Bent Steering knuckle

mookie · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:20 pm

I posted a bit ago about hitting a rock at about 20 mph and the ESP and traction lights coming on, as well as a slight pull to the right(hit it with the right front wheel).

I finally took it to get it aligned and was told they couldn't and I should take it to the dealer as something was bent. Just heard from the dealer that the front right steering knuckle is bent and it will need new bearings and that it will be $900 to fix, and that they can't be sure that's all that wrong with it.

My question is, am I getting ripped off and what else could be wrong after they replace the knuckle?

Thanks in advance for any advice! :!:

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:41 pm

Fairly sure the knuckle is Cast Iron, it would take one heck of a hit to bend something like that.

What kinda rock was this? You sure it wasnt a small car? :lol:

mookie · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:07 pm

Oh, nailed that rock pretty hard. Enough to put a dent in the wheel and feel it hit the upper body, but no flat tire so I figure it wasn't that big of a deal.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:10 pm

Dang! I have seen the lower control arms get tweaked or crack from a hard hit but thats the 1st knuckle I have heard getting damaged.

It would be an easy swap fix and way cheaper to do it yourslef if you can find a used part. I know there are probably a few out there, probably some at All J's shop form the couple of SFA projects. I would offer mine but they are being used for something in the near future.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:05 pm

If you cant do it yourself , then find a good "local" shop to check it out. I cant see where it would of bent, but if it did I am sure there are someother things to check as well. Check the salvage yards for a used one and go from there. 900 is highway robbery and of course they will find more and then it will be 1500 or more.

chefdab · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:36 pm

JJsKJ wrote:

I would offer mine but they are being used for something in the near future.

Using them to get the dimensions for a knuckle lift prototype? (similar to the Superlift that never made it to market)

mookie · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:31 pm

I decided I can't stomach a $900 bill with the promise of "there may be something else wrong after we fix that", so I'm going to take it the Jeep Shop in Chester Springs, PA. Seems like the best option. A

Anyone from around Philly have any dealings with them?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:52 pm

Well since the knuckles are cast iron I would have a hard time believing that it bent before the tie-rod ends or pushed the whole steering rack over.It takes alot of force to bend cast iron,95% of the time it will crack before bending more then a few hundreths of a inch.I would have the tie rods checked first since they are only about 5/8" thck.Same goes for the OEM LCA's and UCA's,both made out of cast iron and many times will crack before bending,though the mount bolts and mounting places will bend first.

mookie · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:47 pm

Good advice. I'll definitely go through each of those with them. Thanks!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:24 am

You ever checked out a tie rod on something like an explorer tjkj? Its amazing how much smaller they are than a Kj's tie rod. They look like little pencils.

Bent Steering knuckle

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