Front right knuckle frozen on my 100
 

Greetings,

As of late, my steering has become REALLY stiff. I disconnected the linkage from the steering box and tested the steering wheel and it was smooth as glass. Next I jacked it up and checked wheel movement. Found the problem and the front right wheel was frozen on its side to side movement. I could move it, but just barely. I busted the bolt off on top of the knuckle and tried to remove it, but it won't.

A. Is there a trick to removing the knuckle? It is just one bolt, then should just drop right out, correct?

2. Not really sure why it's frozen, and what I should do. Is it merely a matter of greasing up that knuckle shaft and reinstalling it?

Thanks.

PB Blaster
 

I would start by spraying a good penetrating oil around the top of each day for a day or two. Spray it around the top where the spindle comes through the axle and try to work the spindle back and forth. when you get it moving more freely I would try to shoot a shot or two of grease into the zerk fitting, then push down on the spindle while twisting it back and forth. Be careful if you try to drive it out you will mushroom the top of the spindle and then it will be very difficult to remove without filing the burr of the top of it.

Good luck, just a little time and effort.

Great advice. Yeah get it out of there as stated by working it left to right with down pressure and clean all the rust and scale off the spindle and spindle bore. I usually hose it down with brake clean and use shop rags inside the bore to clean it out. Good idea to try the grease fitting with the spindle out in case it's clogged. Reassemble with plenty of grease, good luck. I've had to use a torch on a wide frame spindle to get the sleeve out but that one was real bad.

Thank you for all the tips everyone! I will get right on it and report back!