Think I bent the drivers side knuckle

[TRanger03]

Drifted into a rock earlier today and shortly after i noticed my tired seemed curved in. Once I got back onto solid road, I realized that my steering alignment was off, the steering wheel turned sideways to keep the tires straight. 4wd hardware has the part for $200, anyplace I could find it cheaper? Also, what are all the components I'm looking at that may also need changed? My upper and lower ball joints both seem fine. Will a new knuckle need welded on?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

You sure you didn't just bend a tie rod?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Knuckles are cast, they'd probably break before bending. I'd say it sounds like a tie rod that's bent up.

 

[TRanger03]

My tie rod, torsion bar, and both ball joints are still in place. I'm wondering if the impact could've bent the crossmember or part of the frame?? I don't think its the knuckle anymore, I'm hoping the lower ball joint is just bad.

 

[adsm08]

A lower ball joint will not make you need to keep the wheel turned that far to keep the wheels straight. You may have bent the knuckle, and I have seen it happen. You probably bent a tie rod.


And for the record, welding a knuckle onto the truck will make it awfully hard to turn.

 

[TRanger03]

the knuckles are cast iron though. wouldn't it be more likely to break before it bent? I've yet to jack the truck up. But I do know my steering stabalizer is shot, and it needed an alignment previous to this (cranked my torsion bars last week and havnt had time to get an alignment done). I'm going to jack it up tommorrow and take a look for myself. If I can't figure it out I'm just gonna go down to the local shop and have them take a look. If its a bent knuckle, its beyond knowledge of how to repair it. The way it sits, it naturally seems like the lower ball joint, but the ball joint is still in place.

 

[ozziemo27]

the knuckles are cast iron though. wouldn't it be more likely to break before it bent? I've yet to jack the truck up. But I do know my steering stabalizer is shot, and it needed an alignment previous to this (cranked my torsion bars last week and havnt had time to get an alignment done). I'm going to jack it up tommorrow and take a look for myself. If I can't figure it out I'm just gonna go down to the local shop and have them take a look. If its a bent knuckle, its beyond knowledge of how to repair it. The way it sits, it naturally seems like the lower ball joint, but the ball joint is still in place.

Steering stabilizer? On IFS?????? If its a bent knuckle, they are really really easy to swap out.

 

[straycat]

I've never torn up any of my 4wd or 2wd trucks before. How did you do that?
Not watching were you were going?? Bro, that hurts the pocket book...lol

 

[AllanD]

Drifted into a rock earlier today and shortly after i noticed my tired seemed curved in. Once I got back onto solid road, I realized that my steering alignment was off, the steering wheel turned sideways to keep the tires straight. 4wd hardware has the part for $200, anyplace I could find it cheaper? Also, what are all the components I'm looking at that may also need changed? My upper and lower ball joints both seem fine. Will a new knuckle need welded on?

IF you "bent the knuckle" you'd be the very first to accomplish this feat.


Bending the tie rod ends, control arms or the frame is far more likely.

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[heptofite]

IF you "bent the knuckle" you'd be the very first to accomplish this feat.


Bending the tie rod ends, control arms or the frame is far more likely.

AD

my driver's knuckle *IS* bent on my ranger.


does this mean i get a gold star for being the first?

 

[AllanD]

The OP has a 2003 the 2003's have very brittle cast knuckles.

the D28 axles used better quality iron that can actually bend a little.

I've actually broken the steering arm off of a '95-up knuckle getting the tie rod out of it.

My brother had one snap off on a shiny new 1996 during a pre-delivery test drive
at the dealer.

fortunatly it wasn't a special ordered vehicle (out of dealer inventory) and it was a couple hours before the customer was due so they simply gave the customer a different explorer



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[heptofite]

The OP has a 2003 the 2003's have very brittle cast knuckles.

the D28 axles used better quality iron that can actually bend a little.

I've actually broken the steering arm off of a '95-up knuckle getting the tie rod out of it.

My brother had one snap off on a shiny new 1996 during a pre-delivery test drive
at the dealer.

fortunatly it wasn't a special ordered vehicle (out of dealer inventory) and it was a couple hours before the customer was due so they simply gave the customer a different explorer



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i was referring to my 00, with 30 degrees SAI on the driver's side.

 

[AllanD]

I'd like to see that...

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[heptofite]

I'd like to see that...

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http://imagedump.tadpolejackson.com/truck/1234 Stitch.jpg

 

[adsm08]

IF you "bent the knuckle" you'd be the very first to accomplish this feat.


Bending the tie rod ends, control arms or the frame is far more likely.

AD

I have replaced 2000ish Explorer knuckles for being bent before.