Steering knuckle identification
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Registered User
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Encinitas, CA
Steering knuckle identification
Hello,
Been reading these forums for a while & decided to post with an issue that I'm having with my RAM. I have a 97' RAM 1500 4x4 that I recently sent to get aligned. They kicked it back saying the ball joints were toast on the driver side. I swapped them out & discovered that the ball joint bores in the axle yoke were not the interference fit that the factory likely intended. So, using my welder and relying on my savvy 12th grade education, I pressed in the ball joints and then used my MIG to tack weld the joints to the yoke(s) in three places each. I then moved to the steering knuckle problem.
I pulled my knuckle and installed the replacement. The replacement, bought from an unnamed vendor that sells "truck parts" at a location that is a "mile high" and in a state abbreviated "CO", was not even close as it placed the caliper too far outward from the rotor. I've included a pic below so that, if it's allowed in posts, maybe someone can ID the knuckle that is shown on the right. The knuckle on the right is my old one, the left is the new. My original has the number 7289 stamped on it and the large rectangular portion visible on the right knuckle is the area where the caliper slides in or out as the pads wear.
Pic: http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...y/PIC-0618.jpg
Of course, any help would be appreciated.
Matt R
Encinitas, Peoples Republik of Khalifornya
Been reading these forums for a while & decided to post with an issue that I'm having with my RAM. I have a 97' RAM 1500 4x4 that I recently sent to get aligned. They kicked it back saying the ball joints were toast on the driver side. I swapped them out & discovered that the ball joint bores in the axle yoke were not the interference fit that the factory likely intended. So, using my welder and relying on my savvy 12th grade education, I pressed in the ball joints and then used my MIG to tack weld the joints to the yoke(s) in three places each. I then moved to the steering knuckle problem.
I pulled my knuckle and installed the replacement. The replacement, bought from an unnamed vendor that sells "truck parts" at a location that is a "mile high" and in a state abbreviated "CO", was not even close as it placed the caliper too far outward from the rotor. I've included a pic below so that, if it's allowed in posts, maybe someone can ID the knuckle that is shown on the right. The knuckle on the right is my old one, the left is the new. My original has the number 7289 stamped on it and the large rectangular portion visible on the right knuckle is the area where the caliper slides in or out as the pads wear.
Pic: http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...y/PIC-0618.jpg
Of course, any help would be appreciated.
Matt R
Encinitas, Peoples Republik of Khalifornya
Last edited by yrn2fly; Oct 27, 2009 at 12:28 PM.
Retired Moderator - RIP
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 18,729
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From: NH
It appears they simply just sent you the wrong one. Why don't you email them that pic. Maybe it was labeled wrong or something. Also why not go to a local junk yard? There are plenty of cash for clunkers rams in my locals.
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2
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From: Encinitas, CA
Zman,
Yea, I thought of the same thing & sent the vendor the pic a while ago. I'm not sure what sound a deer makes when it's caught in headlights, but I'm pretty sure I do now. Unfortunately they sent me one labeled "1999" so there might be some tangible differences in them.
I just got another one yesterday after driving 2+ hrs, and even it looks different. This in spite of the fact that I visibly saw the 1500, verified the year and watched them pull it off of it. I'll try fitting it tonight but if it doesn't fit I'll be officially stumped. I'm guessing that someone swapped the front end out at some point (it did have some front end repair years ago). I'm also hoping that if someone views this thread & sees the pic they might do the ole "aha I know what that is" routine.
I tried the yards but here in SoKal the yards are pretty much 4x4 clean. It's really sad to see 1999, 2000 and in some cases 2002 Jeeps, RAM's and even (dare I say) F series trucks destroyed. I guess the families that could have used these nicer "guzzlers" will probably second guess voting for the folks that pushed for it... or at least I hope so.
Matt R
Encinitas, Peoples Republik of Khalifornya
Yea, I thought of the same thing & sent the vendor the pic a while ago. I'm not sure what sound a deer makes when it's caught in headlights, but I'm pretty sure I do now. Unfortunately they sent me one labeled "1999" so there might be some tangible differences in them.
I just got another one yesterday after driving 2+ hrs, and even it looks different. This in spite of the fact that I visibly saw the 1500, verified the year and watched them pull it off of it. I'll try fitting it tonight but if it doesn't fit I'll be officially stumped. I'm guessing that someone swapped the front end out at some point (it did have some front end repair years ago). I'm also hoping that if someone views this thread & sees the pic they might do the ole "aha I know what that is" routine.
I tried the yards but here in SoKal the yards are pretty much 4x4 clean. It's really sad to see 1999, 2000 and in some cases 2002 Jeeps, RAM's and even (dare I say) F series trucks destroyed. I guess the families that could have used these nicer "guzzlers" will probably second guess voting for the folks that pushed for it... or at least I hope so.
Matt R
Encinitas, Peoples Republik of Khalifornya
