HELP WITH KNUCKLE SEALS
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Did you grind the flange down to 3 7/8" ?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
I did mine recently. I thought about constructing the seal tool, but decided buying the pipe etc and making it wasn't worth it when Carquest could order the OTC tool for me ($66 at 8:00am and I had it by noon). Installed the seals in a couple of minutes. Ruin a seal and you almost bought the tool.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
Besides, I would have had to buy the pipe etc. to make the tool anyway.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: NW NJ
If you want the official OTC tool to do the job .... thats cool. (I've bought a couple of tools that I've only used once)
But, don't do it because of time or cost. The 3 pieces of galvanized pipe cost under $10, are available in any hardware store that handles plumbing supplies, and are assembled in 30 seconds.
Good luck.
But, don't do it because of time or cost. The 3 pieces of galvanized pipe cost under $10, are available in any hardware store that handles plumbing supplies, and are assembled in 30 seconds.
Good luck.
Didn't say making the tool was a crazy idea. Have made plenty of tools and more sophisticated equipment than this, but there comes a point where my time is worth more than $66 dollars, especially when I'm working about 70 hours a week. If I can order it on the way to work, pick it up at lunch and have the front end back together that night, during the work week, I'm going to do it.
Besides, I would have had to buy the pipe etc. to make the tool anyway.
Besides, I would have had to buy the pipe etc. to make the tool anyway.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 8
From: WV
True. But you did suggest that using the home made tool makes it more likely to damage the seal which I don't think is true.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 2
From: Spring Lake
If you want the official OTC tool to do the job .... thats cool. (I've bought a couple of tools that I've only used once)
But, don't do it because of time or cost. The 3 pieces of galvanized pipe cost under $10, are available in any hardware store that handles plumbing supplies, and are assembled in 30 seconds.
Good luck.
But, don't do it because of time or cost. The 3 pieces of galvanized pipe cost under $10, are available in any hardware store that handles plumbing supplies, and are assembled in 30 seconds.
Good luck.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 462
Likes: 0
From: NW NJ
Only seconds for that, too.
I know that at least one person on this forum actually turned the flange on a lathe, but my son and I just quickly put it to the bench grinder to make it fit. Its been used 6 times now.
Good luck.
Just my 2 cents.
I know that at least one person on this forum actually turned the flange on a lathe, but my son and I just quickly put it to the bench grinder to make it fit. Its been used 6 times now.
Good luck.
Just my 2 cents.
Junior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Home
I found mine for 39.00 didnt seem like a bad price considering i can probably sale it for the same when im done with it.
Ford Vacuum Seal Installer for 1998 & Newer Fords:eBay Motors (item 380179111326 end time Nov-23-09 16:58:27 PST)
Ford Vacuum Seal Installer for 1998 & Newer Fords:eBay Motors (item 380179111326 end time Nov-23-09 16:58:27 PST)
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
I was looking at a write-up that called for grinding a floor flange down to 3 3/16" not the 3 7/8" describe earlier in this thread. I guess I am just slow, because I can't grind a 4 inch diameter floor flange to 3 3/16" in seconds and keep it circular with the center whole exactly in the middle. Oh, and I would have needed it to be perfect. My failing. Actually, I would have probably ended up turning a piece aluminum or steel on the lathe and duplicating the tool I bought. I spend way to much time perfecting these kind of thing. Moreover, the actual tool controls where the seal seats, avoiding the possibility of damaging the seal. This was stated on the writeup I used which was written by someone who made the tool with galvanized pipe etc. I weighed this into my decision. A damaged seal would mean another day lost and as I said before would practically pay for the tool. That is why I decided it wasn't worth my time.
Buying the tool was cheaper than paying someone to seat them for me. I checked, they wanted to charge for an hours worth of labor. Same thing for pressing the ball joints in.
Buying the tool was cheaper than paying someone to seat them for me. I checked, they wanted to charge for an hours worth of labor. Same thing for pressing the ball joints in.
By the way, it turns out the diameter of the OTC tool that fits in the seal is closer to 3 13/16" never even checked that before. So that writeup I was using probably had a typo (3 3/16" instead of 3 13/16", closer to the 3 7/8" stated earlier in the thread). I didn't have the seals yet when I considered making or ordering the tool so I didn't measure it.
I also thought about selling the tool after I used it. Decided instead to take another track. Loan it out locally (listed on craigslist). Done this once already. Got this idea from Checker (paid a deposit for a ball joint press, used it, returned it, entire deposit was refunded). So, I take a deposit to cover the cost of the tool and refund it when it is returned.
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