Steering Knuckle Damage?

edconline · 02-18-2014, 09:36 PM

While in the process of removing my front left wheel hub assembly from the car, there was quite a bit of 'aggressive coaxing' I did to try and break the wheel hub loose. I never directly hit the hub with a steel hammer, but I'd place a block against it and smash on that, or try to force it off by placing a crowbar between the hub and the knuckle for leverage and beating on the crowbar. Anyway, when I finally got the hub out, I looked at the knuckle and saw what looked like maybe small cracks? Just on the surface? Should I be worried that I damaged the steering knuckle itself or is it a lot stronger than that? Here is what I'm talking about:

On the other side, I had purchased the slide hammer at this point, so it came right out without any of that smashing around. And I don't see any of the marks on that one...

Really hoping there isn't another part to buy...

Minato · 02-18-2014, 10:00 PM

I don't see how you could have caused that many cracks, even if you beat on it. Was it outside in Edmonton? Or in a garage? Once stress cracks appear, they will continue to grow until catastrophic failure of the part.

edconline · 02-18-2014, 10:04 PM

In a garage. And the force on it really wasn't that much, no hitting the knuckle itself at all. Seems weird they would be stress cracks.
Edit: Is this part coated with something that could have cracked, on the surface?

Sh0velMan · 02-18-2014, 10:58 PM

That part is bare aluminum.

You need to clean that part extremely well and then re-evaluate, post photos here if you'd like more opinions.

Based on what I see there, that part is garbage, I'd never put it back on my own car.

GaleForce · 02-18-2014, 11:53 PM

Time to splurge on a pair of these...

IMG_9492 by J M Gale, on Flickr

Voodoo 13 makes them.

edconline · 02-18-2014, 11:56 PM

Haha probably outta the budget! Looks sick though, they list it as coming soon

GaleForce · 02-19-2014, 12:04 AM

They are supposed to be "affordable". They didn't say to who though...

edconline · 02-19-2014, 12:09 AM

Ha, exactly. I'm gonna clean it up and hopefully it'll just end up being on the surface. Fingers crossed!

Rusty · 02-19-2014, 12:09 AM

Clean it up really well. Then take it to someone who does NDT testing. Dye Penetrant. If you was closer. I could do it. Those look like surface cracks from casting it. Not uncommon. I don't see the cracks going into the machined area. If the crack was going into the machined area. Then I would think you got a problem.

Whtfairladyz · 02-19-2014, 01:30 AM

That is normal aluminum casting marks. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that part. I see that every day with various other aluminum parts that are casted.

BGTV8 · 02-19-2014, 03:19 AM

Dye penetrate will tell you for sure ...

ILL370 · 02-20-2014, 05:36 AM

Just looks like casting marks, alloy is moulded in sand casts. Just rub it with sand paper and it will disappear if so.

kenchan · 02-20-2014, 02:13 PM

zip ties.. all i saw were zip ties...

edconline · 02-20-2014, 02:15 PM

Lol as opposed to a coat hanger? Seemed like the best way to hang the caliper temporarily

kenchan · 02-20-2014, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edconline

Lol as opposed to a coat hanger? Seemed like the best way to hang the caliper temporarily

nono, i was referring to mr.gale's image with the dorifuto front bumper fix

sorry to see wat it appears to be stress fractures.

02-18-2014, 09:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
edconline Track Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton Posts: 855 Drives: 10' MB Z34 6MT T/S/N Rep Power: 22	Steering Knuckle Damage? While in the process of removing my front left wheel hub assembly from the car, there was quite a bit of 'aggressive coaxing' I did to try and break the wheel hub loose. I never directly hit the hub with a steel hammer, but I'd place a block against it and smash on that, or try to force it off by placing a crowbar between the hub and the knuckle for leverage and beating on the crowbar. Anyway, when I finally got the hub out, I looked at the knuckle and saw what looked like maybe small cracks? Just on the surface? Should I be worried that I damaged the steering knuckle itself or is it a lot stronger than that? Here is what I'm talking about: On the other side, I had purchased the slide hammer at this point, so it came right out without any of that smashing around. And I don't see any of the marks on that one... Really hoping there isn't another part to buy... __________________ View Journal Audio Build

02-18-2014, 10:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
edconline Track Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton Posts: 855 Drives: 10' MB Z34 6MT T/S/N Rep Power: 22	In a garage. And the force on it really wasn't that much, no hitting the knuckle itself at all. Seems weird they would be stress cracks. Edit: Is this part coated with something that could have cracked, on the surface? __________________ View Journal Audio Build Last edited by edconline; 02-18-2014 at 10:10 PM.

02-18-2014, 10:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sh0velMan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Dallas/Ft.Worth Posts: 3,349 Drives: Noisily. Rep Power: 20	That part is bare aluminum. You need to clean that part extremely well and then re-evaluate, post photos here if you'd like more opinions. Based on what I see there, that part is garbage, I'd never put it back on my own car. Chuck33079 likes this. __________________ Buy My Car! \| Build Thread

02-18-2014, 11:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
GaleForce A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 21,749 Drives: Varis Arising II Rep Power: 51865	Time to splurge on a pair of these... IMG_9492 by J M Gale, on Flickr Voodoo 13 makes them. kenchan and Mitco39 like this. __________________ >>>GaleForce's Build<<< >>>FaceBook @3GsCustoms<<<>>>Instagram @GaleForce370z<<< Varis Kamikaze-Z

02-18-2014, 11:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
edconline Track Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton Posts: 855 Drives: 10' MB Z34 6MT T/S/N Rep Power: 22	Haha probably outta the budget! Looks sick though, they list it as coming soon __________________ View Journal Audio Build

02-18-2014, 10:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Minato Base Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Ft Collins Posts: 107 Drives: 11 370Z M6 Sports Rep Power: 0	I don't see how you could have caused that many cracks, even if you beat on it. Was it outside in Edmonton? Or in a garage? Once stress cracks appear, they will continue to grow until catastrophic failure of the part.

02-19-2014, 12:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
GaleForce A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 21,749 Drives: Varis Arising II Rep Power: 51865	They are supposed to be "affordable". They didn't say to who though... DEpointfive0 likes this. __________________ >>>GaleForce's Build<<< >>>FaceBook @3GsCustoms<<<>>>Instagram @GaleForce370z<<< Varis Kamikaze-Z

02-19-2014, 12:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
edconline Track Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton Posts: 855 Drives: 10' MB Z34 6MT T/S/N Rep Power: 22	Ha, exactly. I'm gonna clean it up and hopefully it'll just end up being on the surface. Fingers crossed! __________________ View Journal Audio Build

02-19-2014, 12:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
Rusty Ronin Samurai - Assassin Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky Age: 68 Posts: 35,217 Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M Rep Power: 2684438	Clean it up really well. Then take it to someone who does NDT testing. Dye Penetrant. If you was closer. I could do it. Those look like surface cracks from casting it. Not uncommon. I don't see the cracks going into the machined area. If the crack was going into the machined area. Then I would think you got a problem. fuct, DR_, edconline and 3 others like this. __________________ 浪人 - 殺し屋 "The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only" http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

02-19-2014, 01:30 AM	#10 (permalink)
Whtfairladyz Base Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Winchester, TN Posts: 77 Drives: '92 Nissan 300zx Rep Power: 266	That is normal aluminum casting marks. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that part. I see that every day with various other aluminum parts that are casted. 2011 Nismo#91 and Rusty like this. __________________ Whtfairladyz formerly Dustin@Z1

02-19-2014, 03:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
BGTV8 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: 03350 Australia Posts: 1,514 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z M6 Rep Power: 39973	Dye penetrate will tell you for sure ... gomer_110 and Rusty like this.

02-20-2014, 05:36 AM	#12 (permalink)
ILL370 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 2 Drives: 09 370z RAE M/T Rep Power: 12	Just looks like casting marks, alloy is moulded in sand casts. Just rub it with sand paper and it will disappear if so.

02-20-2014, 02:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	zip ties.. all i saw were zip ties...

02-20-2014, 02:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
edconline Track Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton Posts: 855 Drives: 10' MB Z34 6MT T/S/N Rep Power: 22	Lol as opposed to a coat hanger? Seemed like the best way to hang the caliper temporarily __________________ View Journal Audio Build

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Full billet drop knuckle	Apollo8642	Track / Autocross / Drifting / Dragstrip	39	05-14-2014 02:29 PM
How much oil damage was done?	mts	Track / Autocross / Drifting / Dragstrip	27	10-02-2013 07:44 PM
steering damage?	Shamrock	Engine & Drivetrain	4	06-28-2012 04:38 PM
Anyone damage a lip yet?	Junior370z	Exterior & Interior	21	12-21-2010 04:58 PM
What's the damage from doing this?	BrianMSmith	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	29	10-29-2010 04:37 AM