Is one supposed to be more twisted than the other? On my '72 240z. Thanks

Craig

Should both be the same.

Edited August 23, 201014 yr by Nigel1943

It looks like one is an early, smaller ID/Taper arm and the other is the later steering arm.

It looks like one is an early, smaller ID/Taper arm and the other is the later steering arm.

Dammit, got this car recently and finding too many surprises like this. The more twisted one is the driver's side, do you think this is the one I should replace?

With the amount of force required to bend that knuckle like that, it would be a good idea to check closely for other damage. It looks like someone planted it on a curb or something. To me, they both look to be the same later type. If you can't find a good used driver's (left) side knuckle locally give me a shout. I hate to break up a pair though.

I did ball joints recently (early '71 240) and had mis-matched knuckles, in that the hole for the ball joint was a different size L to R. I've never seen one with a different twist like you have. I bought a used steering knuckle from AZ Z car source so I could use the same 14mm ball joints.

To me it looks like the L (driver's) side is more "twisted" than mine or ones I've seen photos of in other posts. So I'd guess you need the Left side. BTW, measure the ball joint hole, (should be 11mm or 14m) and the length and make sure the replacement is the same or it won't work with your ball joints ('72s should have the 14mm but someone could have changed them at one time as I suspect happened to mine). Lot's of other posts on ball joint/knuckle sizes and lengths (some early cars had shorter knuckle arms too).

Dave

I did ball joints recently (early '71 240) and had mis-matched knuckles, in that the hole for the ball joint was a different size L to R. I've never seen one with a different twist like you have. I bought a used steering knuckle from AZ Z car source so I could use the same 14mm ball joints.

To me it looks like the L (driver's) side is more "twisted" than mine or ones I've seen photos of in other posts. So I'd guess you need the Left side. BTW, measure the ball joint hole, (should be 11mm or 14m) and the length and make sure the replacement is the same or it won't work with your ball joints ('72s should have the 14mm but someone could have changed them at one time as I suspect happened to mine). Lot's of other posts on ball joint/knuckle sizes and lengths (some early cars had shorter knuckle arms too).

Dave

The balljoint holes are 14-15mm at the wide end and all the parts seem to fit together fine. It looks like the one knuckle may have gotten twisted in a crash or something, can't find much other evidence however, which I guess is a good thing. I am going to try to heat with an acetylene torch and bend back. Hopefully it won't be too brittle after but may be shooting you a PM geezer if things don't work out.

Thanks guys

I am going to try to heat with an acetylene torch and bend back.

Hopefully, someone with more knowledge than me weighs in on this. I'm not sure but I think these knuckles are cast steel. As such you should not have any problem as long as you allow it to cool slowly on its own. Because it will attach to the tie rod end which allows flexible movement and has adjustment for length, I don't think it is neccesary to get it perfect anyhow.