I took my 1973 F100 in for an alignment and the guy told me that he can't align it because the pins are loose. I checked them and he was right. Ok, so I need to replace the pins. I want to use the bronze bushings instead of the mickey-mouse delrin bushings. Where can I find a 7/8" ream long enough for reaming out the new bronze bushings?

Thanks,
Ron

 

Some tool rental shops have them. I put my new bushings into the spindles and took the spindles to a machine shop. They reamed the bushings to fit the new pins. It didn't cost much. Don't be tempted to hone the new bushings, it's not as good as reaming. ...Terry

 

Why is reaming better than honing?? Reaming gives about 80 to 85% surface contact,
honing on a Sunnen hone around 95% . Something new out there I haven't heard about.

 

I have always heard the opposite regarding honing and surface contact, but I've never heard of a Sunnen hone. My info comes from a retired machinist/friend who did my kingpin bushings with a ream so that the bushings would be in better alignment than a hone could do. ...Terry

 

Stop in at some first class machine shop and ask if they have a Sunnen honeing machine. Most shops do as they fit wristpins, recondition connecting rod big ends
as well as fit spindle bushings. Very very accurate and the hones are 12 in or more
long. I wish I owned one.

 

Thanks for the info Kotzy. You learn something new everyday, whether you want to or not! ...Terry

 

The best way is to ream the bushings is with the proper king pin reamer. It will have a long pilot shaft that slides into a sleeve that has a tapered out side. The taper sleeve will center the pilot in the opposite bushing to guide thr reamer thru. Turn the reamer around and go the opposite way on the other bushing. When done the two bushings are inline. I had two sets of bushings wrecked by having them done by hone. I was lucky as i found a king pin reamer in the right size at a machine tool garage sale, it was new in box at $35. If my thinking is correct the size was .860". Carl....o&o>........

 

Before you do anything make sure the anchor bolt is tight,I have had many truck in my shop for pin replacement only to find the pin moving in the axle itself and not the bushings,also see a lot of "techs" not no the difference between kingpins and thrust bearings.For the record, I ream 90 % of the time, the other 10 % go to machine shop mainly due to time problems,they hone.