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King Pin Wear Issue
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2024 7:32 pm
by jagiven
Hello, I have a king pin on my 26, that keeps wearing. I have replaced the passenger side one a couple times. The driver side has not been replaced in 20+ years, and it is in good condition. I am wondering if the root cause is somewhere else??
Happy New Years!
Re: King Pin Wear Issue
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2024 7:51 pm
by TXGOAT2
Something isn't right, assuming both sides are getting oiled regularly. Does the car shimmy?
Re: King Pin Wear Issue
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2024 8:03 pm
by John kuehn
When the king pin gets changed do the bushings get changed too? Also if it’s the same side is the axle slightly bent out of alignment vertically?
When reaming the new bushings they need to be reamed exactly straight vertically. Could be the tie rods ends could be worn and the entire axle assembly needs to be taken off and ALL the bushings replaced. It’s not difficult to do. Take it off and lay the assembly on a work bench or table to do it.
Jack up the front end where both wheels can be turned freely and check to see what has a little slack and where. You might be surprised to see the entire axle assembly has more wear than you think! It doesn’t take much to eventually cause issues. When it’s done you can really tell a difference! It’s more responsive and it drives much better without any wobble or movement.
Re: King Pin Wear Issue
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2024 8:07 pm
by big2bird
Are the threads in the axle good?
Original or repop K pins?
Re: King Pin Wear Issue
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2024 8:42 pm
by Norman Kling
On most roads the road is crowned in the center so there more weight and wear on the right side.
Norm
Re: King Pin Wear Issue
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 12:22 am
by Craig Leach
Hi Jason,
Everyone has good advice here, I have found some poor quality kingpins that did not hold up well at all did both come from the same box?
I have found pulling the reamer through the spindle gets a straighter alignment. Could the spindle or axle be bent?? Or the hole in the axle
be worn out??? Looks like you have plenty to unpack, Good Luck.
Craig.
Re: King Pin Wear Issue
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:19 am
by speedytinc
Where is the wear?
Re: King Pin Wear Issue
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 9:16 am
by Dan Hatch
Sounds like job for “Stevens Front Axle Tool”.
Re: King Pin Wear Issue
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 11:39 am
by jagiven
speedytinc wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2024 8:19 am
Where is the wear?
I have not pulled the kingpin yet, but there is a lot of both vertical and horizontal play in the passenger side bushings.
Re: King Pin Wear Issue
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 11:41 am
by jagiven
big2bird wrote: ↑Sun Dec 29, 2024 8:07 pm
Are the threads in the axle good?
Original or repop K pins?
I believe they are reproduction kingpin. I am good about oiling everything.
Re: King Pin Wear Issue
Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2024 11:47 am
by jagiven
John kuehn wrote: ↑Sun Dec 29, 2024 8:03 pm
When the king pin gets changed do the bushings get changed too? Also if it’s the same side is the axle slightly bent out of alignment vertically?
When reaming the new bushings they need to be reamed exactly straight vertically. Could be the tie rods ends could be worn and the entire axle assembly needs to be taken off and ALL the bushings replaced. It’s not difficult to do. Take it off and lay the assembly on a work bench or table to do it.
Jack up the front end where both wheels can be turned freely and check to see what has a little slack and where. You might be surprised to see the entire axle assembly has more wear than you think! It doesn’t take much to eventually cause issues. When it’s done you can really tell a difference! It’s more responsive and it drives much better without any wobble or movement.
Thank you, there is more play in the steering wheel than I like. It runs straight down the road, no shakes or shimmy. It has been a number of years since I checked the toe, chamber and such.
Don't like pulling the whole front end without parts on hand, but it's not hard. It'll just sit for a few weeks while getting parts.