Here are the pictures of the knuckle seal tool:

 

Holy Crap, Is that a ford tool? Or did you make it? Is the only way to get the seal in is with that, or do you think using the hub will seat it? How about the inner seal, can I seat that with a rubber mallet

 

It is an OTC tool. I picked it up for about $75.

It is the only way I have had luck with driving in the seal. You will need to seat the seal on the axle and then use the tool to seat the seal/axle in the knuckle. Using the hub to seat the seal doesn't work well. Been there, done that, bought the tool shortly afterwards. You might be able to put something together to get everything seated.

When installing the dust seal I used a seal and race driver to seat it into the axle tube.

 

forgive me, but what is otc? over the counter? At the dealer? Thank you soooooo much for all your help

 

OTC is the manufacturer.

 

btw, what kinda snap ring pliers do you use on the spindle? What I made works but I still gotta work it for a while.

 

 

Thank you for all your help. We got the drivers side done and almost done with the pass side. I managed to get the otc part today. I was so surprised that my local tool store had it in stock, They have some handy tools (OTC that is), Im putting their IPR valve socket on my "to get list". I took back the autozone ball joints (after installing and I had the knuckle on but nothing else), and got the moog ones. The quality of them is apparent after installing the autozone and then the moog. I did kinda screw up on the pass side tho, I used a pickle fork to get the lower tie rod loose. Does it work to just pound on the side of the knuckle in between the tie rods and it breaks them loose? I got a little tear on the lower tie rod bushing. Replacing the steering components has been on my list, but it just got moved up. I found 4 continental tires on craigslist and got 2 on the front, gonna use em as my alignment testers. Once again, thank you so much for all your help, I think Im pretty fluent under the hood, but this is the first time I have needed to deal with the front suspension, I have learned alot this week. I have quite a few pics and will prob post em on this thread, with the info you have given here, Im sure someone else can get some help out of it.

 

I have had good luck with rapping on the knuckle to get the tie rod loose. You can also screw the nut back on so it is flat with the stud and hit that with a hammer. I prefer a brass hammer for that.

Glad I could help! The ball joints are pretty easy once you've done them before, aren't they?

 

Oh 4 sure. Its was a process. I wasnt going to do the pass side, but it wasnt that bad and I wanted to get those moog ball joints in