Bent spindle knuckle

[JarredH]

Hey y'all.

I've got a truck I'm working on, and probably gonna buy. 1995 4x4, VG30E, Manual. The passenger spindle is bent where the tie rod hooks. Owner claims it causes wobbles at about 30 MPH and kills tie rods, but drives fine other than that. I can't find another spindle on this island, or online, so I'm thinking I'm going to have to bend this one back to shape.

Anyone got any suggestions, or where I could get one? Max speed limit on island is 40, so wobbles don't really worry me much, I just want to get this thing back to fighting shape.


Passenger (ignore the CV boot, we have a new axle)


Driver

[whomadewho]

Go online to - Hollander parts.com. Good luck!

[JarredH]

Seems that no one's shipping them international. I need them to get to an APO box in Guam, presents some problems. I'm kinda hoping the base auto hobby shop has a set of torches I can use to bend it back. I'm starting to think I should just keep spare rods and tools in the truck and just run it as is.

[Adverse Effects]

if that is bent then the complete yoke will most likely be bent and out of shape and that will cause your shakes

[JarredH]

I'll go check everything out and see if I find anything else.

[JarredH]

Well, all I'm able to find wrong, front end wise at least, is the bent arm on that spindle, and a missing bushing for the stabilizer bar.

[Adverse Effects]

have you had it put on a 4 wheel wheel alignment rack to check the kingpin angel and all the rest? (caster, camber and so on)

[JarredH]

No, it's currently not running due to the alternator bearing seizing up. Alternator got new bearing, but he forgot to buy a belt to replace the shredded one.

Managed to find a spindle near my father, so he's going to see if he can pull it and ship it over here for me.

[Adverse Effects]

that is good to hear you have managed to find one hope it all works out

[JarredH]

Robbed the belt from the power steering, cleaned mud out from inside the no longer seized up starter, and she drives. Engine doesn't sound too healthy, I'm blaming that on s*** gas here and probably the exhaust cut off behind the merge, among other things. Runs pretty rough at times, and feels like it just dies out for a stroke or two, then keeps going. Real bad when you're just lightly on the gas.

speedo doesn't work, but what's around 30 MPH is starts to shake like a wet dog. At about 40 it lightens up a lot, back to very light and hardly noticeable. Does feel like tie rods to me, go figure. I'm driving it regardless because I have to, my thought is after the last owner running the s*** out of it like that the damage is already done. I'm trying to keep is slow. Going to order some tie rods and do those, and will see if the auto shop on base does alignments.

So, ladies and gentlemen, we now have my second D21 to add to the family here. I think it's time to order some more stickers!

[Adverse Effects]

so it sounds like nothing that can not be fixed over time

good to hear another D21 is alive

[JarredH]

Yeah, slowly but surely. Now it's running like s*** and not revving past 3K, but no CEL. Doesn't look like limp mode to me. I noticed the #1 plug on the dizzy wasn't fully seated, but that wouldn't cause an engine to have no power and literally be unable to pass 3K RPM. Haven't looked for codes yet. I was running it pretty hard up to 4500 RPM trying not to be too late to work this morning. Let off the gas to engine brake for the next stop sign, and then it started to make a funny whiney sound and above described problems. Hard to hear what that sound could be over the straight piped exhaust. Sound like I jumped a tooth on the timing belt? No idea if it was ever replaced in it's 161K miles before the speedo stopped working. New belt, water pump, and other things coming in hopefully tomorrow, if not I have to wait until Tuesday.

So, this fleet addition isn't exactly alive, but not exactly dead. I'll be damned if I let it fully die without a fight.