When to replace steering knuckle?

You know the LCAs and the bushings are two different things, right?

Obviously the bushings wear out, but you don't have to replace the entire assembly.

 

Naw man, once those bushings are toast, you gotta replace the whole LCA. No way to get those bushings out with a press, bottle jack, or torch.

 

Perhaps in a worst case scenario, like if you park the thing in the Pacific Ocean or something, sure. You could say the same thing about any rusted item. That's kinda like saying you should just replace your entire exhaust because the O2 sensors can rust to the pipe.

Besides, if the bushings were really that seized, a much cheaper alternative is to drill/burn out the rubber and toss in some energy suspension bushings. They use the original outer sleeve.

 

@jbrandt you see what day it is, right? I thought the would have been a give away.

 

come on man, I haven't even finished my first cup of coffee yet.

 

I've replaced bushings and I've replaced the assembly. Looking at the OP's pic's of his suspension I can tell you the bushings are shot. His call as to replace the bushing or the assembly. Having done both, I'd replace the assembly. My call. That's why I'm me and, well... you're you.

 

Good for you.

 

Hell, when I replaced the rear leaves like 15 years ago the shackle bushings had seized to the bolts and had to be cut & burned out. The LCA bolts are definitely not coming out without a fight. I would say for 300,000 miles of hard wheelin' I am OK with just putting two brand new OEM LCAs in for $494 and whatever the hell the new eccentric bolts and bushings (and anti seize!) run me. I also have to consider the amount of time and frustration it would take me to reuse the old ones -- burn, cut, and/or drill out four seized bushing, wire-wheeling and repainting these rusty things, etc.

 

lca bushings are easy. cut center out with hole saw. then cut outer sleeves with recip saw. push em right out with flat head screwdriver. i replaced with poly bushings that slid right in after. honestly took me about 10 minutes per arm

 

That's a good idea. So you find a hole saw bit with a diameter just wide enough to cut through the meat of the bushing. I like that, I might try that!

 

yessir. believe it was a 2 1/8" hole saw that perfectly matched the id of outer bushing sleeve. alot better than going at it with a torch with molten rubber and dirty ass smoke. i zipped lca bolts off with a diablo carbide recip blade (100% recommend because those suckers are very hard steel). all in all i replaced all 4 cam bolts and bushings in about 2 hours. i didnt even attempt to waste my time unsiezing cam bolts.