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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. Jan 11, 2013
    Jamco6000

    Jamco6000 Member

    Baton Rouge, LA
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    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. Jan 11, 2013
    uncamonkey

    uncamonkey Member

    Greeley CO
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    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. Jan 11, 2013
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    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. Jan 11, 2013
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Yes, it works perfectly.

    H.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Jan 11, 2013
    #4
  5. Jan 12, 2013
    CJ Joe

    CJ Joe Truckhaven Tough!

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

    uncamonkey Member

    Greeley CO
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    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. Jan 12, 2013
    Southtowns27

    Southtowns27 Custom Title

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

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    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. Jan 12, 2013
    1955CJ-5

    1955CJ-5 Member

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

    djbutler Sponsor

    Rio Linda CA
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    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. Jan 12, 2013
    johnsotd

    johnsotd Member

    Senatobia, MS
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    [​IMG]
     
    johnsotd, Jan 12, 2013
    #11
  12. Jan 27, 2013
    Jamco6000

    Jamco6000 Member

    Baton Rouge, LA
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    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. Jan 28, 2013
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    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. Jan 28, 2013
    djbutler

    djbutler Sponsor

    Rio Linda CA
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    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. Jan 28, 2013
    Jamco6000

    Jamco6000 Member

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

    nickmil In mothballs.

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

    Steve's 70-5 Active Member

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