how do you remove front knuckle felt seal flange?

[06boblee]

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tore apart my passenger side front knuckle. first thing I found was there was no inner seal on the hub-not wore out- not there not installed! I got the entire knuckle apart and am now wondering how to remove the felt seal flange, and more importantly, how to install the new one without bending it

[06boblee]

I figured it out- just keep on twisting 'til it clears the axle tube!

[Cal_Gary]

Memory Lane for me! While you're that deep in there you might consider replacing the brass cone on the top with a roller bearing-same size that is on the bottom. I've been told that they wear and steer better on the bearing than the bushing.
Gary

[sturmtyger380]

replacing the brass cone on the top with a roller bearing-same size

I am not sold on changing this to a roller bearing cone. The original was a strong bronze cone type bearing. I talked with some old timers about replacing this and they said don't do it. The roller bearing cones will not last and will deform coming apart under off road use.

Why didn't they use a roller cone there when they designed the truck?

[06boblee]

The roller on the bottom seems to hold up fine- bronze was cheaper, probably why it was used

[ashyers]

I can't speak to durability, but I have assembled trucks with both.

The roller bearing gives very nice feel out of the gate and is less expensive. The brass bushing takes a while to break in, but once it loosens up it's not too bad. My truck's knuckles had likely never been apart when we did them and all of the lower roller bearings cups had divots and one of the bushes had an oblong hole from deformation, not wear. The truck was used hard and likely not maintained well. With good synthetic grease and no air drops I suspect I won't have to touch 'em again until the inner axle seals go .

Andy

[Cal_Gary]

All perspectives are appreciated! I'm still running the brass tops as I couldn't afford the roller bearings. I recall seeing that tip in the VPW catalog a few years back. I passed it on for whatever it may be worth.
Gary

[just me]

My understanding is the bushing helps to prevent death wobble on pavement by providing some resistance.

[ashyers]

I doubt the bearing vs bushing does much to prevent the "death wobble". Once the bushings break in there's little difference in the steering effort/drag of the two systems. It's my sense that if you are getting the wobble the whole of the suspension system is getting loosey goosey and you may have tire issues.

I suspect the bushing holds up better to any hammering loads better due to the increased contact area. To contribute to the bearing/bushing legend I was told the bushings were used after they did some tests dropping trucks by parachute.

[just me]

Certainly better contact area with bushing and no chance of brinneling.

[06boblee]

If the bushings are better-- why didn't they use them on the bottom too? Also all modern trucks have roller bearings top and bottom.

[06boblee]

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I went with bearings top and bottom, and did the lower grease fitting mod. My old lower bearing was almost dry- hard to get grease down there from the top.