The Ford Barn

philipswanson · 05-19-2019, 09:56 AM

How do you tell when king pins need to be replaced? I have them out and they look like they are original but I don't feel any side play. Is there a measurement procedure to evaluate them properly?

drolston · 05-19-2019, 10:05 AM

With front tire off the ground, grab the top and bottom of the tire and try to rock it back and forth. Anything beyond barely perceptible movement is time for king pin replacement.

philipswanson · 05-19-2019, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drolston

With front tire off the ground, grab the top and bottom of the tire and try to rock it back and forth. Anything beyond barely perceptible movement is time for king pin replacement.

I have the whole front end apart, no tires or wheels to grab. Original king pins out. Phil

skidmarks · 05-19-2019, 10:50 AM

Measure them . Drag your finger nail across the area that turns in the bushings and compare it to the area that is fixed in the axle.

Put the kingpin in the spindle and compare the feel in the bushings in the same areas mentioned above. Any slop replace them

Flathead Fever · 05-19-2019, 11:20 AM

Clean the bushings and kingpin. Stick the spindle back on and drop the king pin in it. Then grab the spindle and see if you have any play. It should only take a few minutes to check them this way. You have the right idea, if the bushings are worn, now that you have the spindles off would be the time to replace them. A tiny bit of play (that's barely any movement) won't hurt anything. The grease will take up some of the play.

We just had a thread on a kingpin bushing installed wrong. The bushing hole did not line up with the spindle hole so the grease could not get through. That'a something you can check while you have them a part. Stick a grease gun on the zerks and see if the grease comes out of the bushing's hole.

A friend just bought one of these new Dewalt cordless 20V grease guns and he's in love with it. Not cheap, $170.00 to $200.00. There is always another tool you can't live without.

19Fordy · 05-19-2019, 11:37 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Wow! That's a neat grease gun.

philipswanson · 05-19-2019, 02:23 PM

Bulky to carry under a car unless you have a lift. My motorhome would be a real chore with a bulky grease gun and it has a zillion hard to get grease fittings.

skidmarks · 05-19-2019, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philipswanson

Bulky to carry under a car unless you have a lift. My motorhome would be a real chore with a bulky grease gun and it has a zillion hard to get grease fittings.

They make longer hoses

Tinker · 05-19-2019, 09:08 PM

I'd consider replacing the bushings at least, as it's already apart now.

I'm still using my manual pistol grip greaser. Hands gets tired sometimes, but I look at it as exercise. Caution: might cause Popeye arms.

philipswanson · 05-20-2019, 04:28 PM

Decided to go ahead and replace them. Might as well since I am in there. No big grease gun add on's for me. For me, portability and access is more important than air pressured grease.

Thanks.... Phil

RalphM · 05-20-2019, 10:04 PM

Phil,
Do you have a way to ream the bushings?
If not let me know, I have a reamer, heck you could bring the spindles up here in your suitcase and I’ll do them for you.

05-19-2019, 09:56 AM	#1
philipswanson Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bonita, CA Posts: 1,374	King Pin Replace On A '40 ?? How do you tell when king pins need to be replaced? I have them out and they look like they are original but I don't feel any side play. Is there a measurement procedure to evaluate them properly?

05-19-2019, 10:05 AM	#2
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: King Pin Replace On A '40 ?? With front tire off the ground, grab the top and bottom of the tire and try to rock it back and forth. Anything beyond barely perceptible movement is time for king pin replacement.

05-19-2019, 10:50 AM	#4
skidmarks Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: newark, delaware Posts: 3,735	Re: King Pin Replace On A '40 ?? Measure them . Drag your finger nail across the area that turns in the bushings and compare it to the area that is fixed in the axle. Put the kingpin in the spindle and compare the feel in the bushings in the same areas mentioned above. Any slop replace them

05-19-2019, 11:37 AM	#6
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,925	Re: King Pin Replace On A '40 ?? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Wow! That's a neat grease gun.

05-19-2019, 02:23 PM	#7
philipswanson Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bonita, CA Posts: 1,374	Re: King Pin Replace On A '40 ?? Bulky to carry under a car unless you have a lift. My motorhome would be a real chore with a bulky grease gun and it has a zillion hard to get grease fittings.

05-19-2019, 09:08 PM	#9
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: King Pin Replace On A '40 ?? I'd consider replacing the bushings at least, as it's already apart now. I'm still using my manual pistol grip greaser. Hands gets tired sometimes, but I look at it as exercise. Caution: might cause Popeye arms. Last edited by Tinker; 05-19-2019 at 09:40 PM.

05-20-2019, 04:28 PM	#10
philipswanson Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bonita, CA Posts: 1,374	Re: King Pin Replace On A '40 ?? Decided to go ahead and replace them. Might as well since I am in there. No big grease gun add on's for me. For me, portability and access is more important than air pressured grease. Thanks.... Phil

05-20-2019, 10:04 PM	#11
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: King Pin Replace On A '40 ?? Phil, Do you have a way to ream the bushings? If not let me know, I have a reamer, heck you could bring the spindles up here in your suitcase and I’ll do them for you.