The Ford Barn

Colonel · 01-01-2013, 06:36 PM

I cleaned the spindles and installed new bushings. Used the special reaming tool and made sure it was aligned right when I used it. To the best of my knowledge all should be in perfect alignment. When I tested it with the king pin it needed quite a bit of persuasion to get it through both the upper and lower bushing as it needs to work in the car. It took a wrench to turn the pin in the spindle. It was very tight. The pin moves smoothly through either bushing individually. Obviously the alignment is not perfect. My question is what level of tightness is the right amount for the king pin to be properly installed. I don't think I have it right and need some help. Any tricks to doing this?

Thanks for all comments and suggestions.

Ron in Quincy · 01-01-2013, 06:48 PM

It is best to use the long reaming tool so you do both upper and lower bushings at the same time in order to get proper alienment.

Ron

Tom Wesenberg · 01-01-2013, 07:45 PM

I did as Ron said and now I have a heavy hand push fit, which I think is perfect.

Bob C · 01-01-2013, 07:59 PM

I like to have them done on a Sunnen hone.

Bob

Mitch//pa · 01-01-2013, 08:01 PM

Just had a pair done on a hone perfect fit

Mikeinnj · 01-01-2013, 08:11 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Take the spindles to a local automotive machine shop and have them honed slightly.

2manycars · 01-01-2013, 08:15 PM

Honing is better than reaming, and will align both bushings together. I did a set of spindles for a customer, and the pins would not go all the way in without binding. It turned out that the new king pins were slightly tapered, and were a tighter fit at the top. I had to dress down the pins with 400 paper to get the fit properly. Check with a micrometer to see if the pins are straight.

dumb person · 04-08-2013, 05:18 PM

May i hijack this thread seeing it is no longer in use?

(Edit) So the outer wheel bearing is slide fit in the hub, i can slide it with my fingers, should it be a press fit?

i have annoying wheel shimmy on one side but only at low speed.
See this king pin? i cannot feel any ridge on it with my fingernail but i can see wear marks, is it still ok to use?

This pin for retaining the king pin, is it worn or still perfectly fine? i have a feeling it would be perfectly usable..

The axle has a bushing in it but the king pin still moves a tiny little bit, i see no movement but i can feel it. Is lock-tight ok or should i look for an oversized king pin? Is that even possible?

From what i gather i need a reamer, which i do not have. Guess i will have to find a workshop that still has those things. Pretty difficult now that nobody works on old things anymore.
But i have some replacement bushes that were in a box of spare parts, they have steel liners with a bronze looking layer as the working face. Can i force the old bushes out while forcing in the new bushes using a bench vice or should i cut the old bushes out?

dumb person · 04-08-2013, 07:00 PM

All but 3 people have me on their 'ignore' list so i can post on this thread every day & nobody will ever see it. Still have no idea where the shimmy/wobble in the front wheel is coming from.

James Rogers · 04-08-2013, 07:05 PM

You are not on my ignore list. Sometimes the wobble comes from incorrect toe in. You should have 1/8" toe in at the front of the front wheels CtoC.

dumb person · 04-08-2013, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Rogers

Sometimes the wobble comes from incorrect toe in. You should have 1/8" toe in at the front of the front wheels CtoC.

Cheers i'll check that too.

Tom Wesenberg · 04-08-2013, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dumb person

All but 3 people have me on their 'ignore' list so i can post on this thread every day & nobody will ever see it. Still have no idea where the shimmy/wobble in the front wheel is coming from.

I don't know anything about an ignore list, but I can't believe all but 3 people could have you on it. I wouldn't think you could even know who has you on their list, but as I say I know nothing about it.

From your pictures the kingpins look good and so do the bushings.

I'm using a temporary front axle while I rebuild my original. I can jack the front axle off the ground and move the tops of both tires in and out a good 2" and the car has no wobble ever, and steers great. I'd look elsewhere for the cause of your wobble, starting with toe in as James said.

dave in australia · 04-09-2013, 02:32 AM

The steel bush on your axle is not an original fit, but a previous repair. I have five axles that I did this repair on, on eight of the ten ends. I made them so they were just a bit tight to push the pins through by hand, but would go through when gently warmed with a hot air gun.
Some other causes of shimmy could be a loose or damaged wheel bearing, loose or egg shaped steering balls. Also check the bolts through the steering column chassis mount, or the pitman arm clamp.
Like Tom, I didn't even know there was an ignore list, so I must be number three.

01-01-2013, 06:36 PM	#1
Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 251	King Pin in Spindle Tightness I cleaned the spindles and installed new bushings. Used the special reaming tool and made sure it was aligned right when I used it. To the best of my knowledge all should be in perfect alignment. When I tested it with the king pin it needed quite a bit of persuasion to get it through both the upper and lower bushing as it needs to work in the car. It took a wrench to turn the pin in the spindle. It was very tight. The pin moves smoothly through either bushing individually. Obviously the alignment is not perfect. My question is what level of tightness is the right amount for the king pin to be properly installed. I don't think I have it right and need some help. Any tricks to doing this? Thanks for all comments and suggestions.

01-01-2013, 06:48 PM	#2
Ron in Quincy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quincy, CA. Posts: 1,708	Re: King Pin in Spindle Tightness It is best to use the long reaming tool so you do both upper and lower bushings at the same time in order to get proper alienment. Ron

01-01-2013, 07:45 PM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: King Pin in Spindle Tightness I did as Ron said and now I have a heavy hand push fit, which I think is perfect.

01-01-2013, 07:59 PM	#4
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,755	Re: King Pin in Spindle Tightness I like to have them done on a Sunnen hone. Bob

01-01-2013, 08:01 PM	#5
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: King Pin in Spindle Tightness Just had a pair done on a hone perfect fit

01-01-2013, 08:11 PM	#6
Mikeinnj Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 1,262	Re: King Pin in Spindle Tightness Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Take the spindles to a local automotive machine shop and have them honed slightly.

01-01-2013, 08:15 PM	#7
2manycars Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern CT Posts: 2,732	Re: King Pin in Spindle Tightness Honing is better than reaming, and will align both bushings together. I did a set of spindles for a customer, and the pins would not go all the way in without binding. It turned out that the new king pins were slightly tapered, and were a tighter fit at the top. I had to dress down the pins with 400 paper to get the fit properly. Check with a micrometer to see if the pins are straight.

04-08-2013, 05:18 PM	#8
dumb person Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: South pacific island Posts: 1,724	Re: King Pin in Spindle Tightness May i hijack this thread seeing it is no longer in use? (Edit) So the outer wheel bearing is slide fit in the hub, i can slide it with my fingers, should it be a press fit? i have annoying wheel shimmy on one side but only at low speed. See this king pin? i cannot feel any ridge on it with my fingernail but i can see wear marks, is it still ok to use? This pin for retaining the king pin, is it worn or still perfectly fine? i have a feeling it would be perfectly usable.. The axle has a bushing in it but the king pin still moves a tiny little bit, i see no movement but i can feel it. Is lock-tight ok or should i look for an oversized king pin? Is that even possible? From what i gather i need a reamer, which i do not have. Guess i will have to find a workshop that still has those things. Pretty difficult now that nobody works on old things anymore. But i have some replacement bushes that were in a box of spare parts, they have steel liners with a bronze looking layer as the working face. Can i force the old bushes out while forcing in the new bushes using a bench vice or should i cut the old bushes out? __________________ <Link> This is how we roll<Link> "I'm Convinced that no one really reads posts anymore; they just fabricate what they think the post says then ramble on about red herrings."--Bob Outcasts rules of old cars #1 Fun is imperative, mainstream is overrated #2 If they think it is impossible, prove them wrong #3 If the science says it impossible you are not being creative enough. #4 No shame in recreating something you never had #5 If it were not for the law & physics you would be unstoppable Last edited by dumb person; 04-08-2013 at 05:49 PM.

04-08-2013, 07:00 PM	#9
dumb person Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: South pacific island Posts: 1,724	Re: King Pin in Spindle Tightness All but 3 people have me on their 'ignore' list so i can post on this thread every day & nobody will ever see it. Still have no idea where the shimmy/wobble in the front wheel is coming from. __________________ <Link> This is how we roll<Link> "I'm Convinced that no one really reads posts anymore; they just fabricate what they think the post says then ramble on about red herrings."--Bob Outcasts rules of old cars #1 Fun is imperative, mainstream is overrated #2 If they think it is impossible, prove them wrong #3 If the science says it impossible you are not being creative enough. #4 No shame in recreating something you never had #5 If it were not for the law & physics you would be unstoppable

04-08-2013, 07:05 PM	#10
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: King Pin in Spindle Tightness You are not on my ignore list. Sometimes the wobble comes from incorrect toe in. You should have 1/8" toe in at the front of the front wheels CtoC. __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

04-09-2013, 02:32 AM	#13
dave in australia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,177	Re: King Pin in Spindle Tightness The steel bush on your axle is not an original fit, but a previous repair. I have five axles that I did this repair on, on eight of the ten ends. I made them so they were just a bit tight to push the pins through by hand, but would go through when gently warmed with a hot air gun. Some other causes of shimmy could be a loose or damaged wheel bearing, loose or egg shaped steering balls. Also check the bolts through the steering column chassis mount, or the pitman arm clamp. Like Tom, I didn't even know there was an ignore list, so I must be number three.