rockwell rebuild problem

[89ramcharger]

I was rebuilding my front axle with new seals and bearings when I mount my spindle I cant move my knuckle at all. If I take the king pin bushings out then the knuckle will turn freely I'm not sure what the problem is. Any help would be appreciated

 

[gimpyrobb]

New kingpin bushings? Did you grease them?

 

[Wildchild467]

There is a seal retainer on the axle. Im wondering if you did not seat that all the way, maybe the axle is binding between that seal retainer and spindle? That is my guess anyway.

 

[89ramcharger]

The kingpins are greased. Ill try to get the seal to seat more.
thanks

 

[steve6x6x6]

If you take the top king pin cap off does it move freely?

 

[89ramcharger]

Ya but it pulls the knuckle so I have to take the spindle off to get the kingpin back in

 

[Jeepsinker]

Are you sure you put the correct axle shaft back in the proper side? The front axle shafts are two different lengths. Otherwise either the shaft isn't fully seated in the diff because of a foreign object, or your seal retainer is indeed not fully seated.

 

[steve6x6x6]

Ya but it pulls the knuckle so I have to take the spindle off to get the kingpin back in

Did you change anything? Change the axle? Change the seal holder?

 

[89ramcharger]

I put new shafts in it and reassembled it all the seals were good so I didn't change any of them

 

[steve6x6x6]

So the spindle will not bolt up all the way? It locks it up? U joint axles and con-vel seals holders do not work togther.

 

[89ramcharger]

Correct so do I need to get a seal if so what part number

 

[steve6x6x6]

It is not the seal. The seal holder behind the U joint, there are 2 different ones. When you remove ball&claw or con-vel axles and install U axles everything locks up when the spindle in bolted down.

 

[89ramcharger]

Right I cant get the spindle to seat all the way and everything binds up

 

[gringeltaube]

So you had the old style 4+1 ball/claw style shafts and then replaced with U-joint-style shafts?
If so then Steve nailed it: post #12 explains your problem.

This (old)post shows some pictures for comparison, and gives you a possible solution, too...



G.

 

[89ramcharger]

I'm not sure what shafts it had in it originally. I bought it without shafts but what Steve is saying is exactly what's happening.

 

[steve6x6x6]

I will post a pic of these 2 today. Did you install U joint axles?

 

[89ramcharger]

Ya I put u joint shafts in there. In the other thread it looks like I need to make the thrust washer smaller. Ill take them out to see what size they are when I get a chance.

 

[gringeltaube]

If... it was the early style, then the seal retainer needs to be modified; not the thrust washer.
Or try to find the correct seal retainers for the U-joint axle shafts.



G.

 

[89ramcharger]

I ordered the correct seal retainer so hopefully that will fix my problems. Thank you guys for all the help