knuckle and tie rod questions

[hinkv10]

I finally had a couple of hours free today and tried to get my knuckles back on the truck after I put in new ball joints and had a shop press in new ujoints. I have 2 questions as I am stuck but think I know what I have to do.

1. The ujoint caps stick out past the ears of the axle. I am unable to get them thru the hole in the knuckle. I have tried both ways with both axles. I asked for the best ujoints that they carried and they had a comparable set to spicer but went by some name that began with the letter M. Just to make sure I'm not retarded, they need to be flush, correct? and that is why I can't get the axle in?

2. The pass side tie rod end spins when you put a nut on it. There is no slot in the top to put a screw driver in and I can only get it to go a turn or two before the whole shaft that the nut goes on begins to turn. Do I need a new tie rod end? Thanks

 

[89Suburban]

Not sure about the u-joint issue but on the tie rod end, make sure the bore and tapered shaft is clean and dry and use that floor jack to put some pressure pushing up on it to hold it in the bore snug so you can tighten the nut down.

 

[Stroked]

My buddy just replaced those u-joints on his k10 and he said he had to grind down the corners of the caps a bit to get them to fit through. The original caps were rounded and the new ones are squared.

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[bigcountryguy19]

I had to grind mine also, some aftermarket ones are not rounded and don't fit through the hole. I have had no ill effects from grinding the sides a bit.


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[chengny]

make sure the bore and tapered shaft is clean and dry and use that floor jack to put some pressure pushing up on it to hold it in the bore snug so you can tighten the nut down.

Another trick if it still doesn't catch - even doing what 89Sub suggests:

Before starting, make sure the threads on both the tie rod end and the castellated nut are clean, chased and lubed.

With both the taper/bore clean (real clean - like with Scotchbrite/steel wool and flushed with carb cleaner) and separated, use a torch to heat the knuckle in the immediate area of the bore.

Get it good and hot (doesn't need to be glowing or anything, just hot enough to boil spit). While still hot, insert the taper of the tie rod end and use the jack to press it in till the knuckle starts to lift.

Then, working quickly, thread the nut on and tighten till it draws the taper hard into the bore. Let it cool off for a few minutes.

This should get the taper to stick in the bore - and allow you to torque to final spec.

 

[hinkv10]

You guys were right on both counts. I ground down the caps and the axles slid right in. Used the floor jack on installed the tie rod. Thanks, again

unfortunately the grease fittings only point straight down which makes it impossible to grease the upper ball joint with the axle installed. I bought 90 degree fittings but they were too tall and when I spun the axle I broke one of them off flush with the ball joint. This should be fun......

 

[Konas new ride]

Thank you for posting all of this.. This is the next thing i need to do to my 3/4 ton..