QU40773 Basic Closed Knuckle Shim Kit for Dana 25, 27, 30, 44 Axles

QU40773 Basic Knuckle Shim Kit for Dana Closed Knuckle Front Axles with 8 Bolt Ball Seals includes a variable amount of nominal 0.007" thick rectangular shims (usually 16-20) with a total thickness of over 0.100" used for setting knuckle rotating preload on 1941-1975 era Dana 25, Dana 27, Dana 30, and Dana 44 closed knuckle front axles. This Kit is low cost, but limited to use on axles where you can reuse some of your original shims due to the single thickness of shims included which makes it difficult to get precise knuckle turning preload unless you have other thicknesses of shims to incorporate in your shim pack. Imported. Order 2 Kits per axle.

For Premium Knuckle Shim Kit, see TKA4939.

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Dan the Gear Man® Tech Notes:
TKA4939 vs. QU40773
Turning Preload
Trapezoid Shims
Measure
Matching Parts
Applications

Tech Note 1: TKA4939 vs. QU40773
Dana originally used 0.003", 0.005", 0.010", and 0.030" shims to set steering knuckle rotating preload on closed knuckle front axles. Our TKA4939 includes those four sizes which can be used to create almost any required shim pack. Our QU40773 Kit is inexpensive, but it ONLY includes a single thickness of shims (0.007" nominal). Used by itself, QU40773 can only create shim packs in 0.007" increments which is too great for precise adjustment. If you are on a tight budget AND want to do a good job, I recommend you order 1 each TKA4939 and QU40773 Kits which will allow you to save money compared to 2 TKA4939 Kits, but still give you the flexibility to make any shim packs needed.

Tech Note 2: Turning Preload
Shims are used between the King Pin Caps and Steering Knuckles to set your Knuckle Bearing/Bushing turning preload. More shims decreases preload, less shims increases preload. I like to install at least one shim under each bearing cap to act as a gasket. How the shims are distributed between upper and lower caps is up to you. Rotating preload is set by the COMBINED shim pack for each knuckle. If you need a total of 0.050" shims for your left knuckle, you can split the 0.050" total between the upper and lower caps as you wish. Most knuckles will require from 0.045" to 0.065" of shims. If you need over 0.75" shims per side, something is probably worn or incorrectly installed.

Tech Note 3: Trapezoid Shims
Some axles (mainly pickups after 1963) will use Upper King Pin Caps/Steering Arms with Trapezoid shaped shims. For these axles also see QU20091 Product Page. (You will still need either QU40773 or TKA4939 Kits for the other King Pins.)

Tech Note 4: Measure
King Pin Caps are shimmed to put the specified turning preload on the bearings. The amount of turning preload varies by vehicle and year but the value is measured by a beam or dial type torque wrench (refer to the vehicle manufacturer Service Manual for your specific model specification). Too loose can cause poor steering or "Death Wobble", too tight will lead to rapid bearing failure, broken parts, and possible steering loss.

Tech Note 5: Matching Parts
Matching Parts for Knuckle Shim Kits:
QU40188 8 Bolt Knuckle Ball Seal
QK4617 Knuckle Bearing Kit
TK50784 Torque King® Knuckle Bearing Only Kit
QU20091 Trapezoid Knuckle Shim
QU50627 Timken® Knuckle Bearing Cup
QU50628 Timken® Knuckle Bearing
Chevy & GMC Shop Manuals
Dodge & Ram Shop Manuals
Ford Shop Manuals
Jeep Shop Manuals

Applications:

Chevrolet/GMC:
Closed Knuckle standard Dana 44
K10/K15, K20/K25: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969

Dodge:
Closed Knuckle standard Dana 44
W100, W200: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971

Ford:
Closed Knuckle Dana 25:
GPW military: 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945
Closed Knuckle standard Dana 44:
F-100: 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966
F-250 with standard Model 44 Front Axle: 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975

International:
Closed Knuckle Dana 27, 30, 44:
Scout: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
1/2 ton and light 3/4 ton: 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975

Jeep:
Closed Knuckle Dana 25, 27, 30, and 44:
Military models MB, M38, M38A1, M170: 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957
All civilian Jeeps: 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
Jeep J-Series full size 4x4s: 1972, 1973

Studebaker:
Closed Knuckle standard Dana 44:
4x4 Pickups: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964