Author Topic: Ford knuckle question (Read 5350 times)

*FFC* · « **on:** Jan 16, 2006, 12:55:19 PM »

I know I know it's a yota board, but I know some of you guys know fords too, so I'mma ask... my knuckle is leakin gear oil... I have no idea what to expect when/if I open it up.....

If I pull the whole wheel assembly off, what is it that's causing the leaking that I can fix?

I've never opened up a front axle before

ZukIzzy · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 01:03:38 PM »

Quote from: FordFreakChik on Jan 16, 2006, 12:55:19 PM

I know I know it's a yota board, but I know some of you guys know fords too, so I'mma ask... my knuckle is leakin gear oil... I have no idea what to expect when/if I open it up..... If I pull the whole wheel assembly off, what is it that's causing the leaking that I can fix?

I've never opened up a front axle before

That is from your inner axle seal. Not to be gloom and doom but you have to pull the axles remove the diff cover remove the diff and then you can get to the seals. there is a sepcial tool to install them that I mad from threaded rod and pucks I turned on my lathe but I have seen them installed with the old seal driver and hammer method. you just have to be carful to not damage the metal part of the seal or it will leak.

Hope this helps My books say 8hr job but I could do it in 4 as could any good mech. Problem is if you are in that far it is a good time to do lockers, gears and such.

Thanks
Wayne

*FFC* · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 01:11:52 PM »

Oh geeze... thank you!! That wouldn't have anything to do with my steering not operating correctly then if it's just a seal right? I thought it may be the reason I can hardly keep the truck on the road... guess not

Thanks again!

IronClad · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 01:14:48 PM »

pull the knuckle off and the axle shaft out.. i cant remember if on the kingpin style 44's if the seal is in the outer part of the tube or the inner.. the balljoint ones are inner.. on the steering issues.. check the kingpin bearings aswell as all tierod ends and trackbar bushings.

*FFC* · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 01:17:08 PM »

Quote from: IronClad on Jan 16, 2006, 01:14:48 PM

pull the knuckle off and the axle shaft out.. i cant remember if on the kingpin style 44's if the seal is in the outer part of the tube or the inner.. the balljoint ones are inner.. on the steering issues.. check the kingpin bearings aswell as all tierod ends and trackbar bushings.

Yeah I figure it's prolly a few bushings....

I just replaced the bearing bout 2000 miles ago, so I don't think it's that

ZukIzzy · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 01:31:51 PM »

Quote from: IronClad on Jan 16, 2006, 01:14:48 PM

pull the knuckle off and the axle shaft out.. i cant remember if on the kingpin style 44's if the seal is in the outer part of the tube or the inner.. the balljoint ones are inner.. on the steering issues.. check the kingpin bearings aswell as all tierod ends and trackbar bushings.

All open knuckle d44s are ball joint and the seal on that axle is inside the housing. I have a few laying around if you wnat pics. You are right check for worn ball joints,track bar bushings, bad radius arm bushings and all the tie rod ends. also did this steering problem come up after a lift or just get wose as time goes on?

Thanks
Wayne

Wayne

IronClad · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 01:35:40 PM »

why dont you look at the pic she posted again ? THAT IS NOT A BALLJOINT AXLE its a drum brake open knuckle KING PIN style dana 44. i have one sitting in my 69 ford out in my field right now too. and no On some KING PIN style dana 44's the seal was out by the ujoint and not at the diff end. I cannot remember if it was only on the closed knuckle style.

*FFC* · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 01:35:43 PM »

Quote from: ZukIzzy on Jan 16, 2006, 01:31:51 PM

All open knuckle d44s are ball joint and the seal on that axle is inside the housing. I have a few laying around if you wnat pics. You are right check for worn ball joints,track bar bushings, bad radius arm bushings and all the tie rod ends. also did this steering problem come up after a lift or just get wose as time goes on?

Thanks
Wayne

Wayne

It didn't do it right after the lift, I drove it for awhile and took it wheelin. I busted the frame where the track bar connects, and the axle shifted. It still shifts back and forth even though I've welded the track bar back up. The steering problems only occur when the axle shifts... I'm not sure if it's when the axle is where it's supposed to be or not, but lately it hasn't let up at all... it's something that's gettin progressively worse

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 02:00:33 PM »

FFC i am almost sure that axle is like a toy, where as the seal is right there behind the joint, you could pull your trunion caps and lift it all off, but it'll be close to 70 pounds,
i would pull the hub then the knuckle

]if you turn real hard and look with a small mirrow you can see the seal

ZukIzzy · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 02:03:34 PM »

Quote from: IronClad on Jan 16, 2006, 01:35:40 PM

why dont you look at the pic she posted again ? THAT IS NOT A BALLJOINT AXLE its a drum brake open knuckle KING PIN style dana 44. i have one sitting in my 69 ford out in my field right now too. and no On some KING PIN style dana 44's the seal was out by the ujoint and not at the diff end. I cannot remember if it was only on the closed knuckle style.

Holly crap you are right SORRY. Open mouth insert foot. Let me back up here. The only d44s that I have seen with the seal on the outer tube like a toyota are the closed knuckle ones. As proven earlier I could be wrong but the inner axles from a drum open knuckle can be used in a disc open knuckle which leads me to think the seal is inner. Crap now I gotta go look this up.

Thanks
Wayne

ZukIzzy · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 02:05:56 PM »

Quote from: FordFreakChik on Jan 16, 2006, 01:35:43 PM

It didn't do it right after the lift, I drove it for awhile and took it wheelin. I busted the frame where the track bar connects, and the axle shifted. It still shifts back and forth even though I've welded the track bar back up. The steering problems only occur when the axle shifts... I'm not sure if it's when the axle is where it's supposed to be or not, but lately it hasn't let up at all... it's something that's gettin progressively worse

I would look at the track bar busshing then like was said earlier. sound like they may have been cooked while the welding was done or fell apart while wheelin.

Thanks
Wayne

*FFC* · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 02:08:37 PM »

That's why I took a pic, cuz I wasn't sure how to discribe the knuckle....

Glen, yer sayin I should be able to get to it thru pulling the hub then the knuckle? I was thinkin bout puttin a jack underneath the whoe thing and droppin it that way, but I wasn't sure if it was possible. Dang, believe it or not it's so much easier on the Migo... I mean, gettin the contraption off

*FFC* · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 02:13:52 PM »

Quote from: ZukIzzy on Jan 16, 2006, 02:05:56 PM

I would look at the track bar busshing then like was said earlier. sound like they may have been cooked while the welding was done or fell apart while wheelin.

Thanks
Wayne

The track bar bushing is brand new, it's the other bushings that I'm concerned about

IronClad · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 02:15:16 PM »

id check them then.. i know on my 69 that the tracbar bushing are toast and so are the raduis arm bushings ( axle end) and its sloppppppyyyyy

*FFC* · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 02:21:09 PM »

From what I can tell by lookin, all my bushings need replacing except for my trackbar....

... I think I'll drive it as long as I can and just fix the Migo

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 04:05:48 PM »

im sure its at the end of the axle

but theres only one way to make sure

but yea, pull the wheel, pull the hub and brake, then remove the upper and lower trunion caps, and the kingpin bearing will probably fall out because im betting the kingpin bearings are toast and floppin causing your weird steering issue

*FFC* · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 05:33:53 PM »

Quote from: 79Coyotefrg on Jan 16, 2006, 04:05:48 PM

im sure its at the end of the axle but theres only one way to make sure

but yea, pull the wheel, pull the hub and brake, then remove the upper and lower trunion caps, and the kingpin bearing will probably fall out because im betting the kingpin bearings are toast and floppin causing your weird steering issue

Do ya think those bearings would be the cause of the wobbling in the steering? I replaced the outer bearings

not the inner bearings

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 05:59:33 PM »

yep if the trunion/kingpin bearings are busted you are going to be all over the road and in a hard turn could separate from the knuckle from the axle

*FFC* · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 06:02:39 PM »

Quote from: 79Coyotefrg on Jan 16, 2006, 05:59:33 PM

yep if the trunion/kingpin bearings are busted you are going to be all over the road and in a hard turn could separate from the knuckle from the axle

that's what I thought, so the feeling that my whole wheel is gonna fall off goin down the road COULD actually happen

sheesh

Figgers... guess I'm goin to the parts store tomorrow

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 06:03:40 PM »

get me some pics of your suspension , like the radius arm on the axle mount and where the arm attaches to the frame

wait,

is this a leaf sprung front end

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 06:05:02 PM »

i will bet money its the top kingpin/trunion bearing shouldnt be too much $$

*FFC* · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 06:06:33 PM »

Glen, it's coil sprung, and I'm sure part of my problem is that I don't even have a nut on the end of my pass side radius arm. But that's not the whole of it.....

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 06:18:38 PM »

*FFC* · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 16, 2006, 06:27:35 PM »

BLACKDOG · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 17, 2006, 06:11:04 PM »

you know what the

part about this whole thing is? She is using it as her DD!!!

Oh yeah, and I was dumb enough to get in that truck a few months ago! but that was when it was kinda working

*FFC* · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 18, 2006, 01:34:56 AM »

Quote from: BLACKDOG on Jan 17, 2006, 06:11:04 PM

you know what the part about this whole thing is? She is using it as her DD!!!

Oh yeah, and I was dumb enough to get in that truck a few months ago! but that was when it was kinda working

BD you have no room to talk, at least mine runs and drives!!

Of COURSE I'm usin it as my DD, do I have any other choice?

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