure back when I did mine, when I first got my jeep. I just earballed it. 7 years later and still good so I guess I got it right. Maybe someday I'll tear it down and meaure it to see how close I am.

Do not try this at home.