The Ford Barn

Leathernek · 07-18-2011, 10:42 PM

Hey Guys,
I was fixin' to order some parts for my front end rebuild and noticed that the front spindle bushings included in the kit need reaming. Ok, no big deal...until I noticed the price of the reaming tool.....you guessed it $127! I was shocked! Anyways, my question is.....Is there a way of reaming the front spindle/kingpin bushings another way? Or is there any "tricks" that I can use to avoid buying that high dollar reamer?

Thanks!

CarlG · 07-19-2011, 01:53 AM

You will probably get a better job at a professional automotive machine shop, but I wouldn't count on saving any money.

Kevin in NJ · 07-19-2011, 05:33 AM

A reamer does not leave a perfectly round hole. It will have hills and valleys. So the king pin will fit tight at first and quickly hone the hole removing all the hills. This will leave you with a slightly loose fit that will be stable for a long time.

On the other hand, a Sunnen hone will make both bushings round and inline. The king pins will stay tight for a long time.

Now you know the facts and can decide how you want to spend your money.

John S · 08-27-2011, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Turley

Since no one answered, I thought I would bring this thread back up.

Does anyone know whether Ford "reamed" or "honed" the spindle bushings during manufacturing?

Don I certainly don't know the answer but I'm going to guess that Ford had a method to install them that required little or no fitting afterward. Again, just a guess on my part.

kelley's restoration · 07-19-2011, 06:32 AM

a quote from good old henry ford
"if you need to borrow something more than once then you should have bought one"
just buy the reamer and be happy to know that you can fix the next car that needs the same thing done
tk

ldj1002 · 07-19-2011, 08:42 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by kelley's restoration

a quote from good old henry ford
"if you need to borrow something more than once then you should have bought one"
just buy the reamer and be happy to know that you can fix the next car that needs the same thing done
tk

Some peoples pockets can't afford to "just buy it" It must be nice to be in that position.

MrTube · 07-19-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelley's restoration

a quote from good old henry ford
"if you need to borrow something more than once then you should have bought one"
just buy the reamer and be happy to know that you can fix the next car that needs the same thing done
tk

Why and when would Henry Ford have said that?

I know my grandfather would loan you any tool one time, but if you came back and asked to borrow the same tool a second time he would say no. Same principle I suppose.

kelley's restoration · 07-19-2011, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTube

Why and when would Henry Ford have said that?

I know my grandfather would loan you any tool one time, but if you came back and asked to borrow the same tool a second time he would say no. Same principle I suppose.

i read it from one of those"1001 quotes to live life by" books on the discount rack at borders
tk

5window · 07-19-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelley's restoration

a quote from good old henry ford
"if you need to borrow something more than once then you should have bought one"
just buy the reamer and be happy to know that you can fix the next car that needs the same thing done
tk

Funny, when I Googled this quote, there was only one hit-this thread!

V4F · 07-19-2011, 08:47 AM

i use a brake hone !

Ray With · 07-21-2011, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve norcal

i use a brake hone !

I second that and I have been replacing king pin bushings 50+ years and never a problem . Just go slow and check the pin fit to get the proper clearance .

28RPU · 07-19-2011, 08:48 AM

I have two comments.. one is that I also considered buying that tool but it was just too much.I took it to a local machine shop and had it done for 10 bucks. I won't divulge where I got the good deal. And two.... when I saw you started out by saying "I was fixin' to" I knew you were a southern boy.

5window · 07-19-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 28RPU

I have two comments.. one is that I also considered buying that tool but it was just too much.I took it to a local machine shop and had it done for 10 bucks. I won't divulge where I got the good deal. And two.... when I saw you started out by saying "I was fixin' to" I knew you were a southern boy.

You might as well share your machine shop. It might save a local some effort. It's not like everyone on the FB is fixin' to rush right down to Tennessee and get their bushings honed.

Leathernek · 07-19-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 28RPU

when I saw you started out by saying "I was fixin' to" I knew you were a southern boy.

Yes sir, hailin' from Northwest GA/NE Alabama!

1931 flamingo · 07-19-2011, 08:52 AM

Even after reaming it it would also probably need to be honed. JMO
Paul in CT

CarlG · 07-19-2011, 09:42 AM

I always thought that a good part of this "hobby" was the opportunity (ie: excuse) to buy tools! (and tool chests, work benches, etc.)

As to a machine shop charging ten bucks for anything, I'm sure there are a few scattered around that would do that, but most want ten times that just for walking thru the door!

CWPASADENA · 07-19-2011, 10:35 AM

As stated before, You will get a better job if you have a machine shop who has a Sunnen Piston Pin Hone do the job. Much better fit then you will ever get with a reamer.

I have a small machine shop and the reamers BUT I will still take my spindles down the street to my local Automotive Machine Shop to hone the bushings.

That is what I do.

Chris

Greg Jones · 07-19-2011, 11:03 AM

Forget the reamer and do the honing. Not all that expensive at the machine shop I used ($40 for both spindles) and what a precise fit! YMMV on the price to have it done, of course.

Jerry Parr WI · 08-25-2011, 08:47 AM

I have asked this before with no comments so I'll try again. Reguarding the issue of honing vs reaming the king pin bushings and which is better. Honing is required for extremely close fitting parts like piston pins but they run in an oil bath and are constantly lubricated with comparatively light weight oil. King pins are not lubricated with oil but with grease and then not constantly. It would seem that the slight chatter marks from reaming would be pockets that would allow grease to get in and hold it resulting in better long term lubrication. The highly polished tight fit the honing produces would seem to leave almost no way for grease to get to or remain in the bushing which would result in faster wear at least initially. Comments welcome.

racemo · 07-19-2011, 12:57 PM

Here is my recent first hand experience. I bought a spindle kit from Lang's and recieved the same message. My theory is they need to alert the customer as one never knows what the press conditions are. The bushings pressed in fine and the kit pins fit perfectly. Nice proper fit.

I looked at the risk, if they fit, lucky me. If they didn't, Production Tool sold an expandable reamer for that diameter for $ 26.00.

Good luck...

07-18-2011, 10:42 PM	#1
Leathernek Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northwest Georgia Posts: 178	$127.00 for a drill Bit!? Hey Guys, I was fixin' to order some parts for my front end rebuild and noticed that the front spindle bushings included in the kit need reaming. Ok, no big deal...until I noticed the price of the reaming tool.....you guessed it $127! I was shocked! Anyways, my question is.....Is there a way of reaming the front spindle/kingpin bushings another way? Or is there any "tricks" that I can use to avoid buying that high dollar reamer? Thanks!

07-19-2011, 01:53 AM	#2
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,116	Re: $127.00 for a drill Bit!? You will probably get a better job at a professional automotive machine shop, but I wouldn't count on saving any money.

07-19-2011, 05:33 AM	#3
Kevin in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East NJ Posts: 3,398	Re: $127.00 for a drill Bit!? A reamer does not leave a perfectly round hole. It will have hills and valleys. So the king pin will fit tight at first and quickly hone the hole removing all the hills. This will leave you with a slightly loose fit that will be stable for a long time. On the other hand, a Sunnen hone will make both bushings round and inline. The king pins will stay tight for a long time. Now you know the facts and can decide how you want to spend your money.

07-19-2011, 06:32 AM	#5
kelley's restoration Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: 60046 Posts: 888	Re: $127.00 for a drill Bit!? a quote from good old henry ford "if you need to borrow something more than once then you should have bought one" just buy the reamer and be happy to know that you can fix the next car that needs the same thing done tk __________________ anyone need some Model A restoration work done in Illinois? shoot me an email for pics and information [email protected]

07-19-2011, 08:47 AM	#10
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	Re: $127.00 for a drill Bit!? i use a brake hone ! __________________ V4f

07-19-2011, 08:48 AM	#12
28RPU Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South central Tenn Posts: 375	Re: $127.00 for a drill Bit!? I have two comments.. one is that I also considered buying that tool but it was just too much.I took it to a local machine shop and had it done for 10 bucks. I won't divulge where I got the good deal. And two.... when I saw you started out by saying "I was fixin' to" I knew you were a southern boy.

07-19-2011, 08:52 AM	#15
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: $127.00 for a drill Bit!? Even after reaming it it would also probably need to be honed. JMO Paul in CT

07-19-2011, 09:42 AM	#16
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,116	Re: $127.00 for a drill Bit!? I always thought that a good part of this "hobby" was the opportunity (ie: excuse) to buy tools! (and tool chests, work benches, etc.) As to a machine shop charging ten bucks for anything, I'm sure there are a few scattered around that would do that, but most want ten times that just for walking thru the door! Last edited by CarlG; 07-19-2011 at 10:05 AM.

07-19-2011, 10:35 AM	#17
CWPASADENA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: PASADENA, CA Posts: 1,885	Re: $127.00 for a drill Bit!? As stated before, You will get a better job if you have a machine shop who has a Sunnen Piston Pin Hone do the job. Much better fit then you will ever get with a reamer. I have a small machine shop and the reamers BUT I will still take my spindles down the street to my local Automotive Machine Shop to hone the bushings. That is what I do. Chris

07-19-2011, 11:03 AM	#18
Greg Jones Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Aiken, South Carolina Posts: 695	Re: $127.00 for a drill Bit!? Forget the reamer and do the honing. Not all that expensive at the machine shop I used ($40 for both spindles) and what a precise fit! YMMV on the price to have it done, of course.

08-25-2011, 08:47 AM	#19
Jerry Parr WI Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 619	Re: $127.00 for a drill Bit!? I have asked this before with no comments so I'll try again. Reguarding the issue of honing vs reaming the king pin bushings and which is better. Honing is required for extremely close fitting parts like piston pins but they run in an oil bath and are constantly lubricated with comparatively light weight oil. King pins are not lubricated with oil but with grease and then not constantly. It would seem that the slight chatter marks from reaming would be pockets that would allow grease to get in and hold it resulting in better long term lubrication. The highly polished tight fit the honing produces would seem to leave almost no way for grease to get to or remain in the bushing which would result in faster wear at least initially. Comments welcome.

07-19-2011, 12:57 PM	#20
racemo Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dearborn, MI Posts: 97	Re: $127.00 for a drill Bit!? Here is my recent first hand experience. I bought a spindle kit from Lang's and recieved the same message. My theory is they need to alert the customer as one never knows what the press conditions are. The bushings pressed in fine and the kit pins fit perfectly. Nice proper fit. I looked at the risk, if they fit, lucky me. If they didn't, Production Tool sold an expandable reamer for that diameter for $ 26.00. Good luck...