MTFCA Forum

Question #1
I have a spindle bushing Reimer. I picked up somewhere for some reason. It seems to be oversize. Does anyone have an explanation?

Question #2
Was a split bushing was that something that was available in the past? I noticed in examples of rebuilding these people are using a lathe to turn down bushings. That is not something that everyone has access to and it’s a bit difficult to hold onto.

Question #3
Is there a such thing as an undersized kingpin? I am reading approximately 0.493 inches.

#2. split bushing isnt normal.

#3. King pins available now & in the past vary in size.

Checking my stock of new.
New ground ones measure .500". Several are .002" under. Some are .007" under. WHY?
.500 would work great for slightly worn bushings. Or ream .500 & recut with an adjustable reamer.
.002 are perfect for .500 reamer.
.007 under might work for a pressed bushing with no ream.

Answer to Question #1: You are misunderstanding what that reamer is for - first part is .506" for spindle bushings to fit early .502 kingpins and the larger portion is for 9/16" parts (.5625), specifically spindle arm (tie rod) bushings and rear brake cam bushings (.564 for a close/free fit)

John, your measurements reflect a problem I once had with new best quality spindle bolts. I use an adjustable reamer and pilot to fit pins to the new spindle bolts. Works brilliantly, until I mixed the bolts and spindles come fitting time. No problems once I switched the bolts from one spindle to the other. Custom fitting using an adjustable reamer gets around such discrepancies.

Allan from down under.

Find a shop with a Sunnen hone.

I use an adjustable reamer. It was not that difficult to figure out.

Fixed reamers do have one desirable advantage. The two bushes are align reamed. A hone and/or an adjustable reamer without a pilot,will not necessarily result in bushing bores in alignment

Allan from down under.

I appreciate the responses. I think the short answer is that spindles are made to different sizes.

I looked up and Lang's states: "The bolts mic out at exactly .500. The original ones where .003 oversized."
https://www.modeltford.com/item/2710SB.aspx

Snyder's states: "SPINDLE BOLT DIAMETER - .498" REAM BUSHINGS TO .500" "
https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/prod ... &cat=41822

(I don't see a statement on Chaffin's Garage catalog.)

I appreciate the advise to take it to a shop and/or us an adjustable reamer. It seems like it should be simpler than that, but I can see even just two suppliers have different size spindles. Isn't there an issue with the adjustable reamer lining up the two bushings?

Thanks!
Matt

With a pilot on the end of the adjustable reamer, the reamer is held in line with the bushing not being reamed, so the reamed bushing is in line with the lower bushing. Then the reamer and pilot are swapped end to end to ream the second bush. The pilot is the answer to align reaming the two bushings.

Allan from down under

Allan wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 26, 2026 5:06 am

With a pilot on the end of the adjustable reamer, the reamer is held in line with the bushing not being reamed, so the reamed bushing is in line with the lower bushing. Then the reamer and pilot are swapped end to end to ream the second bush. The pilot is the answer to align reaming the two bushings.

Allan from down under

Allan,
Thanks for your insight on the pilot reamer! I need to look into buying one.

Thanks!
Matt

Question #4

One more question. I noticed that some people are suggesting to turn down the bushing OD before pressing them in. Is that necessary?

It should not be necessary to turn down the bushings. However variations in spindle bores may mean some bushings are tighter than others. When pressing them home, stop a little from fully set and blow out any swarf under the head created in the process. Then press fully home.

I tight bush may need more reaming than another. It will all even out when the bushes are reamed to size.

Allan from down under