I think this would depend on if your planning on 're packing wheel bearing and such, if your buying and plan on rebuilding front end, then strip it down .I recently up graded axles to rcv's. As my front axle was just rebuilt the prior year, and had no problem, I just removed brake caliper and removed top steering arm on knuckle, took about an hour to do both sides
Just to confirm, you did something like this:
pull off wheel
remove hub dial plate/spring/gear assembly
remove outer birf c-clip from inside hub
remove caliper
remove 8 bolts from back of knuckle (that holds the seals/felts together)
remove top steering arm/upper trunion from knuckle
allow knuckle to drop down allowing lower trunion to clear trunion bearing (please confirm this step as I would have thought upper and lower trunion would have to be pulled)
pull off knuckle w/ lower trunion still attached to knuckle
pull axle and inner axle seal
reassemble
I was thinking of doing it this way
pull off wheel
remove hub dial plate/spring/gear assembly
remove outer birf c-clip from inside hub
remove spindle nuts (just bought a 54mm socket so I could stop using the chisel method and remove with hub body still attached)
remove caliper
pull off rotor w/ hub body still attached
pull and replace wheel bearing oil seal (I think the bearings and packing are new and anticipate not needing to do this)
remove spindle
pull birf and inner seal
replace seal and install Marfields
reassemble with new gaskets
I already bought bearing seals, dial and hub body gaskets, spindle gaskets and rubber with the intention of going my route. I don't have new felts and seals for the back of the knuckle, as I just ordered the gaskets I needed from the stealer.
Also, I plan to fill the knuckle with grease. Do you guys put CV grease inside the birf and use high temp bearing grease to fill the knuckle? Will these mixing be an issue? I know some guys don't fill the knuckle, but this is my DD and trail rider and not a seriously wheelin' machine, so I don't plan on getting into the knuckle for at least a couple years to come after this.
Thanks again for all the help and suggestions.
