Pre-war (up to 1942) 1939 LaSalle - Problem with steering knuckle

[39LaSalleDriver]

I've been having a problem with my passenger front wheel bearings. Turns out the inner bearing cone was pitted etc. Replaced the inner and outer bearings and races with a new set from Olcar. I did preload as best I know how. Test drove it about 5-10 miles and noticed a slight rubbing/grinding sound. Pulled it all apart and discovered a crack in the outer retainer between some of the bearings. Perhaps I didn't tighten/preload enough? Too much? Put the old, undamaged outer retainer back in and tightened it up. Another test drive. Everything was going good, drove about 20 miles, and I noticed the rubbing/grinding noise come back.

Jack it back up, pull the hub grease cap and decide to tighten it another 1/8th turn. Trying to get cotter pin back in but it's not quite lined up so I go to tweak the nut and it starts spinning. Great...threads are semi stripped on the steering knuckle. Don't know how long that has been in the works, but I have to think for a while. I'll confess, I may have tightened it up too much, but I can't imagine that. Could get the wheel to slow down while tightening, but not get it to stop like I would have expected.

At this point I only know of three options. One, try to find a new steering knuckle (I believe part no. 3505503 for 7/8" kingpin); two, see if I can get a machine shop to turn the spindle down and rethread it; or three, add another safety washer in to take up slack and hope there's enough meat left on the outer end of the spindle for the nut and cotter pin. I'm thinking for the money, effort, and safety factor, I'm just better off getting a new knuckle. But I thought I would bounce it off other folks to see if anyone else has any suggestions about how to proceed?

[Glen]

The correct procedure for adjusting the Wheel Bearings for the ’37 is listed below.  I imagine it is the same wit the ’39. 
I think you over tightened it. 

[Bob Schuman]

If you do go for replacing the steering knuckle, be sure of the size. Somewhere along the 39-40 LaSalle production the kingpin size was increased from 13/16" to 7/8".

[Bob Schuman]

CORRECTION:
My previous comment was wrong, depending on memory instead of looking at the parts book. The 39 LaSalle has 7/8" diameter kingpins, as do the early 1940 LaSalles. Mid-year 1940 the kingpin diameter was increased to 15/16" diameter.

[harvey b]

Did you replace all 6 parts in the bearing assemblys,i had a similar problem with my 37,the cage that held the balls was wore,the balls were falling out,pretty nasty looking.i replaced all the inner and outer cones and bearings,car rides 100% better,when my bearings were worn i could not tighten them enough,they were still loose,I guess everything was wore evenly,didnt look too bad to look at?The bearings are still around,i got mine on ebay,bought a complete inner and outer assy,took some looking but i did get them eventually. Harveyb

[39LaSalleDriver]

Actually...I found out what happened. Yes, I had replaced both inners and outers...everything. What I discovered yesterday after taking everything apart again is that Olcar sent me the wrong inner bearing set. The inner cone (and bearings for it) which I pulled off the car fits a 1 9/32" spindle. Olcar sent me a set which fits a 1 3/8" spindle. There was basically 3/16" of slop in there and I am absolutely amazed that given the circumstances, the whole thing didn't catastrophically fail on me while driving down the road.

Naturally, the result was, no matter how much I tightened it up, it wasn't going to seat properly. The end result was I ended up ruining the threads on my spindle and a complete set of bearings. Now I need a new set of bearings as well as a new steering knuckle. Needless to say, I'm not real happy right now.

[harvey b]

in my MPB  the numbers for the inner bearing set is 909 052  fits 39-50 series the outer number is 909 001 fits 39-50 series. that is the numbers for the set of 3 pieces,they are all over ebay,do a search for tose numbers and some will pop up. the knuckle number i have is 350 5503 right  and 350 5504 for left. good Luck  harveyb