Steering Knuckle installed and functioning!
 

On a cold and blistery Michigan night, I spent last night putting my
TJ's front right steering knuckle back together, after having to drill
out a broken caliper bolt. . and I just had to ask, how many others
have forgot to install the spash-guard after bolting down the 3 hub-
bolts. . . .oops. . . then after using a floor-jack to wedge the
knuckle into the tapers on the upper & lower ball studs, and FINALLY
getting the upper nut to lock, and not turn the ball-joint, and
getting it nice and tight and getting the cotter-pin in, ... I realize
I forgot to put the ABS sensor wire bracket on it first.. So off comes
the nut again and we start again! :)

Cold weather + no sleep = sloppy mechanic.

Thanks to all you guys who helped me by answering all my newbie
questions. It's the great people on this newsgroup that I always think
about when I do the jeep-wave.. Jeeps just seem to attract nice
people. (for the most part..) I had an aircooled vw before the Jeep,
and their newsgroup is equally active and friendly. (and they wave
too!)

One strange thing happened when I went to take it for a test-drive. It
was in the garage for a week, in cold weather, with me playing the
radio quite a bit.. so the battery was all but dead. I jumped it, let
it run for about 5-6 minutes, then put it into gear and crawled out of
the garage. I stopped after I cleared the door, and then it kept
acting like it was going to stall if I didn't feather the gas-pedal..
it would idle at around 250 rpms if I didn't hit the gas. I had never
seen this before. It did this for my entire test drive of about 10
minutes. After I parked it in the garage, I turned it off, then back
on, and idle was fine.

Is there something about low voltage and idle speed? Once the
alternator was turning and the engine running, my voltage should have
been fine for running normal I would have thought..

Also, What is the secret to tightening the 175 ft-lb axle nut? ...
Having someone stand on the brakes while you crank on it?

Re: Steering Knuckle installed and functioning!
 

To hold the hub, I have a 4' piece of bar stock with two holes drilled
in the end that slide over any two bolt holes in the hub. Actually, I
think that piece of bar stock disappeared into the winch mount so I'll
need a new one next time I do a hub. :)

Dave wrote:
> On a cold and blistery Michigan night, I spent last night putting my
> TJ's front right steering knuckle back together, after having to drill
> out a broken caliper bolt. . and I just had to ask, how many others
> have forgot to install the spash-guard after bolting down the 3 hub-
> bolts. . . .oops. . . then after using a floor-jack to wedge the
> knuckle into the tapers on the upper & lower ball studs, and FINALLY
> getting the upper nut to lock, and not turn the ball-joint, and
> getting it nice and tight and getting the cotter-pin in, ... I realize
> I forgot to put the ABS sensor wire bracket on it first.. So off comes
> the nut again and we start again! :)
>
> Cold weather + no sleep = sloppy mechanic.
>
> Thanks to all you guys who helped me by answering all my newbie
> questions. It's the great people on this newsgroup that I always think
> about when I do the jeep-wave.. Jeeps just seem to attract nice
> people. (for the most part..) I had an aircooled vw before the Jeep,
> and their newsgroup is equally active and friendly. (and they wave
> too!)
>
> One strange thing happened when I went to take it for a test-drive. It
> was in the garage for a week, in cold weather, with me playing the
> radio quite a bit.. so the battery was all but dead. I jumped it, let
> it run for about 5-6 minutes, then put it into gear and crawled out of
> the garage. I stopped after I cleared the door, and then it kept
> acting like it was going to stall if I didn't feather the gas-pedal..
> it would idle at around 250 rpms if I didn't hit the gas. I had never
> seen this before. It did this for my entire test drive of about 10
> minutes. After I parked it in the garage, I turned it off, then back
> on, and idle was fine.
>
> Is there something about low voltage and idle speed? Once the
> alternator was turning and the engine running, my voltage should have
> been fine for running normal I would have thought..
>
> Also, What is the secret to tightening the 175 ft-lb axle nut? ...
> Having someone stand on the brakes while you crank on it?
>

Re: Steering Knuckle installed and functioning!
 

To hold the hub, I have a 4' piece of bar stock with two holes drilled
in the end that slide over any two bolt holes in the hub. Actually, I
think that piece of bar stock disappeared into the winch mount so I'll
need a new one next time I do a hub. :)

Dave wrote:
> On a cold and blistery Michigan night, I spent last night putting my
> TJ's front right steering knuckle back together, after having to drill
> out a broken caliper bolt. . and I just had to ask, how many others
> have forgot to install the spash-guard after bolting down the 3 hub-
> bolts. . . .oops. . . then after using a floor-jack to wedge the
> knuckle into the tapers on the upper & lower ball studs, and FINALLY
> getting the upper nut to lock, and not turn the ball-joint, and
> getting it nice and tight and getting the cotter-pin in, ... I realize
> I forgot to put the ABS sensor wire bracket on it first.. So off comes
> the nut again and we start again! :)
>
> Cold weather + no sleep = sloppy mechanic.
>
> Thanks to all you guys who helped me by answering all my newbie
> questions. It's the great people on this newsgroup that I always think
> about when I do the jeep-wave.. Jeeps just seem to attract nice
> people. (for the most part..) I had an aircooled vw before the Jeep,
> and their newsgroup is equally active and friendly. (and they wave
> too!)
>
> One strange thing happened when I went to take it for a test-drive. It
> was in the garage for a week, in cold weather, with me playing the
> radio quite a bit.. so the battery was all but dead. I jumped it, let
> it run for about 5-6 minutes, then put it into gear and crawled out of
> the garage. I stopped after I cleared the door, and then it kept
> acting like it was going to stall if I didn't feather the gas-pedal..
> it would idle at around 250 rpms if I didn't hit the gas. I had never
> seen this before. It did this for my entire test drive of about 10
> minutes. After I parked it in the garage, I turned it off, then back
> on, and idle was fine.
>
> Is there something about low voltage and idle speed? Once the
> alternator was turning and the engine running, my voltage should have
> been fine for running normal I would have thought..
>
> Also, What is the secret to tightening the 175 ft-lb axle nut? ...
> Having someone stand on the brakes while you crank on it?
>

Re: Steering Knuckle installed and functioning!
 

To hold the hub, I have a 4' piece of bar stock with two holes drilled
in the end that slide over any two bolt holes in the hub. Actually, I
think that piece of bar stock disappeared into the winch mount so I'll
need a new one next time I do a hub. :)

Dave wrote:
> On a cold and blistery Michigan night, I spent last night putting my
> TJ's front right steering knuckle back together, after having to drill
> out a broken caliper bolt. . and I just had to ask, how many others
> have forgot to install the spash-guard after bolting down the 3 hub-
> bolts. . . .oops. . . then after using a floor-jack to wedge the
> knuckle into the tapers on the upper & lower ball studs, and FINALLY
> getting the upper nut to lock, and not turn the ball-joint, and
> getting it nice and tight and getting the cotter-pin in, ... I realize
> I forgot to put the ABS sensor wire bracket on it first.. So off comes
> the nut again and we start again! :)
>
> Cold weather + no sleep = sloppy mechanic.
>
> Thanks to all you guys who helped me by answering all my newbie
> questions. It's the great people on this newsgroup that I always think
> about when I do the jeep-wave.. Jeeps just seem to attract nice
> people. (for the most part..) I had an aircooled vw before the Jeep,
> and their newsgroup is equally active and friendly. (and they wave
> too!)
>
> One strange thing happened when I went to take it for a test-drive. It
> was in the garage for a week, in cold weather, with me playing the
> radio quite a bit.. so the battery was all but dead. I jumped it, let
> it run for about 5-6 minutes, then put it into gear and crawled out of
> the garage. I stopped after I cleared the door, and then it kept
> acting like it was going to stall if I didn't feather the gas-pedal..
> it would idle at around 250 rpms if I didn't hit the gas. I had never
> seen this before. It did this for my entire test drive of about 10
> minutes. After I parked it in the garage, I turned it off, then back
> on, and idle was fine.
>
> Is there something about low voltage and idle speed? Once the
> alternator was turning and the engine running, my voltage should have
> been fine for running normal I would have thought..
>
> Also, What is the secret to tightening the 175 ft-lb axle nut? ...
> Having someone stand on the brakes while you crank on it?
>

Re: Steering Knuckle installed and functioning!
 

I held the brake pedal down on the last TJ axle nut I helped fix. It
still makes me wonder 'why' people undo that bolt unless they are
changing the hub out. The whole works pulls out as one piece and you
can change u-joints or drill without having it all apart.

As far as the caliper goes.... I don't remember you asking about the fix
for it. Doesn't the caliper bracket just unbolt from the back of the
hub so you can just lay it on the ground and drill it out or put it in a
drill press and do it?

The caliper bracket slider was dinged on our 88, and I just removed that
one part to weld up the notch and grind it smooth. It has 2 bolts
holding it...

Oh, I also forgot the splash guard once... Felt about as pissed as you
did...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Dave wrote:
> On a cold and blistery Michigan night, I spent last night putting my
> TJ's front right steering knuckle back together, after having to drill
> out a broken caliper bolt. . and I just had to ask, how many others
> have forgot to install the spash-guard after bolting down the 3 hub-
> bolts. . . .oops. . . then after using a floor-jack to wedge the
> knuckle into the tapers on the upper & lower ball studs, and FINALLY
> getting the upper nut to lock, and not turn the ball-joint, and
> getting it nice and tight and getting the cotter-pin in, ... I realize
> I forgot to put the ABS sensor wire bracket on it first.. So off comes
> the nut again and we start again! :)
>
> Cold weather + no sleep = sloppy mechanic.
>
> Thanks to all you guys who helped me by answering all my newbie
> questions. It's the great people on this newsgroup that I always think
> about when I do the jeep-wave.. Jeeps just seem to attract nice
> people. (for the most part..) I had an aircooled vw before the Jeep,
> and their newsgroup is equally active and friendly. (and they wave
> too!)
>
> One strange thing happened when I went to take it for a test-drive. It
> was in the garage for a week, in cold weather, with me playing the
> radio quite a bit.. so the battery was all but dead. I jumped it, let
> it run for about 5-6 minutes, then put it into gear and crawled out of
> the garage. I stopped after I cleared the door, and then it kept
> acting like it was going to stall if I didn't feather the gas-pedal..
> it would idle at around 250 rpms if I didn't hit the gas. I had never
> seen this before. It did this for my entire test drive of about 10
> minutes. After I parked it in the garage, I turned it off, then back
> on, and idle was fine.
>
> Is there something about low voltage and idle speed? Once the
> alternator was turning and the engine running, my voltage should have
> been fine for running normal I would have thought..
>
> Also, What is the secret to tightening the 175 ft-lb axle nut? ...
> Having someone stand on the brakes while you crank on it?
>

Re: Steering Knuckle installed and functioning!
 

I held the brake pedal down on the last TJ axle nut I helped fix. It
still makes me wonder 'why' people undo that bolt unless they are
changing the hub out. The whole works pulls out as one piece and you
can change u-joints or drill without having it all apart.

As far as the caliper goes.... I don't remember you asking about the fix
for it. Doesn't the caliper bracket just unbolt from the back of the
hub so you can just lay it on the ground and drill it out or put it in a
drill press and do it?

The caliper bracket slider was dinged on our 88, and I just removed that
one part to weld up the notch and grind it smooth. It has 2 bolts
holding it...

Oh, I also forgot the splash guard once... Felt about as pissed as you
did...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Dave wrote:
> On a cold and blistery Michigan night, I spent last night putting my
> TJ's front right steering knuckle back together, after having to drill
> out a broken caliper bolt. . and I just had to ask, how many others
> have forgot to install the spash-guard after bolting down the 3 hub-
> bolts. . . .oops. . . then after using a floor-jack to wedge the
> knuckle into the tapers on the upper & lower ball studs, and FINALLY
> getting the upper nut to lock, and not turn the ball-joint, and
> getting it nice and tight and getting the cotter-pin in, ... I realize
> I forgot to put the ABS sensor wire bracket on it first.. So off comes
> the nut again and we start again! :)
>
> Cold weather + no sleep = sloppy mechanic.
>
> Thanks to all you guys who helped me by answering all my newbie
> questions. It's the great people on this newsgroup that I always think
> about when I do the jeep-wave.. Jeeps just seem to attract nice
> people. (for the most part..) I had an aircooled vw before the Jeep,
> and their newsgroup is equally active and friendly. (and they wave
> too!)
>
> One strange thing happened when I went to take it for a test-drive. It
> was in the garage for a week, in cold weather, with me playing the
> radio quite a bit.. so the battery was all but dead. I jumped it, let
> it run for about 5-6 minutes, then put it into gear and crawled out of
> the garage. I stopped after I cleared the door, and then it kept
> acting like it was going to stall if I didn't feather the gas-pedal..
> it would idle at around 250 rpms if I didn't hit the gas. I had never
> seen this before. It did this for my entire test drive of about 10
> minutes. After I parked it in the garage, I turned it off, then back
> on, and idle was fine.
>
> Is there something about low voltage and idle speed? Once the
> alternator was turning and the engine running, my voltage should have
> been fine for running normal I would have thought..
>
> Also, What is the secret to tightening the 175 ft-lb axle nut? ...
> Having someone stand on the brakes while you crank on it?
>

Re: Steering Knuckle installed and functioning!
 

I held the brake pedal down on the last TJ axle nut I helped fix. It
still makes me wonder 'why' people undo that bolt unless they are
changing the hub out. The whole works pulls out as one piece and you
can change u-joints or drill without having it all apart.

As far as the caliper goes.... I don't remember you asking about the fix
for it. Doesn't the caliper bracket just unbolt from the back of the
hub so you can just lay it on the ground and drill it out or put it in a
drill press and do it?

The caliper bracket slider was dinged on our 88, and I just removed that
one part to weld up the notch and grind it smooth. It has 2 bolts
holding it...

Oh, I also forgot the splash guard once... Felt about as pissed as you
did...

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Dave wrote:
> On a cold and blistery Michigan night, I spent last night putting my
> TJ's front right steering knuckle back together, after having to drill
> out a broken caliper bolt. . and I just had to ask, how many others
> have forgot to install the spash-guard after bolting down the 3 hub-
> bolts. . . .oops. . . then after using a floor-jack to wedge the
> knuckle into the tapers on the upper & lower ball studs, and FINALLY
> getting the upper nut to lock, and not turn the ball-joint, and
> getting it nice and tight and getting the cotter-pin in, ... I realize
> I forgot to put the ABS sensor wire bracket on it first.. So off comes
> the nut again and we start again! :)
>
> Cold weather + no sleep = sloppy mechanic.
>
> Thanks to all you guys who helped me by answering all my newbie
> questions. It's the great people on this newsgroup that I always think
> about when I do the jeep-wave.. Jeeps just seem to attract nice
> people. (for the most part..) I had an aircooled vw before the Jeep,
> and their newsgroup is equally active and friendly. (and they wave
> too!)
>
> One strange thing happened when I went to take it for a test-drive. It
> was in the garage for a week, in cold weather, with me playing the
> radio quite a bit.. so the battery was all but dead. I jumped it, let
> it run for about 5-6 minutes, then put it into gear and crawled out of
> the garage. I stopped after I cleared the door, and then it kept
> acting like it was going to stall if I didn't feather the gas-pedal..
> it would idle at around 250 rpms if I didn't hit the gas. I had never
> seen this before. It did this for my entire test drive of about 10
> minutes. After I parked it in the garage, I turned it off, then back
> on, and idle was fine.
>
> Is there something about low voltage and idle speed? Once the
> alternator was turning and the engine running, my voltage should have
> been fine for running normal I would have thought..
>
> Also, What is the secret to tightening the 175 ft-lb axle nut? ...
> Having someone stand on the brakes while you crank on it?
>

Re: Steering Knuckle installed and functioning!
 

On Feb 23, 10:30 am, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> I held the brake pedal down on the last TJ axle nut I helped fix. It
> still makes me wonder 'why' people undo that bolt unless they are
> changing the hub out. The whole works pulls out as one piece and you
> can change u-joints or drill without having it all apart.
>

Yes, I am now asking myself that same question Mike.. After the fact,
to maintain my sanity after all that work, I am going to lie and say
that it was worth the learning experience :)

> As far as the caliper goes.... I don't remember you asking about the fix
> for it. Doesn't the caliper bracket just unbolt from the back of the
> hub so you can just lay it on the ground and drill it out or put it in a
> drill press and do it?

On my TJ, the caliper bolts go through the caliper, and thread into 2
holes on the steering knuckle. The lower bolt broke off some time ago
apparently, and in the process, put an interesting wear pattern on the
rotor and pads, in addition to wearing a nice groove in the steering
knuckle where the whole thing was rocking back and forth each time I
used the brakes.

I have a few machinist friends here at work, and I didn't want to try
and drill it out myself, and chance ruining the thing, so off it had
to come.

> The caliper bracket slider was dinged on our 88, and I just removed that
> one part to weld up the notch and grind it smooth. It has 2 bolts
> holding it...

I'm assuming there are some big differences between the brakes on your
88 Cherokee and my 98 TJ? I don't have a caliper bracket that I know
of...

> Oh, I also forgot the splash guard once... Felt about as pissed as you
> did...
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> Dave wrote:
> > On a cold and blistery Michigan night, I spent last night putting my
> > TJ's front right steering knuckle back together, after having to drill
> > out a broken caliper bolt. . and I just had to ask, how many others
> > have forgot to install the spash-guard after bolting down the 3 hub-
> > bolts. . . .oops. . . then after using a floor-jack to wedge the
> > knuckle into the tapers on the upper & lower ball studs, and FINALLY
> > getting the upper nut to lock, and not turn the ball-joint, and
> > getting it nice and tight and getting the cotter-pin in, ... I realize
> > I forgot to put the ABS sensor wire bracket on it first.. So off comes
> > the nut again and we start again! :)
>
> > Cold weather + no sleep = sloppy mechanic.
>
> > Thanks to all you guys who helped me by answering all my newbie
> > questions. It's the great people on this newsgroup that I always think
> > about when I do the jeep-wave.. Jeeps just seem to attract nice
> > people. (for the most part..) I had an aircooled vw before the Jeep,
> > and their newsgroup is equally active and friendly. (and they wave
> > too!)
>
> > One strange thing happened when I went to take it for a test-drive. It
> > was in the garage for a week, in cold weather, with me playing the
> > radio quite a bit.. so the battery was all but dead. I jumped it, let
> > it run for about 5-6 minutes, then put it into gear and crawled out of
> > the garage. I stopped after I cleared the door, and then it kept
> > acting like it was going to stall if I didn't feather the gas-pedal..
> > it would idle at around 250 rpms if I didn't hit the gas. I had never
> > seen this before. It did this for my entire test drive of about 10
> > minutes. After I parked it in the garage, I turned it off, then back
> > on, and idle was fine.
>
> > Is there something about low voltage and idle speed? Once the
> > alternator was turning and the engine running, my voltage should have
> > been fine for running normal I would have thought..
>
> > Also, What is the secret to tightening the 175 ft-lb axle nut? ...
> > Having someone stand on the brakes while you crank on it?

Re: Steering Knuckle installed and functioning!
 

On Feb 23, 10:30 am, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> I held the brake pedal down on the last TJ axle nut I helped fix. It
> still makes me wonder 'why' people undo that bolt unless they are
> changing the hub out. The whole works pulls out as one piece and you
> can change u-joints or drill without having it all apart.
>

Yes, I am now asking myself that same question Mike.. After the fact,
to maintain my sanity after all that work, I am going to lie and say
that it was worth the learning experience :)

> As far as the caliper goes.... I don't remember you asking about the fix
> for it. Doesn't the caliper bracket just unbolt from the back of the
> hub so you can just lay it on the ground and drill it out or put it in a
> drill press and do it?

On my TJ, the caliper bolts go through the caliper, and thread into 2
holes on the steering knuckle. The lower bolt broke off some time ago
apparently, and in the process, put an interesting wear pattern on the
rotor and pads, in addition to wearing a nice groove in the steering
knuckle where the whole thing was rocking back and forth each time I
used the brakes.

I have a few machinist friends here at work, and I didn't want to try
and drill it out myself, and chance ruining the thing, so off it had
to come.

> The caliper bracket slider was dinged on our 88, and I just removed that
> one part to weld up the notch and grind it smooth. It has 2 bolts
> holding it...

I'm assuming there are some big differences between the brakes on your
88 Cherokee and my 98 TJ? I don't have a caliper bracket that I know
of...

> Oh, I also forgot the splash guard once... Felt about as pissed as you
> did...
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> Dave wrote:
> > On a cold and blistery Michigan night, I spent last night putting my
> > TJ's front right steering knuckle back together, after having to drill
> > out a broken caliper bolt. . and I just had to ask, how many others
> > have forgot to install the spash-guard after bolting down the 3 hub-
> > bolts. . . .oops. . . then after using a floor-jack to wedge the
> > knuckle into the tapers on the upper & lower ball studs, and FINALLY
> > getting the upper nut to lock, and not turn the ball-joint, and
> > getting it nice and tight and getting the cotter-pin in, ... I realize
> > I forgot to put the ABS sensor wire bracket on it first.. So off comes
> > the nut again and we start again! :)
>
> > Cold weather + no sleep = sloppy mechanic.
>
> > Thanks to all you guys who helped me by answering all my newbie
> > questions. It's the great people on this newsgroup that I always think
> > about when I do the jeep-wave.. Jeeps just seem to attract nice
> > people. (for the most part..) I had an aircooled vw before the Jeep,
> > and their newsgroup is equally active and friendly. (and they wave
> > too!)
>
> > One strange thing happened when I went to take it for a test-drive. It
> > was in the garage for a week, in cold weather, with me playing the
> > radio quite a bit.. so the battery was all but dead. I jumped it, let
> > it run for about 5-6 minutes, then put it into gear and crawled out of
> > the garage. I stopped after I cleared the door, and then it kept
> > acting like it was going to stall if I didn't feather the gas-pedal..
> > it would idle at around 250 rpms if I didn't hit the gas. I had never
> > seen this before. It did this for my entire test drive of about 10
> > minutes. After I parked it in the garage, I turned it off, then back
> > on, and idle was fine.
>
> > Is there something about low voltage and idle speed? Once the
> > alternator was turning and the engine running, my voltage should have
> > been fine for running normal I would have thought..
>
> > Also, What is the secret to tightening the 175 ft-lb axle nut? ...
> > Having someone stand on the brakes while you crank on it?

Re: Steering Knuckle installed and functioning!
 

On Feb 23, 10:30 am, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> I held the brake pedal down on the last TJ axle nut I helped fix. It
> still makes me wonder 'why' people undo that bolt unless they are
> changing the hub out. The whole works pulls out as one piece and you
> can change u-joints or drill without having it all apart.
>

Yes, I am now asking myself that same question Mike.. After the fact,
to maintain my sanity after all that work, I am going to lie and say
that it was worth the learning experience :)

> As far as the caliper goes.... I don't remember you asking about the fix
> for it. Doesn't the caliper bracket just unbolt from the back of the
> hub so you can just lay it on the ground and drill it out or put it in a
> drill press and do it?

On my TJ, the caliper bolts go through the caliper, and thread into 2
holes on the steering knuckle. The lower bolt broke off some time ago
apparently, and in the process, put an interesting wear pattern on the
rotor and pads, in addition to wearing a nice groove in the steering
knuckle where the whole thing was rocking back and forth each time I
used the brakes.

I have a few machinist friends here at work, and I didn't want to try
and drill it out myself, and chance ruining the thing, so off it had
to come.

> The caliper bracket slider was dinged on our 88, and I just removed that
> one part to weld up the notch and grind it smooth. It has 2 bolts
> holding it...

I'm assuming there are some big differences between the brakes on your
88 Cherokee and my 98 TJ? I don't have a caliper bracket that I know
of...

> Oh, I also forgot the splash guard once... Felt about as pissed as you
> did...
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> Dave wrote:
> > On a cold and blistery Michigan night, I spent last night putting my
> > TJ's front right steering knuckle back together, after having to drill
> > out a broken caliper bolt. . and I just had to ask, how many others
> > have forgot to install the spash-guard after bolting down the 3 hub-
> > bolts. . . .oops. . . then after using a floor-jack to wedge the
> > knuckle into the tapers on the upper & lower ball studs, and FINALLY
> > getting the upper nut to lock, and not turn the ball-joint, and
> > getting it nice and tight and getting the cotter-pin in, ... I realize
> > I forgot to put the ABS sensor wire bracket on it first.. So off comes
> > the nut again and we start again! :)
>
> > Cold weather + no sleep = sloppy mechanic.
>
> > Thanks to all you guys who helped me by answering all my newbie
> > questions. It's the great people on this newsgroup that I always think
> > about when I do the jeep-wave.. Jeeps just seem to attract nice
> > people. (for the most part..) I had an aircooled vw before the Jeep,
> > and their newsgroup is equally active and friendly. (and they wave
> > too!)
>
> > One strange thing happened when I went to take it for a test-drive. It
> > was in the garage for a week, in cold weather, with me playing the
> > radio quite a bit.. so the battery was all but dead. I jumped it, let
> > it run for about 5-6 minutes, then put it into gear and crawled out of
> > the garage. I stopped after I cleared the door, and then it kept
> > acting like it was going to stall if I didn't feather the gas-pedal..
> > it would idle at around 250 rpms if I didn't hit the gas. I had never
> > seen this before. It did this for my entire test drive of about 10
> > minutes. After I parked it in the garage, I turned it off, then back
> > on, and idle was fine.
>
> > Is there something about low voltage and idle speed? Once the
> > alternator was turning and the engine running, my voltage should have
> > been fine for running normal I would have thought..
>
> > Also, What is the secret to tightening the 175 ft-lb axle nut? ...
> > Having someone stand on the brakes while you crank on it?