Would you run it?

[dezzrats]

Yes, this is what you think it is!

[fords4life]

Dayum.....how did that happen? Sure seems like cheap insurance to just replace it.

[dezzrats]

Crashed truck rebuild, 2000 Superduty. It started as a quick fix just to get the truck back to a roller (that you could steer). Now I think the mullet is going to run it

[SDRiverRat]

I rock!!

[ShawnCT450R]

Thinking not!!! If that truck is being beat like it looks like it is, then I would say NO!!!!!.

[SteveBricks]

No way

[BillD]

Nope

[SoCalPowerStroke]

not a chance, i hated running cut and turned beams on my prerunners even and they weight a hell of a lot less than a psd

[K5Cruiser]

I'd run it that way if I had broken it on a trail and simply wanted to get back to asphalt or my tow rig. I wouldn't run it for use on the road. It's simply not worth my life or anyone else's who may be driving around/near me. I don't need the added liability of potentially hurting someone else in an accident and then getting sued over it because I went the cheap route on a critical part of the steering system.

[POWERSTROKEMIKE]

like K5Cruiser said.. would drive it off the trail an then on a flat bed.. then to my drive way where i could replace damage parts.. not going to risk my life or someone else's...

[SDRiverRat]

Ok. I understand all of the issues with this part. However, lets put some perspective in this story.

The man behind the mask currently holds welding certifications required to prep, weld and self-test 7 different metals in GTAW (tig) including full purge Titanium in a 8' diameter bubble as well as GMAW (wire feed with gas) on carbon and stainless steel. Also carries a backround in NDT tests of all those types of welds using x-ray, and dye penetrant. All of these certifications have been tested and received in a local aerospace/government contracting facility, and are required to be kept current. I have a detailed background in Airframe & Power Plant maintenance and all weld certificates were filed under Part 91 of the FAA's requirements for airworthiness in a current FAA repair facility. I have 3 of the 4 years of studies that are required for a Masters in Structural Engineering with a minor in Metallurgy. I am not by any means bragging about my achievements, I am simply explaining that this wasn't some redneck out back, with a coat hanger, a pair of jumper cables and a car battery.

If you look carefully at the part being welded, you will notice that it is not a weight bearing connection. It is the steering connection to the spindle (knuckle) and it was broken during a accident. That part of the spindle has negligible amounts of moment loading and never sees the kind of stresses that the other two connections do.

That being said, let me ask this.

Would you?

A) Purchase a new factory Knuckle for $780

B) Purchase a whole front axle for $1200 from a wrecking yard (they don't want to take just this part off and sell it) of which you have not idea of the condition, and use that one.

C) Use your training, expertise and judgement and weld the part in 10 minutes, for only the cost of a good friends electricity. (honestly it took me longer to reply to this thread than to prep and weld the damn thing)

What do you think?

[fords4life]

I would purchase a new factory knuckle hands down. Just not worth the risk IMO....not to mention that if that piece snapped off once, I would be concerned with the shock that the rest of the knuckle received and how it might have been weakened. And if you're talking about putting big tires on the truck and taking it off road, that steering system could potentially see a lot of stress. I would be more concerned with the impact loads it would see offroad than I would with driving straight down the road.

[Matteo]

aaron just replace it when you have the cash. if you want i can make a phone call and see if i can get you one used or how much i can get a factory one 4 you. sad to say is you will run it and it will last. if me or dave were to put that on our trucks it would fall apart in the driveway. just like the clip for your master link on your d-bike or anyother stoopid thing you have done and got away with it

[K5Cruiser]

I would find a salvage yard willing to sell me a used (in good condition) replacement part. If I couldn't find one from a nationwide salvage yard search, I would be checking sites like pirate4x4 and ebay for used pieces. For the $780 you indicated that a new piece costs, you could go and buy a set of aftermarket knuckles for less and have a stronger set than stock.
Reid Racing, Inc - Powerglide transmission cases, Dana 44 & Dana 60 knuckles
Rockcrusher Dana 60 Outer Knuckle


I don't think you realize how much pressure this piece sees when you're doing anything other than driving straight on asphalt with stock size tires. Increase the tire size, do any off roading where you come in contact with a rock(s), install a ram, etc., and there starts to be alot of stress placed on this part. That's why these steering knuckles crack over time, and then break at some point.

You or the person who did the repair, may be the best welder in the world, but I can pretty much guarantee that part wouldn't pass any visual inspection. Even if it did pass an inspection, are you really willing to put everything you have on the line (your life and everything you own, not to mention everyone else you may put in danger), just to save some money on this one part?

[POWERSTROKEMIKE]

along with the others.. replace the piece.. if for some reason there was a accident an (hopefully not) someone got hurt an they found out that the part was repaired.. there would be such a lawsuit just not worth it to me..