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TagMan · 12-13-2017, 12:30 PM

In the first place, this is only MY opinion, but I've done a lot of king pin replacements in the last 55+ years.

Jack each wheel up, grab the tire at the top & bottom and try to "wiggle" it. If you have percetible play, the bushing are worn.

If the bushing(s) are not worn through and damaged the king pin itself, all you'll need is a king pin replacement kit and $40.00 seems to be the going price for them. I would guess the $150.00 kit contains roller bearings instead of bushings and, IMO, roller bearings are not needed or even desireable in that application - first of all, theres no high speed rotaion and secondly, a roller bearing only has point contact and a bushing will provide better support. Go for the $40.00 king pin set.

The bushings will have to be pressed out and new bushings pressed in. Pressing in the bushings will "collapse" the bushings a bit, necessitating having to ream or hone (I'm not going to get into the differing opinions on which method is better, but I prefer reaming) the inside diameter of the bushings to resize the bushings to allow the pin a sliding fit - enough for a film of grease to slide, but not enough to allow any shake when the assembly is put back together. Not something you probably should do, unless you have the benifit of someone teaching you how to do to do it or have some machine shop experience. Check your club, if you belong to one, and see if there's someone willing to do it for you or find a local machine shop and have them do it for you.

12-13-2017, 12:30 PM	#4
TagMan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Alvaton, Kentucky, USA Posts: 970	Re: King pins In the first place, this is only MY opinion, but I've done a lot of king pin replacements in the last 55+ years. Jack each wheel up, grab the tire at the top & bottom and try to "wiggle" it. If you have percetible play, the bushing are worn. If the bushing(s) are not worn through and damaged the king pin itself, all you'll need is a king pin replacement kit and $40.00 seems to be the going price for them. I would guess the $150.00 kit contains roller bearings instead of bushings and, IMO, roller bearings are not needed or even desireable in that application - first of all, theres no high speed rotaion and secondly, a roller bearing only has point contact and a bushing will provide better support. Go for the $40.00 king pin set. The bushings will have to be pressed out and new bushings pressed in. Pressing in the bushings will "collapse" the bushings a bit, necessitating having to ream or hone (I'm not going to get into the differing opinions on which method is better, but I prefer reaming) the inside diameter of the bushings to resize the bushings to allow the pin a sliding fit - enough for a film of grease to slide, but not enough to allow any shake when the assembly is put back together. Not something you probably should do, unless you have the benifit of someone teaching you how to do to do it or have some machine shop experience. Check your club, if you belong to one, and see if there's someone willing to do it for you or find a local machine shop and have them do it for you.