The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > General Truck Forums > All 4x4 Tech & Off Roading

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-22-2019, 01:27 AM   #1
Short 3/4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Los Osos Ca
Posts: 527
Closed knuckle-ball clean up advice needed

I'm doing a total tear down/re build on a closed D44f (non HD) and of course it has the usual pitting and grooves on the ball. Was wondering best way to clean it up without going beyond the point of no return and making things worse. I'd like to only do this once, and not ruin it in the process.
I know they all leak and are obsolete junk, but I've been driving these since the seventies and happen to like them, so please don't try to talk me out of this.
As this is the first time I've torn one down this far, any advice would be very much appreciated
Thanks
Tom
__________________
65 short stepside K10
292-SM420-T221
8 lug closed D44 front
NoSpin HO72 4.10 rear
Short 3/4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2019, 01:40 PM   #2
sweetk30
Registered User
 
sweetk30's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: horseheads,ny rust belt
Posts: 2,794
Re: Closed knuckle-ball clean up advice needed

maybe super clean / degrease / wire wheel / then j.b. weld the low spots and let cure and then sand down smooth the whole ball .

i know a guy who did this on a semi float axle were the seal grooved the surface . was still going strong after a year or two when i heard the story from him .
__________________
77-k30lb BIG truck build .
87-k30lb budget beater build .
85-k30lb the plow machine build .
85-c10sb summer fun toy .
-----------------------------
HOLLEY SNIPER efi = worst case of p.i.t.a i ever had .

EDELBROCK pro flo 4 = best deal going so far . love my setup works great.
sweetk30 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2019, 12:27 AM   #3
Brad54
Registered User
 
Brad54's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Athens, Georgia
Posts: 1,456
Re: Closed knuckle-ball clean up advice needed

This is going to be vague as hell, so I apologize in advance...
I once heard about some marine-use metal filler, like JB Weld, only designed to be used in marine applications. It was machinable after it cured.
Might try looking in that direction.
__________________
'61 Suburban daily driver: off the road due to 180-pound 8-pt buck!
'62 K-10 long-step project
'61 C30 Camper, aka "Valdez"

There's no cool like Old School
Brad54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2019, 11:55 PM   #4
'63GENIII
Registered User
 
'63GENIII's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Carlos, Ca.
Posts: 3,047
Re: Closed knuckle-ball clean up advice needed

I would think that the JB weld or equivalent epoxy would work if the grooves aren't too deep. Ive used the Marine 3M stuff. I think it may end up harder than JB weld. The more permanent one requires keeping it damp / wet during curing.

I think if push came to shove though and the grooves were deep with the possibility of becoming cracks, Id look into having it welded and file shaped and sanded smooth. They're cast IIRC. Ive had good luck having cast welded by a local shop that knows what they're doing. Putting heat into an area that critical would be the only thing giving me pause. Properly done though is the key.

I too think the closed knucks are cool. Even cooler with a set of rotors on 'em!
__________________
Chris


'63 k15 long step
Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205
52" front and 63" rear spring swap
D44 / 14bff - disc axles
Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches

63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread


NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build

L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29
'63GENIII is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2019, 12:02 AM   #5
mongocanfly
Post Whore

 
mongocanfly's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alabama
Posts: 14,557
Re: Closed knuckle-ball clean up advice needed

I also think the jbweld will be fine..at work we have tantalum putty that's like jbweld on steroids...high $$$ stuff
__________________
Mongo...aka Greg

RIP Dad
RIP Jesse

1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598
Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334
Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563
2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver
mongocanfly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2019, 12:44 AM   #6
Short 3/4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Los Osos Ca
Posts: 527
Re: Closed knuckle-ball clean up advice needed

Thanks for the input. While it would be nice to hear from someone who has actually done that, sounds like it would work, and if it didn't no real damage would be done.
Other issue I'm going to have to deal with is re shimming the king pin bearings. I've got a 'death wobble' on hard breaking, and don't think its brakes or wheel bearings, so going to R&R top and bottom bearings while in there. Factory manual shows two different ways to adjust shims, depending on if seals are in or not. Anybody have opinions or experience in this?
Thanks for any help,
Tom
__________________
65 short stepside K10
292-SM420-T221
8 lug closed D44 front
NoSpin HO72 4.10 rear
Short 3/4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2019, 04:22 PM   #7
61K10
Registered User
 
61K10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: pleasant valley--placerville ca
Posts: 3,039
Re: Closed knuckle-ball clean up advice needed

somebody on here did the j-b weld on their knuckles. Sanded them down smooth, and worked fine. I put new knuckle bearings in my axle but just put the org shims back in. You might have a bad bearing?
__________________
1961 chevy K10

my build is------------61K10 build
61K10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-29-2019, 11:55 PM   #8
Short 3/4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Los Osos Ca
Posts: 527
Re: Closed knuckle-ball clean up advice needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by 61K10 View Post
somebody on here did the j-b weld on their knuckles. Sanded them down smooth, and worked fine. I put new knuckle bearings in my axle but just put the org shims back in. You might have a bad bearing?
Yes, going to R&R the bearings, but if I go to that expense and trouble I want to make sure the preload on the bearings is perfect (or as close as I can get it)
__________________
65 short stepside K10
292-SM420-T221
8 lug closed D44 front
NoSpin HO72 4.10 rear
Short 3/4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-16-2019, 03:09 PM   #9
maxwoof
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Edgewater NJ
Posts: 160
Re: Closed knuckle-ball clean up advice needed

About ten years ago, I packed all the bearings in my closed knuckle assembly with quality wheel bearing grease. The way you would in an open knuckle assembly, or a 2WD front wheel. I don't put any oil in the knuckle. I have been running this way since, with no issues. Granted, that's only been about 15k miles, but about half are highway. I do check often for heat and looseness of the hubs, and haven't had either. Something to consider. When first I took the knuckle apart, ten years ago, the outer wheel bearings were really dry, and the upper knuckle bearings too. Now, at least they have some grease in them...
maxwoof is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:39 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com