How tight should the kingpins be?

[Mopar_man]

Take a look at the video and tell name what you think?

https://youtu.be/sw-Hur18EqE

[RajoRacer]

I tighten the bolt snug already being oiled up - the nut just locks the adjustment but you can over-tighten the nut.

[TWrenn]

From what he is showing looks ok to me.

[Moxie26]

The kingpin does thread into the bottom of the axel for tightness, whereas the the cotter pinned nut locks in the adjustment.

[Mopar_man]

Thanks for the input. I'm thinking this will be better than what I had.

[DanTreace]

Final check of tightness will occur when wheel bearings and wheels are mounted and steering connected.

You’ll know the kingpins are too tight when the front is jacked up and you can’t turn the steering wheel

[Moxie26]

Don't forget to oil everything in the suspension

[Allan]

My thought is the kingpins should not be tight at all. The thread in the axle allows the bolts to be drawn down enough to eliminate up and down play between the eyes of the axle. That adjustment should not cause drag. Similarly the bolts in the bushes should not drag either. A T steering mechanism needs all the help it can get. Unnecessary load it does not need.

Allan from down under

[Mopar_man]

My thought is the kingpins should not be tight at all. The thread in the axle allows the bolts to be drawn down enough to eliminate up and down play between the eyes of the axle. That adjustment should not cause drag. Similarly the bolts in the bushes should not drag either. A T steering mechanism needs all the help it can get. Unnecessary load it does not need.

Allan from down under

Allan, I get what you are saying. I'm jut trying to find that happy spot between too loose and too tight. I'm thinking if they are too loose they can start to ware out. Too tight and there is too much friction.

[Chris Barker]

A couple of points:
1. Some friction is good. It provides damping to stop the wobble instability that Ts tend to suffer at about 12 mph. I think one of your spindles is too loose.
2. tightening the top of the spindle will give you a bit more friction, but then when you tighten the bottom lock nut, it pulls the spindle down further because the threads have a little freedom, so you need to adjust top and bottom, trial and error, until it's fine when the locknut is tight. And of course the split pin holes have to line up!

[TWrenn]

My thought is the kingpins should not be tight at all. The thread in the axle allows the bolts to be drawn down enough to eliminate up and down play between the eyes of the axle. That adjustment should not cause drag. Similarly the bolts in the bushes should not drag either. A T steering mechanism needs all the help it can get. Unnecessary load it does not need.

Allan from down under

Allan, I get what you are saying. I'm jut trying to find that happy spot between too loose and too tight. I'm thinking if they are too loose they can start to ware out. Too tight and there is too much friction.

I would think once you start feeling "that resistance" on your bicep it's starting to tell you enough is enough. I've re-worked at least 4 front ends, tightened em "pretty tight feeling in my arm", one spindle barely could turn but once all put together and on the ground it turned with ease with the steering wheel. As someone also said, just a reminder, before you slide the king pin bolt in, be sure to lube it well first top to bottom. I actually smear some lubriplate on mine first. It's gotta help I'm sure.

[Wingnut]

If you think it's too tight then back it of a smidge. Allen has it right, 30 years as a UPS mechanic has taught me to fly by the seat of my pants ,if you feel good about it then run it, easy enough to readjust after a few go rounds .

[Craig Leach]

The kingpin only needs to be tight enough to keep it from rotating or moving up & down. It should not be used to adjust the endplay in the
spindle, that is the function of the machineing of the thrust end of the bushing. If you tighten the kingpin bolt till it creates resistance to
the spindle it is tight enough to stop oil from getting in to lubericate the thrust surfaces which will wear them till oil will get there. What
would be the point??? By 1930 almost all MFGs had gone to a yoke style spindle & a tapered pin locked kingpin.
Craig.

[Mopar_man]

Thanks again for all the input. I'm going to try them out and see. If I have to loosen them up a bit I can. I do want oil to get on the thrust surfaces.