Closed knuckle lubrication

[maxwoof]

I recently acquired a 62 k-20 with the closed knuckle Dana front axle. In theory, you are supposed to fill up the knuckles with gear oil, which lubes the universal joints, the wheel bearings and the knuckle bearings. Shortly after I bought the truck, I filled the joints with oil, and drove it a short distance to get it home. Later, when I inspected the front end, I determined it needed a total rebuild – the knuckle bearings were gone. When I took it apart there was some oil left in the knuckles, but not much, and the wheel bearings were somewhat dry.

I read as much as I could about how to lube the joints, and got a lot of opinions. It is clear to me that these knuckles will have a hard time keeping oil in them, especially as they approach 50 years old. So, when I put everything back together, I packed the wheel bearings with high quality wheel bearing grease, the way you would with traditional spindles. I also packed the knuckle bearings the same way – they are small caged roller bearings similar to wheel bearings. I did not do it yet, but I intend to replace the axle u-joints with traditional closed seal joints with grease fittings, like those used in open knuckles, and then leave the knuckles dry.

My thinking is that, based on the use of the truck, if I plan on re-packing the wheel bearings every 10,000 miles, the interval will be 5-10 years. Four wheel drive will be used 10% of the time, if that, so the u-joints should be fine. And, I live without the leaks.

Does anyone have any thoughts or see any drawbacks to this? I would be interested to hear them.

Thanks

[LONGHAIR]

The biggest problem I see with this is that it will not cure the leaking problem. There is no seal between the center section of the housing and the tubes, so every time you are on any angled surface, the gear oil will still run to the knuckles, If it leaks out at that point, you are losing gear oil for the ring and pinion too.

[msgross]

On my 68 I swapped in an open knuckle disc brake front end from any 71 or newer truck... Not sure if your spring perches are the same length but it's a thought. There are other parts required for the upgrade (brake MC, prop valve, steering linkage etc.) but it might be something to look in to..

[j.kirn]

The knuckle is supposed to have grease theres a seal inside the axle tube that keeps thegear oil from entering the knuckle

[maxwoof]

This is correct. There are oil seals close to the differential that keep the oil in the pumpkin from leaking out to the knuckles. I have been running the truck with the knuckles dry for a few months now with no leaks. My feeling is that with the wheel bearings packed with grease, and the knuckle bearings too, and using grease-able u-joints, I am basically running the same set up as a later open knuckle, just in a closed knuckle housing. The only downside is that to grease the U-joints, you have to pull the axles. However, given the miles I put on the truck, (even less using 4 wheel drive) If I grease every 10K miles, that would probably be every 6-8 years.

[1969K10]

i'm thinkin you need to drive that truck more!

[maxwoof]

I hear you....if I only had the time...