Willys Jeep Steering Knuckle Upgrade, DIY Procedure

[@irish7corrigan17]

Picking up my project Willy’s CJ2A this week, your videos are great, keep up the awesome work!

[@chuckuptergrove6186]

Brian once again you’ve proven you’re the man, thanks awesome upgrade on my axles, I’m loving every minute watching your videos Buddy. I got brand new custom Deaver Springs, sitting there waiting to receive those awesome upgraded axles when you’re done with them. How’s all the meat and potatoes doing out back, haven’t seen any photos of them lately lol. Love what you do buddy absolutely love it.

[@metalshaperJeep]

Hello Chuck, your axles are almost finished, just waiting on some brake parts and misc stuff. Potatoes are finished for the season, we had a super dry year and we are harvesting them now. Lots of potatoes but a bit smaller than usual due to drought. Cows are still growing daily and as soon as the cool weather moves in time to start processing beef.

[@kenthedenstrom3452]

Nice upgrade. I'm so glad you did this video as I plan on running bigger tires. Can't wait to get to this point. Thanks again Brian

[@metalshaperJeep]

Glad to help

[@johnqpublic9074]

Awesome work Brian, you definitely know your jeep stuff... thanks for showing us.

[@metalshaperJeep]

Thanks for watching!

[@andrewgraham9977]

That's a nice upgrade. Last I looked, McMaster-Carr had everything needed.

[@metalshaperJeep]

Mcmaster, MSC, and many others have everything you will need.

[@UCanDoIt2Mike]

I love all of your content. You do a great job with provided high details and no fluff. Great job in the editing room as well. I have a CJ, so most of the details do not apply to me, but I still find it very educational. Thanks for always sharing your knowledge! Mike

[@metalshaperJeep]

Thanks so much!

[@The1badxj]

Great upgrade , will definitely be doing this to my M38 and the CJ3A. Your videos are always very informative , thanks and keep it up

[@LjD-ix5zn]

I have learned something

[@frankinpattaya]

Brian, very neat upgrade, thank you for that,,well done,, regards Frank

[@metalshaperJeep]

Glad you like it

[@RADIOACTIVEMASCULINITY]

Very nice upgrade! It seems like there are other situations where this type of modification would be applicable as well 💪🇺🇸

[@metalshaperJeep]

yes, there are a lot of knuckles that would benefit from this upgrade.

[@sargethejeep]

Very helpful and elegant mod, thanks Brian!

[@metalshaperJeep]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chuckuptergrove6186]

Thanks

[@michaeldulaney2497]

Thanks for the video Brian, I will be preforming this upgrade in the near future.

[@metalshaperJeep]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johndoe43]

I helicoiled I think 3 holes on one of my knuckles and so far so good. I know it's on the risky side. I'm not rock bashing but I have 31 1050 15 tires. I physically check them by shaking. As always great video.

[@metalshaperJeep]

I always do this upgrade whenever the tire size is increased. Thru the years I have witnessed many hubs fly off of knuckles on road and off. Keep and eye on your bolts for sure.

[@robertmccully2792]

I think what your saying is the tapped threads and # 8,s add the strength. Before I think they were drop through. & the flat machined surface to eliminate wobble.

[@rayiveson1951]

Like someone commented having heel coils in one I found one that had helicoils I would not use it for that reason not enough threads this fix will solve that problem thanks😀👍👍

[@davevanatta1965]

awesome advise as always sir ty very much im gona try this

[@metalshaperJeep]

Go for it, not too hard to do and worth the time and effort.

[@juanzayas7719]

Hola Brian,,, Good tip. Juan

[@metalshaperJeep]

thanks Juan, good to hear from you

[@jimhoran5445]

Nice upgrade! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@metalshaperJeep]

works great, have never had a failure since my first upgrade in 1998

[@ginacoronel6872]

Thank you for the great info and tip Brian! Is it necessary to readjust the steering stop screw, so the bolts heads don't hit against the axle housing knuckle? I know too long a bolt will mangle it up, but these seem real small as to not cause trouble.

[@metalshaperJeep]

These bolts that I installed will never hit anything, the spindle, brake backing plate and brake drum will all be covering these bolts and they won't hit anything.

[@landon4278]

Great video. Perfect length, showed a DIY process as well. who is your source for Spicer axle shafts? Are you using old stock? The only thing I find online is Crown.

[@benberger5564]

Nice video as always Brian. Just have a few questions about this process. I will be using a mill/drill method. What are your pilot and counterbore specs? 5/16" pilot & 21/32" bore? Do you retap the knuckle after? Finally, your button socket caps - what are the specs there that you typically use? Thanks - project for this spring :)

[@wlogue]

Solid

[@metalshaperJeep]

a bullet proof upgrade.

[@chuckuptergrove6186]

Good afternoon Brian, we had talked about putting new Studs on the brake drums when you’re done doing the awesome upgrade/rebuilds on my axles, can I have the pitch, size and thread direction please. That you’re planning to upgrade it to so, I can get the new Lug-nuts for my new rims ordered out here instead of having the right hard thread and left hand threads going to in the more modern position that we talked about Let me know Brian thank you

[@metalshaperJeep]

Chuck, I have all your wheel studs changed out to Right Hand thread. They are 1/2"-20 and you should be able to find any type of lug nut you want for your jeep in that size.

[@gregorymarenger5140]

Can I upgrade my dana25 front steering Knuckle on my 1944 ford GPW with the heavier duty Dana 25 steering knuckle from a Willys Cj3B I believe it is a 1946 ?

[@pietervanderwalt2388]

Thank you for the video Brian, I am just fitting my knuckles on the jeep now, so the information came in handy. One question, I set up the preload on the kingpin bearings as per your video at 16ft.lbf pull force. After fitting the rear gasket and felt seal assembly I noticed that quite some force is required now to move the knuckle. I did see that the rubber that fits ontop of the steel plate is bigger than the plate, so I imagine that the rubber is pinching against the ball area that goes into the knuckle. How much force would you expect it to be to be able to move the knuckle once the seals are in and the joint is all greased up?

[@metalshaperJeep]

after the knuckle seal goes on it can be very hard to move by hand, that is why we set the bearing preload with the bare knuckle. Until you get lube in there and the knuckle moves a bit it can be very hard to move by hand. If you set the preload correct don't worry about anything, when you turn the steering wheel everything will feel as it should.

[@pietervanderwalt2388]

@@metalshaperJeep thank you very much Brian!!

[@juliusvatalaro9384]

Metalshaper, I just recently did the knuckle stud upgrade on my dana27af front axle on my 1971 cj5. When it came time to set the preload on the kingpin bearings. The passenger side I got 16 lbs pull, on the drivers side I got 16 with no shims. After putting the seal in and the felt then the 2 piece metal covers on and tightened it was hard to move the knucles. They seem to be really tight, is that normal?

[@metalshaperJeep]

yes the knuckle will be very tight when the seal goes on. Perfectly normal ,nothing to worry about.

[@garyrobertson3645]

💪🏼💪🏼👍 👍

[@dancast84]

No need to rethreading?

[@edwardseaton9447]

Will this work on a 66 international scout?

[@metalshaperJeep]

yes