My Willys 3A and 3B Community
3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: Quebec Jeep on April 15, 2013, 01:47:41 PM
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OK, it's now time to reassemble my knuckle and steering.
Question #1 -I bought the new set of knuckle seal from Walcks. On my old set (two big thick peace of metal with cork and spring), I had a paper gasket between them and the knuckle. I'm guessing that it is not needed anymore with the new set since it's a large rubber, right?
Question #2 -I should have one paper gasket at the flange, right?
Question #3 -Is there a paper gasket that should go between the knuckle and the backing plate?
Anything hints before I start the job?
Thanks
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QJ,
Sorry, I can't help you, but you will eventually be able to help me. �I have my new seals but haven't attempted to install them yet.
How about a photographic 'How To' // FAQ once you learn the details? ;)
Tim
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And the famous shim questions!?!
I plan to put no shim on the bottom and some on the top. How thick?
Yeah, will do a FAQ when I will be done, sure.
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What year is your 3A?
According to Bob Ws book, if early 3A, shims evenly spaced above and below on Kingpins. If Late, Shims only on top. I don't have his book in front of me, but I believe the start date of shims only on top was about the same time the M38 was first produced. Mid 1951???
I don't know how much 'play' you want.
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Year septemter 1950. I have his book so I will check it.
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1. No paper gasket needed
2. There is a gasket needed between the drive flange and hub
3. No gasket needed.
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"bob w"s book? Sounds like something I need..........What is the title and where do you get one?
Thanks
ZD
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Send Bob W a PM and he'll hook you up with one. ;)
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For ZekeD,
The link for Bob W is directly in our main page website!
In the "home" section under "What is a CJ3A description".
http://www.cj3apage.com/
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And you think a badlands rancher is gonna look there first????? ;D ;D ;D ;D
Thanks for the link
ZD
Ps. Walcks says it is on its way......again, Thanks
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My jeep serial # is 56908. Based on Bob W book, it been produced in August-September 1950.
The change on the steering knuckles happen on December 1950 for jeep 451-GB1....
From the book page 76:
"The bottom face on the steering knuckles was increased by 0.058" to eliminate the need for lower king pin bearings shims.
No serial number was given for these changes but it was likely to have been about the time M-38s entered production."
M-38 production started on December 1950.
Based on that, Is it ok to assume that I need 0.058" shim on the bottom of my steering knuckles?
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Pascal,
You're right on that edge aren't you? �I have a '49 that has the shims on the bottom. �Tonight, I could measure the length of my steering knuckle. �You could use that measurement and compare it to yours. �If yours are taller than mine, you have the later version. �If they are the same length, you have the early version. �Trouble is, I don't know if I have a tool that will see the .058" difference. �
Or...Nate!! �
You have a 49. �If you're close to it, you may be able to get Pascal that measurement sooner than me!!
Tim
Edit: I have a 6" digital caliper. I just can't picture how tall the inside face of the steering knuckle is.
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I tried to measure my 53 and my 6" caliper is too short.
The '49 has them on the bottom and the '53 has them on both sides.
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:o :-?
Ok. Does it help me? Nope!
I guess your 49 does'nt need to get preloaded...?... and your 53 is using pre 1950 knuckle!
Bob W! I need your help!
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Pascal,
Like Nate, I couldn't figure out a good way to measure them while the knuckles are assembled. I took some photos. Maybe you can compare yours to these and look for similarities or differences. Again, this is a 49 3A....
(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa397/athawk11/20130416005_zps5c7f65fa.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/athawk11/media/20130416005_zps5c7f65fa.jpg.html)
(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa397/athawk11/20130416004_zps0bddfb72.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/athawk11/media/20130416004_zps0bddfb72.jpg.html)
(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa397/athawk11/20130416002_zps30d86e20.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/athawk11/media/20130416002_zps30d86e20.jpg.html)
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Pascal,
Forgive,the dumb question, but were there shims on the bottom of your axle when you took it apart? If so, how many we're there? It's not a 100 percent accurate, but I don't think a lot of people knew that you can pull a shim in order to increase the pre load, this was Sometimes done to delay a kingpin rebuild. So if you have a stack already there, it might be the correct amount.
There is also a way to check the pre load, once the kingpins are installed and the knuckle rebuilt, before you put axle in you can measure the amount of tension with a large hook scale, it should be about 16 pounds if I remember, it's detailed in the universal repair manual. You adjust it by adding or removing shims. Make sure the steering is disconnected when you measure it.
Todd
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Since we don't yet have an exact cutoff point for the knuckle change, and it's quite possible someone else has already been into the bearings, you just have to make an educated guess on early/late design. There is one other visual difference in the knuckles that may coincide with the machining change. Later knuckles also have a small triangular gusset on the top of the steering arm where it meets the main housing.
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:-[
I did the newbies mistake. I did'nt take pictures or notes before disassembly it last year. My fault.
I'll check tonight but I think I saw this triangle gusset.
Tim, Did you put blue mist between the knuckle and the baking plate? Why?
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Pascal,
That is RTV sealant. �I saw this surface as a potential leak point...
(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa397/athawk11/drum20110711axleapart.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/athawk11/media/drum20110711axleapart.jpg.html)
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Any progress on the knuckle reassembly?
I'm going to pull mine apart and replace the bearings/cones My axle has a date stamp, 12-14-50..Unlike Tim's it uses bolts on the kingpin caps instead of the stud/nut arrangement...
This one is supposed to have Bendix joints....
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No progress. The site kept me busy. I'm also replacing the wiring harness and put time on it.
I'm looking for the grease that GG talk about to fill the knuckle.
And I find out that I don't need shim on the bottom since it's thicker then the upper one. I will post pictures of it later.
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My axle knuckle measures .585 on the bottom, it actually varies depending on where you measure, .546 to .585, measured adjacent to the front king pin bolt hole and the rear, respectively...12-14-50 date stamped on the tube, and two little cast-in gussets on the steering arm on the side of the arm that faces the brake back plate..
One shim on top, none on the bottom king pin cap...