What happens if you get your axle off, and try to press out your kingpins with a 20 ton press, and they barely budge? Does anyone think PB Blaster will make a difference? I used a torch on the real stiff side and after a while it broke loose, so did the other side. They just don't seem to go any farther. Both sides are flush with the edge of the steering knuckle now.

 

I know this is obvious but you took the lock pins out, right? Rust would be the only other thing holding them in. Can you turn them in the axle? Only other recommendation would be lots of penetrating oil and/or heat. PB Blaster works OK but I have had better luck with heat and paraffin.

Good luck!

Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100

 

I "pressed" my kingpins out with a drift and a 4 lb hammer. It took a while and I used a penetrant called S'OK. We use it at work to free up rusted and seized parts. It beats everything else I've tried.

Bob

 

Yes, I took the lockpins out, you goof! I hadn't put any penetrating oil on them, but did heat one side good with a torch while it was in the press. Wham! It pushed through a bit, but man!

There's no way to turn them in the axle. In fact, my pass. side knuckle was becoming siezed and I couldn't even rotate it by hand. My guess is, if they're stuck in there that tight, I may end up machining the holes to the 0.010" oversize to clean them up.

Where can I find that S'OK stuff? I've never heard of it, but I need some hardcore stuff on this prob!

 

Try an air hammer, it worked for me. Took me like 3 hours, but they came out. I still have a slight loss of hearing, but wait! I have a loss of a stock axle as well.


55forder

 

hi guys, if it were mine and i had some time up my sleeve i would fill a container with deisel and drop one end in, prop the other against something and tie it so it won't fall, then just let it sit for a day or three, it works quicker if u can sit it in the sun so it heats it all up then repeat with the other side,it should press out then, otherwise the next thing u could try would be a heating tip in the oxy, heat the I beem, then quench it, this should shatter the bond
cya..gary

 

Hi I do this work on a daily basis. This is life in the truck shop.
I just had one also on the press. I dont even think of pumping
the press without heat. Lots of evenly heated heat. I do not
advise cherry redding it, but even heat. Like the other guy
said about a bucket, any light oil fuel diesel will work only that
we use an electric plate (like a cooking stove) with the part
submerged get it to boil but watch out so it dont get to the
point of a flash fire. Get to the point of just steeming, or put
it out side if youre not sure. If it goes up dont worry it wont
melt. No matter what you need heat I promise the pin is
frozen to the axle. Lets see how you make out. Sam

 

Hey thanks! I tried the gas torch, but it's still pretty stubborn. I wouldn't have thought of the fuel idea tho'. I will try this, and see what happens and post the results!

 

If you got them to moove a little. It may help to flip over the axle and press the pin the other way. Some times it takes more heat than they should but that is the only way to get them out.

 

hay sixoh, what happened?, did u have a win?...cya..gary

 

Heya!

I've just been letting them soak in penetrating oil for the past couple of days. We're going out today and try at them with a BFH and a drift pin. If that doesn't work, I'm gonna bug my landlord to go back to his farm where the 20 ton press is.

If that STILL doesn't work....well, I've got a spare axle from my '58 F350. I was really hoping to sell that tho'. That's what parts trucks are for! I'll keep you posted...

 

I did it!!! I got my kingpins out!!!

I soaked them in penetrating oil for 3 days, and used my BFH which wasn't quite big enough to get the seized pass. side out. It got the LH side out easily. Luckily, a neighbor came over with a much larger BFH and we pounded the h*ll out of it and out she came! WOO HOO! That one was in so tight, the bushings slid out 1/16" while it came out. Man!

I am back in business now. Time to order my brake and suspension rebuild goodies!

 

Sixoh,

There's an article on installing kingpins and bushings in the May edition of Classic Trucks which just came out. The article is on a Chebby, but the procedure is the same.

Vern

 

Hey thanks, Vern! Today's grocery day, so I'll swing by the mag aisle and pick that up. Luckily, at school, we've got a good press, bushing drivers and honing equip for the job. I was really happy to get those old king pins out. The driver's side knuckle turned by hand, but the pass. side wouldn't budge.