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Samurai has popping when turning

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Offline robbin

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Samurai has popping when turning
« on: August 21, 2009, 12:09:03 PM »
My 87 Sami has a popping sound in the right front wheel when turning. It pops when turning left and right while rolling or setting still. It started after the wheel bearings were replaced. I believe it is the steering knuckle but dont want to tear it apart without another opinion. The knuckle ball is dry the outside where it moves around the seal, is there suppose to be grease in that area and if so where do you grease it?

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Offline mrfuelish

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Re: Samurai has popping when turning
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2009, 10:37:58 AM »
I would start with what you touched last be for the noise, but it could be a burfield joint (busted axle) and could lead to a lockup in steering.
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Offline dingus

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Re: Samurai has popping when turning
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2009, 12:52:59 PM »
My 1997 4 door LSI tracker with auto Hubs makes a poping tpye noise and it feels like its catching on something.
But only going very slow and when truning hard left or right.
I can do 80 MPH in 4 H and swearve back and forth accross the road and its fine smooth as butter.

Someone here told me they do that on hard cranking slow turns going very slow.  ???

Is that Rght? Could use some advise here to.

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Offline ack

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Re: Samurai has popping when turning
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2009, 01:31:43 PM »
One thing to check - and it's preetty easy - is the snap ring that goes on the end of the axle.  It is located right under the locking hub cap.

If you forgot to ire-install the snapring, the axle can slide in or out causing the birfield joint to not be centered on the axis of the kingpin rotation.  This, along with worn kinpin bearings can cause intermittant noises in the steering.

Then again, it's possible that you didn't set the wheel bearing preload right and they have worked themselves loose.

I can't count all the stupid things that I have done to my Samurai...  That's how one learns somtimes.
Ack

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Offline zukimoo

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Re: Samurai has popping when turning
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2009, 06:26:04 PM »
I'd take the whole thing apart right down to pulling out the birfield. I've had popping noise in the past and everytime it was a dry birf. Get the complete rebuild kit and replace all the seals. IF never done you'll probably need new kingpin bearings and all new seals.

When you get in there if you can't move the birf in it's complete movement by hand I'd suggest to replace that axle. If it's still moving then take all the old grease out and fill it with new grease. Get the good stuff that will resist water...it'll save you some headaches.

In my experience I've never taken a popping birf out that was good enough to re-install but you might get lucky. I'd get a spare in hand if you use your rrig as a daily driver. It's not a hard job but it's messy and takes time.  Take it all apart and take some pics if you are nervous about it, clean it all real good and grease it all.

Look in the manual and make sure to set the preload on the kingpin bearings and I've taken the habbit of taking the hubs off about a week later and checking to make sure they are tight. You can lift a wheel and check this but I like to make sure it's all good.

I take all this apart every spring and fall, it's over kill but I don't want another seized wheel bearing at 80km/h and loosing birfs due to lack of grease is too expensive for me.
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Offline essjay

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Re: Samurai has popping when turning
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2009, 03:49:36 PM »
might not be it, but Ive known some CARS.... to do this when the swaybar endlinks are shot.

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Offline robbin

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Re: Samurai has popping when turning
« Reply #6 on: August 25, 2009, 04:44:27 PM »
Hey guys. Thanks for your help. When I pulled this thing apart the axle came out with the spindle, so I knew I had a kingpin problem. I know it would be best to rebuild both knuckles. I cant very many parts in this area so I was wondering if anyone knows where I can get the parts?

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Samurai has popping when turning
« Reply #7 on: August 26, 2009, 05:23:00 PM »
I think the best deal I found on rebuild kits was Low Range Off-Road.  I picked up the Knuckle Rebuild Kit minus wheel bearings.

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/samaxles.htm
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