spindle may be damaged

lansdowne · #1 10-06-2008, 08:12 AM

I have a 2001 Dodge Caraven SE and recently had to have a tie rod changed. The mechanic doing the job had quite a bit of trouble getting the old tie rod freed up so he could install the new one. He hammered on (the spindle??) a bit in order to free up the tie rod and, subsequently, marked it up some. Since then I had to have some other work done elsewhere and the second mechanic tells me the spindle should be replaced because it is "aluminum" and shouldn't be hammered on as it was. The mechanic who did the original work looked at it and said that while it is marked up that its OK..............................can anyone give me an opinion on such an occurance?? The mechanic doing the original work has been fixing vehicles for me for well more than a decade and I have never questioned his work or opinions.I wonder if the second guy is a "perfectionist" of sorts and would replace the spindle JUST because it is marked up....
Opinions anyone???
many thanks

RIP · #2 10-06-2008, 04:22 PM

I take it you mean the steering knuckle. That's what the tie-rod end is attached to. Not saying your mechanic is wrong and I don't know for sure but, I can't imagine the steering knuckle being made of aluminum. It takes a major part of the load while steering and braking and the hub assembly is attached to it so it carries a good bit of the vehicle weight.

All that said, your second mechanic may be considering the nicks could be a source of future stress fractures...cracks. As metal is stressed, cracks can spread from nicks and flaws on it's surface. I spent a career in the Air Force in aircraft maintenance. A major headache was stress fractures. One inspection point was detecting any nicks, scrapes, etc on the metal. We then had to grind and smooth them out and apply a protective coating to prevent corrosion. The degree of attention depended on the location and type of metal involved.

I may be talking apples and oranges here but, that's my 2 cents. If it were my car I would smooth the damaged area and apply a little primer. If it was bad enough I would just replace the steering knuckle.

Can't imagine why he would have hit it but, could you mean the end of the drive axle sticking out of the hub assembly? Kinda looks like a spindle.

EDIT

inafogg · #3 10-06-2008, 05:03 PM

hammering on the spindle to remove tie rods has been done for years.you will dent the surface but will not ruin the spindle.

RIP · #4 10-07-2008, 03:04 AM

Do front wheel drive cars have a spindle?

wafrederick · #5 10-07-2008, 08:03 AM

Yes it has a spindle and most mechanics do not use a picklefork.The picklefork does more damage than good to the boot even it is is still good being called "boot rippers".Hammer on spindle does not do any damage to the boot and usually takes 3 hits to get it off.

RIP · #6 10-07-2008, 12:55 PM

Ok. That's what I get for peaking out of my electronics world. Educate me. Where is the spindle and what does it do? I've looked through 3rd and 4th generation manuals and can't find the term "spindle" used.

It's been a while but, when I worked on rear wheel drive cars the spindle was the cone shaped polished chunk of metal the front disk brake rotor slipped over. Essentially the front axle. It was also the race for the wheel bearings mounted in the rotor. When front wheel drive cars came along it was replaced by one piece hub/bearing assemblies and jointed axle assemblies to accomodate the transaxle.

angus10 · #7 10-07-2008, 04:49 PM

You are right RIP! It is actually called the steering knuckle that gets hammered on, not the spindle where the bearings slide over.

inafogg · #8 10-07-2008, 05:21 PM

my fault RIP i ment knuckle

jpb53 · #9 10-07-2008, 06:12 PM

Semantics probably. In England a bonnet in the U.S. a hood. Smog Pump= Air Pump. If the OP is worried about his van and the safety of all concerned then maybe he should have the Spindle = Knuckle replaced. Various front end components are now made of aluminum. Fromt and rear suspenson components on a Viper are made of aluminum and are even clear coated. They are definately not to be hammered on.

wafrederick · #10 10-07-2008, 07:15 PM

Only way I get the tie rod end off is hit the steering knuckle and that is what I was taught to do.I will never use a picklefork on a good tie rod end,damage to the boot will occur due to use with a picklefork.

jpb53 · #11 10-07-2008, 10:46 PM

wafrederick relax this is not a personal attack on you. I was taught the same way; but that was with cast iron and steel. More components today are made with aluminum. Engineering and metaluragy ( where's spell ck when you need it) and machining has been taken a lot farther than it was years ago. Computers and the networking of them in cars today. Times have changed immensely and we have to change with them; what worked before doesn't necessarily work now. Most people come here for the magical fix for their cars or reassurance that what they are doing is right. People like you try to provide that service for free and with the satisfaction that YOU ultimately helped someone; that in itself to some people is enough and for that I commend you. I most of the time don't have enough time to properly answer questions as they should be and for that I am sorry. In my job I have to answer phone calls and test cars that people have tried to repair on their own or supposedly repaired by unscrupulous mechanics; and that can get very frustrating. If I offended you by my post I am sorry.

RIP · #12 10-08-2008, 02:48 AM

Thanks for the clarification on the spindle/steering knuckle. Just wanted to make sure the bean was still working ok.

lansdowne - this looks like one of those questions where you ask 10 people and you get 10 different answers. Might check with a couple other experienced mechanics and tally up the score.

lansdowne · #13 10-08-2008, 04:29 PM

Hello folks....I have been told the terms spindle and steering knuckle are inter-changeable (I sure don't know).In any event the mechanic who replaced the tie rod had to hammer on the (knuckle?/) many, many times to get the old tie rod free. It was bent a bit and a large chip was taken out of it. He maintains its safe but I would rather err on the side of safety.....so I had it replaced anyway. I was quoted $125 for a used one at a local auto salvage but another auto salvage had one in excellent condition which I got for $60. It cost $90 to have it installed....so.....turned out to be an expensive tie rod replacement. However I feel a bit better safety wise.
NOW, gents....another question::::
I have been told that strut bearings are going bad and will need to be replaced sooner or later.....
The question I have is this: is that something you can buy (or the complete strut) from an auto salvage?????
Wow......my money is starting to run out...

wafrederick · #14 10-08-2008, 05:12 PM

The aluminum are differant story sometimes,the tie rie pops up by itself some times when getting the nut off if the original one.This is common on GMs with aluminum knuckle and the nuts have to be cut or heated up with a torch.

MrStupid · #15 10-09-2008, 04:58 AM

My 2 cents, The spindle is the part that your wheel berrings ride on and the steering knucle is the part (usually cast) that your tie rods, your lower and upper ball joints all connect to (usually) and the reason for hitting the steering knuckle to release the tie rod end is the pin (bolt) that the nut screws on to is tapered and by rapping on the steering knuckle the metal around the bolt momentarily distorts releasing the tie rod. Pretty much basic high school automotive class stuff.

POST REPLY TO THIS THREAD