Toyota knuckle questions

[chans]

It looks like I have grease oozing out between the bottom shims. I have never had it do that before and the only thing I did recently was swap the tires. Looking at the part list there is no gasket so is this normal? How bad do you let the wipers and everything leak before rebuilding them?

Also what is this plug for? To add grease or gear lube? Thanks

 

[solidfrontaxle]

The plug is for knuckle bearing grease.

Yes a leaking toyota knuckle is normal.

 

[bryson]

Make sure your trunnion cap nuts are tight... That much grease coming out of the shims probably means they are loose, or the shims are destroyed (also likely caused by loose nuts...)

 

[BCGPER]

Needs more Backwoods Goo...

 

[chans]

Make sure your trunnion cap nuts are tight... That much grease coming out of the shims probably means they are loose, or the shims are destroyed (also likely caused by loose nuts...)

Nuts are all tight. Shims look like a 1/4" plate with no gaps and don't look warped. I wiped them down and will see if it does it again and then it will be time for a rebuild. Thanks

 

[chans]

Needs more Backwoods Goo...

Will add some this weekend

 

[chans]

The plug is for knuckle bearing grease.

Yes a leaking toyota knuckle is normal.

Probably a noob question but do you just put in wheel bearing grease? Do you just fill it up? First time for a Toyota front axle. Plenty experience with Dana axles leaking.

 

[chans]

I will have to check the build thread. Not bashing a Dana axle but I have not seen one where atleast the diff cover and fill plug were not leaking. Thanks for the info.

 

[Max Power]

I dont think you need to top them off. People typically just pack the trunnions well and pack the knuckle ball full of grease. While you have it apart in the future pack the birf joint with a high tack grease like Mobile 1 wheel bearing gease. It won't hurt anything to fill up the knuckles with grease but it will be a mess as it oozes out on the trail and when you go to rebuild it. I would maybe put half a tube of a good quality bearing grease in each side.

 

[Max Power]

You have to make sure your greases are compatible. I think you guys are over thinking it. All longfeilds come packed in the same type of grease I recommended. That is because it is proven to work the best. You want a less tacky wheel bearing grease for the knuckles that can be thrown around. Dirty grease is not necessarily a good thing. Yes it if used but it is typically contaminated and less effective. Good inner axle seals and good wipers will keep this from happening.

 

[I Lean]

If you're going to open it up, replace the axle oil seal. Use one of Marlin's cool seals, Cruiser Outfitters stocks them. That's one of the reasons it's leaking, almost surely. (gear oil leaking into/mixing with the knuckle grease)

 

[leorn]

Along with Marlin's seal, add one of Longfield or Trail-gears knuckle wiper seals as well.