- Joined
- Mar 30, 2004
- Messages
- 82
Hi everyone!
I did a frame off restoration about 7-8 years ago, replaced all the steering linkage with new, kept the dana 44 knuckles and ground them down for disc brake conversion. I've got about 5000 miles on it since then (roughly 100,000 on the knuckles)...I know, need to drive it more ;-)
Took it to a shop for something else and they showed me how loose the tie rods were. They disassembled the rods and said the knuckle holes have been worn out, so the knuckles need replaced along with new rods.
I'm assuming either the knuckles were already worn out during the restoration and the mechanic didn't catch it, or he installed the rods incorrectly somehow. Mine is a street rig on the occasional weekend, no way my driving in 5000 miles did this unless something was incorrect at the time of restoration, right??
So my real question is... the shop didn't measure the knuckle holes but said there was wear inside, so how likely is it that the knuckles are actually worn? Or is it more likely just the tie rods are bad? I'm assuming the knuckle steel is harder than the tie rods, but I don't know. If I have to replace the knuckles so be it... would be nice to save some $$ if I can, but more than that I enjoy learning about our beloved beasts.
Thanks and Happy 4th!!
I did a frame off restoration about 7-8 years ago, replaced all the steering linkage with new, kept the dana 44 knuckles and ground them down for disc brake conversion. I've got about 5000 miles on it since then (roughly 100,000 on the knuckles)...I know, need to drive it more ;-)
Took it to a shop for something else and they showed me how loose the tie rods were. They disassembled the rods and said the knuckle holes have been worn out, so the knuckles need replaced along with new rods.
I'm assuming either the knuckles were already worn out during the restoration and the mechanic didn't catch it, or he installed the rods incorrectly somehow. Mine is a street rig on the occasional weekend, no way my driving in 5000 miles did this unless something was incorrect at the time of restoration, right??
So my real question is... the shop didn't measure the knuckle holes but said there was wear inside, so how likely is it that the knuckles are actually worn? Or is it more likely just the tie rods are bad? I'm assuming the knuckle steel is harder than the tie rods, but I don't know. If I have to replace the knuckles so be it... would be nice to save some $$ if I can, but more than that I enjoy learning about our beloved beasts.
Thanks and Happy 4th!!