Toyota front knuckles?

[chicken77]

So over the Easter Jeep Safari I managed to brake two studs off my driver side knuckle, where the steering arm connects. So my question is this.......Do I fix my knuckles or do I go with the Trail Gear six shooters or something similar? The scary part is I drove all the way home (240 miles) with no clue they were broken........

 

[sixstringsteve]

What size tire are you running? Were they stock studs, or ARPs? Are you running hydro assist? Do you have a front locker?

I think I remember six shooters with stock studs being slightly stronger than toyota knuckles with ARPs. Now I just run 6 shooters and arps to be safe.
http://www.trail-gear.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=4577


You can also do the longfield 5th stud mod if you want more strength than stock, but you don't want to shell out for the six shooters. The cool thing about the 5th stud mod is that it puts the bolt on another plane, which helps prevent shearing. I wonder if the 5th stud mod is stronger than the 6-shooters...

D44 stud mod:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394089


If your knuckle got damaged, I have a set of stock knuckles I'd sell ya.

 

[SUPERFLY]

IMO just getthe arp studs for you knuckles and if you break those, then up grade to the six shooters. it's much cheaper to just buy the studs. Supposedly 4 arp studs are stronger than six factory studs.. I used to have six shooters loaded with arp studs but I went through 9 knuckles before upgrading.. Good times

 

[SUPERFLY]

I've always wanted to grind out a keyway in the knuckle and hysteer arm. I think a hardened steel key would help more than more studs and be cheaper

 

[sixstringsteve]

that would be killer. I saw a thread on pirate where a guy did a keyway:

bit o progress on the knuckle stud "beef-up" Now sporting 16mm capscrews, and a 16mm key :smokin:

Looks a bit stronger, and the key looks like it will resist all forces trying to turn it around the kingpin....wonder what the weak bit will be now

 

[chicken77]

I'm running 38" sx's and factory studs, so I think I may try the ARP studs, my stock studs lasted for almost 4 years...........

 

[I Lean]

If you've never broken them before, AND you didn't break all 4....chances are very good they were just loose. Replace them with stockers and you probably won't break them. (so, do the ARP's if you want to)

 

[Chevycrew]

Ill add to this... Its also with no hydro assist and with a front locker.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Good thing you checked 'em. I hear that the secret is to keep 'em torqued to spec, so check 'em every once in a while.

 

[chicken77]

I'm just glad it made it home!!! So ARP's are 9 bucks apiece seems a little spendy.....

 

[Coco]

I would say just upgrade to six shooters, and ARPs, if you broke them make it bulletproof that's just how I see it, but money is always the factor

 

[1\4elliptic toy]

FWIW, I might be about as hard on Toyota stuff as anyone can be. Anyone that wheels with me can testify to that. I have broke countless ARP studs, stock studs and knuckles. You and I run the same tire in the same size, I have 2 inch back space 10 inch wide rim's, I put ALOT of load on my studs. I was to the point that I was breaking ARP studs on almost every trip.

I finally got around to making my own 5th stud (took all of about 2 hours) and I have not had a single issue since. I have really put it to the test and have not seen a single loose nut or any issue. It costs a few bucks to do and IMHO its way better than 6 shooters.

 

[YROC FAB.]

I've always wanted to grind out a keyway in the knuckle and hysteer arm. I think a hardened steel key would help more than more studs and be cheaper

I DID this with my knuckles.
I also welded in gussets on the stopping tabs(last set of knuckles broke there).

I run stock studs and hammer my sh!t with no breakage..... yet.

But I'm cheap and have a machinist friend. When i go full hydo its six shooters for sure.

P.S. i dont know why the key pic wont show.

 

[chicken77]

So six shooters it is since I plan on doing hydro assist down the road and it seems like I'm getting braver with the truck ever time out. Picked up a set from the guys at Lowrange along with some ARP studs. May have time to do the install later tonight........

 

[chicken77]

On a side note, next time it will be a narrowed dana 60, it would be cheaper and stronger than trying to build Toyota axles...............

 

[sixstringsteve]

might want to consider the trunion eliminator kit while you're that deep in the knuckles. I wish I had gone with the trunion eliminator before rebuilding my axle.

 

[big cherokee]

im running stock studs still in stock knuckles and check them every day before i go wheeling even on multiple day trips in moab, have yet to brake one and im running 39in michelins that way a ton.

i saw a test on pirate that the six shooters are actually made with softer material than the stock stuff. so i will probably do a fifth stud from longfield and arp's when i break mine.

 

[chicken77]

I will be checking them more often now. I hope they work well for me, I'm really not that hard on the truck, but this seems to be a common problem.

 

[zukijames]

keep them tight.. and dont run china bearings.. i have 37s.. lived in moab for 11.5 months.. many trips to bfe ... prichett a few times blah blah i tighten the knuckle stud nuts before every trail. arb no hydro assist.

even with the 6 shooters if they loosen up you will break stuff

 

[chicken77]

Six shooters installed and ready for some use and abuse. Had to make my own backing plate eliminators due to the six shooters design but not a problem. Also opted for the ARP studs, should be a good fix, but I'm not to happy about having a $2500.00 plus toyota front axle