Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I removed my drivers side CV hoping it was broken ( it was fine so either the long side is gone or the diff ) but I had trouble getting the steering knuckle back on. I had to take it off as I only had a set of ring spanners and needed to get at the lower bolt on the calliper.

Are they are tricks to it?

I couldn't get the knuckle off the rod but it seemed to move enough to line it up, I even removed the dust cover for the rotor the 2nd time to make room but couldn't get the knuckle to go in far enough to get the bolts started let alone put the cones in. Tried using a jack to push the knuckle on to, no luck. Poor car got left behind in NSW because I couldn't get it to fit.

Ill need to find out what I am doing wrong before I can drive 4hrs to go get it / fix it.

Car is parked in a grass paddock would a tiny lean to one side be the cause?

Watching a YouTube vid maybe I disturbed the bearing in the bottom of the swivel hub.

Hi.

I'm currently replacing the inner axle seal on my 75. No, it's not a 105 but I imagine the idea is fairly similar.

It sounds as though the bottom bearing is a bit skeewiff.
I found that the bearing would sit in it's cone happily just being held there by grease enough to slip the swivel housing over the end. You can use your finger to check it's still aligned. Then fit the lower plate with the pin that slips inside the centre of the bearing (I have no idea what that bit is called). A gentle tap with a hammer should see this go on nicely as long as it is going on square. You can then pull it on with the nuts once you can get it started.
Before you do it up all the way you should be able to align the swivel housing so that the top bearing sits generally in the centre of the hole where the knuckle will go. If you can't, something has gone wrong and you will need to pull it off and have another go.
A rod through the centre will quickly remove the bottom plate from the lower bearing.
Once they are lined up, again with a gentle tap the knuckle should slip on and you'll be able to get the cones and nut on.
I have never had to remove the steering knuckle from the rod.

Without offending, I am assuming you have the swivel housing up the right way.

If you are traveling 4hrs to go back for round 2, I'd take new swivel hub bearings as the idea of a jack being involved makes me think you may have damaged a bearing by attempting to force it.

Don't forget to shim it all correctly or you will forever be replacing wheel bearings and axle seals.

Hope this helps.

Either something is bent or its the swivel hub bearing as suggested. I could feel up inside and it felt good but mustn't have been.

House mate shows me a video last night which clearly shows the left side breaking. Good to know after everyone else said it was drivers side for sure oh well!

Yeah I'm looking forward to putting new bearings and a full kit through both sides once I get it home. At the moment it's sitting on a mates farm in a cattle paddock lowered onto some rocks as stands.

And which CV to buy? Looks like most are Chinese around $50 then $100 for a supposedly Japanese one. Locktup etc don't seem have listings for 105s

Can get 300 Chinese ones for $6 each - Group buy anyone? Lol

Take the new ones with you just in case you need them.

I've replaced my LHS CV with a Repco (supposedly Japenese). I can't remember what I paid but they were reccomended to me.
Depends on what sort of driving you do, however my 75 is twin locked and spinning 35's. Touch wood, it's doing well.

I'm not sure what these are like but I'm keen to give one a go if and when mine does let go...

If you're paying $6 each you'll need 300 of them... Jeezus!

At this stage i'm just going to get it home then i'll put a whole kit through it, new bearing etc once it's on level ground and on a firm dry surface with easy access to johnny walker. Don't plane on rebuilding the hubs cv etc in a damp cow paddock

if you have no joy getting it back together, I'd look at pulling out the cv and inner axle, stripping the hub and spindle, then re-assemble the swivel housing, put the axle and CV back in, then re-assemble the hub.
FWIW I've always stripped the hub and spindle to pull a CV out, I've watched others pull the wiper seals and remove the bottom steering arm to remove the swivel housing, but it looks like a PITA to do it that way,

I only removed the steering arm to get at the lower bolt on the caliper because all I had was a few ring spanners, shouldn't be any need to remove the swivel hub unless you want to I guess.

My mates Grandparents who own the farm called me and said their mechanic could sort it out for me. He rang me and and I told him to pull the other cv out and leave the one I had already taken out where it was so I could drive it home. He said $150, I thought cheaper than a car trailer if I can't get the steering back on. That was yesterday morning, he called me last night and said he had done it so I said great I can drive it home he said "no i just put it back together" so he put the CV back in that I didn't want in and didn't take the other one out as told even e-mailed to confirm! and it was $270. Now you will probably say don't pay him but two things 1. I want to get my car back, he has the key which is worth more than $270 2. I don't really want to rock the apple cart with my mates Grandparents so we can all still wheel there, they are pretty sensitive, we have been kicked out before and took as lots work to let us back on. FWIW its 500+ Acres of creek runs, Hill climbs, waterfalls, shady camping spots on private property with only us so IMO it worth being nice.

So I'll be going down tomorrow with some proper tools and removing both CVS still hoping its the other CV but could easlily be the diff.

Have to chalk cletus the mechanics role in this to the old if you want something done properly you have to do it yourself.

First up. Where is the paddock/car? Can someone with some experience go with you?

It shouldn't be as difficult as you have decribed.

Take the swivel hub off. Put the lower arm and swivel bearing in.
Put the upper bearing in the top of the knuckle and slide the swivel hub on then add the upper cap.

Evan

I am capable of doing it myself just needed more than a handful of random ring spanners to do it, hoping cletus was going to save me the trip to get it but oh well, First up tomorrow i'm heading down with some sockets and it should all be good.

Passenger side axle and CV removed along with taking out the prop shaft after Cletus put it back in revealed its the Diff.

So much easier when you don't have to take the steering off the swivel hub. All done under an hour, hardest part was taking the circlip off.,