04-06 Steering Knuckle Swap on 2001

All this talk on the Solo LCAs has me looking into swapping my steering knuckles to a 2006, in order to accommodate the larger LBJ's.

On the surface, it seems like it should be a plug'n'play scenario...if I can find a nice(r) set at one of the junkyards, that is. Is my thinking correct, or are there other caveats to this? Could I also use Sequoia knuckles from the same years? Might be more of those than Tundras at the JY.

 

Sub'd

 

Dang, what to do with all these replies!

Looks like I may just trial and error this thing. There's a 2006 and 2004 about 30 minutes away at a pick-a-part, so maybe I'll get some free time (some day) and take a look. Would be awesome if the knuckles and hub assembly/bearing are in good shape, too...

 

It's a slow day at work, so Imma keep this train rolling with more info...

https://209yota1.com/products/pre-assembled-steering-knuckles-add-hubs-pair-tundra-and-sequoia/

^^Reached out to this company to get their opinion, we'll see what they say. Would much rather spend $1300 on a pair of "like new" knuckles PLUS new hub & bearing assemblies, than finding good knuckles and still have to replace the hubs.

 

2004 knuckle (LH) 4320235070


2005 (LH) - 4320234030
(No pic...sorry)

It appears that the knuckle change is for trucks built after 08/2004.

 

@w666 you've got two left hands there...

 

2004 RH - 43201-34030
2004 LH - 43202-34030

I'd check out Heavy_friction_works on instagram. He sells Rebuilt OE spindles with total chaos spindle gussets installed. He quoted me $950 +tax and shipping for a pair last year.

 

Thanks for the help, fellas, but I'm not looking to buy bare spindles from Toyota. I would still have to buy the hub, bearings, and get them pressed in. At that point I can buy the brand new spindles with assembled hub & bearings from that 209yota1 website posted above.

I'll check out that Heavy Friction Works, though! Appreciated.

 

Does that include new bearings too?

Edit- based on the picture it looks like it does.

 

Sweet! I'll have to reach out to him asap and see what his price is w/ the hub assembly.

 

I'm gonna ballpark $1,200/ea, which is probably about half the actual cost.

 

Most likely. The others I'm looking at are $1340, but that's with adding the removable dust shield. The hubs allow the bearings to be easily replaced, too. No more pressing.

 

Say what now??? There's some place selling a 1G Tundra replacement spindle/knuckle that has some sort of conversion that allows for "easy", non pressed in bearings? Are they using some hybrid 2G tacoma style spindle/knuckle or something? Do you have a link? I'd love to see this.

 

Yeah man.

Ya mon. I posted the link above but here it is again.

https://209yota1.com/products/pre-assembled-steering-knuckles-add-hubs-pair-tundra-and-sequoia/

Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but it sure sounds like the way we're describing.

 

I'd check if they'll accept the smaller spindles as a core unless you're going to eat the $400 core charge. Probably will, but you never know. Cool they offer an option to have them ready to go with gussets too.

 

The 209yota1 knuckles have factory style pressed bearings and hubs. What they're saying is you can replace your wheel bearings without needing to press anything by using their knuckle assembly and replacing the whole unit.

 

See, I've read that same sentence a hundred times and it feels like it could go either way. Plus it seems a little ridiculous to swap a knuckle every time... of course, it's not like we're replacing wheel bearings in our trucks all the time, so it could make sense for a "once in a truck life" job.

If only they would respond to my emails, lol, I'd have the answers to my questions.

 

This is the way I'm reading it as well. Plus the fact that the pics show just standard 1G knuckles with pressed in hubs/bearings (although, interestingly, they seem to use the same pics for all their offerings and they've got manual wheel hubs in them).

 

It definitely could be worded better. But since they say

"You can drive with confidence knowing that the wheel-bearing was properly supported during installation"

and

"new KOYO wheel bearings, Genuine seals, new wheel studs, and remanufactured wheel hubs"

This tells me they're pressed together just like factory. They just do the "hard part" for you to make it an easier DIY.

 

But have they changed something that will allow me to swap the bearing myself if it goes out in the future? I keep reading the link trying to figure it out.

These bearings seem to last a long time thankfully. We've only had a few people have to replace theirs.

 

No they aren't doing anything revolutionary.

"Turn a troublesome wheel-bearing maintenance job into a quick knuckle swap."

They're doing what Moog and Dorman do with lots of other vehicles. Selling a knuckle assembly so the average DIYer can easily do the job.

 

Well, I've convinced myself to do the damn thing regardless, but my new concern is making sure my camburg ucas will work with the later model knuckle.

Seems like it would because the uca model goes 00-06, but I'm also seeing that 07's might have a similar knuckle and camburg has a different size uca for 07's. As long as the opening on knuckle isn't too big, the post for the uniball will be fine...

 

@metalpete did you ever get any answers from the vendor or end up pulling the trigger on these “easy button” knuckles/spindles?

 

I did get a response, but they only answered part of my question lol. I've had to put this on the back burner for a bit, but I'm hoping I can at least get everything ordered by the end of the year.