How to ream your knuckles - anything special?

[joshd1971bronco]

I have just purchased and received the BC Broncos heim steering kit. By the way, it looks great, heims are awesome, and Chuck and Jason were extremely helpful.

Anyways, I've done quite a bit of research and searched around on past threads on HOW to ream the knuckles and there isn't much in the way of advice. Here's the only thing I've read:
1) Go slow
2) Use cutting oil
3) Check depth often to ensure you don't ream too deep

I'm assuming that you need to do all you can to ensure you are reaming 'plumb' with the ground (I'm doing a TRO). Correct? Any tips here or is it just an eyeball exercise.

I'm also assuming that since the reamer comes with a t-handle that the reaming is done by hand and that you don't chuck this reamer up into a 220v DeWalt hammer drill. Correct? ;D

Any other tips?

 

[68rockcrawler]

I put my reamer in a drill. I started with the t handle but I think it would have taken a couple of hours per hole doing it by hand.

 

[RnrdTheFox]

I did mine using a drill. I would say you want it as square as possible, and do use oil. When I did mine, I almost took too much material out on one of the knuckles. So take your time and check often. I'm currently upgrading my axles and will be doing the new Dana44 knuckles this weekend in my drillpress since the axle is apart right now.

 

[Pokey71]

I put my reamer in a drill. I started with the t handle but I think it would have taken a couple of hours per hole doing it by hand.

I just did it Sunday by hand. My palm and forearm are aching right now.

 

[mikeginn]

Started by hand for the first 2 minutes, the hooked up my reamer to a heavy duty socket on my air compressor. Still took about 30 min per knuckle. The drag link was the worst

 

[Dan74Bronc]

I used a drill and it was fairly easy. check your depth often as it is easy to ream too deep.

 

[joshd1971bronco]

Great guys. Thanks for all the replies. The drill it is. Check often. Lube up. ;D

 

[greatguy57078]

Well the guys that did mine DID go too deep. I would have thought after doing one that they would have taken more time doing the second one. Now what are my options? I don't mean to hijack the thread but thought as it was brought up that maybe someone reading (like ME!) would like to know what to do IF and WHEN it is reamed too deep. :-X

 

[68rockcrawler]

I reamed one of mine too deep and I think the only option I have is to replace that knuckle and try not to ream too deep again. reaming too deep made my tie rod end move around a little which isn't a big deal when wheeling slow but makes it wander on road.

 

[JohnJohn]

If you went to far, BC sells incerts. You should be able to drill it more then pop in the incert. I dont trust anyone to work on my Bronco.

 

[68rockcrawler]

I already have their inserts. Without them the bottom of the hole would still be tapered the wrong way allowing the tie rod ends to wobble.

 

[68rockcrawler]

I already have their inserts. Without them the bottom of the hole would still be tapered the wrong way allowing the tie rod ends to wobble. Hopefully that will work for greatguy.

 

[DirtDonk]

...I'm assuming that you need to do all you can to ensure you are reaming 'plumb' with the ground (I'm doing a TRO). Correct?

I would correct this and say you want it as plumb as possible to the bottom surface of the steering arm. Rather than the ground.
The reason being that this is where the nut tightens down, and you want it to sit flush on that surface.
I consider that important enough that, if it doesn't quite sit flush, it would be worth spot-facing that surface under the nut until it does.

Paul

 

[hammer]

Yeah use a drill,go slow, check often. Make sure you are checking the depth with the right tie rod end as well. I over reamed one of my knuckles fitting it to the wrong end. I had to replace the knuckle, turning a 30 min job into a couple hours. Good thing I had an extra set of f150 knuckles. Also depending on your kit don't forget to ream your pitman arm. I messed up my end by over tightening the castle nut, trying to get the cotter pin lined up. It wasn't sitting deep enough because i forgot to ream the pitman arm.

 

[Bronchole]

I agree with Donk, perpindicular to the nut surface, not the ground, although I'm not sure I would go as far as resurfacing the nut surface.