RE: axles

[Jim Grammer <jimg@domain.elided>]

>I asked this last week but no one replied (not even Tom M. who has a
>guess at everything <G>). What is the difference between a closed
>knuckle and open knuckle axle? Is one stronger?
>
>Dan Nees

Well, IIRC the last(and maybe only)time the list veered into this 
territory, the verdict was closed knuckles have the ability to be heavier 
duty and better sealed than open(as evidenced by their use on heavy duty 
trucks), at the expense of turning angle and ease of service. I guess it 
makes sense that a properly designed trunnion bearing(closed knuckle) could 
have a greater load capacity than a ball joint, but I'll leave that to the 
ME's out there...

Personally I like closed knuckles, but my '68 T-all is a 
back-and-fill-mobile!

Jim