I am in the process of replacing the kingpins in my 1973 F100. This truck has the 2680lb front axle and the parts houses only carry the kingpin kits for the 3000+ front axle. Everything in the kit matches the parts I have removed from the truck except for the thrust bearings. The original bearings are made by Trayer Products and they are number BE87. They have a collar on the lower side that fits into the steering knuckle just above the kingpin bushing. The bearing also has a seal on the top side. The seal and the collar appear to keep water out of the lower bushing and thrust bearing.

The replacement bearing, Thayer Products BE-61 does not have the collar on the lower side and it has no seal. There is not even enough room to put a seal on the top of the bearing.

So, what are you doing when you replace these kingpins? Is anyone bothering to check the part number or do you just put things together without considering the difference in the parts?

I called Trayer and they still make the BE-87 bearing but they only sell it to OEM companies. So, now what do I do?

Thanks,
Ron

 

All of my books only list one part # for 66-74 F-100,the only listing I show for a 3000lb. axle is a 71 F-250.

 

Yup, and the problem is that the parts houses all only carry the kingpin kits for the 3000lb axles. Not only is the thrust bearing wrong but the kingpin keeper bolts are too big for the holes in the axles. I am going to see if any of the N.O.S. Ford parts houses carry the right kits. It's a pain because the pins and the bushings are correct. It is starting to look like I may be forced to reuses the kingpin keepers and the thrustbearing. If I can't get the parts, I will have no other choice.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about the keepers,if the bearings are decent just add shim-stock.Here's the MOOG # I list,8524 bronze or nylon. Don't know if it's same as your's.hopefully not,so atleast you have an option. They do come in .010 over also.good luck.

 

Thanks for the info. I may have actually been able to find the correct kingpin kit for the 2680 lb front axle. I had no luck with any of the sponsors here but I did stumble upon DickCarpenter. They gave me the name and number of Greens Sales in Cinncinati OH. Greens opened the kingpin kit up and it does indeed have the BE-87 thrust bearing in it. Hallelujah! It sounded like the entire kit was correct. It should arrive late this week and then I will know if it is all correct or not.