What is the best way to change a kingpin? '73 F-100, 2wd. Front right kingpin appears to be worn. I've been told to heat up the assembly it holds together and pound it out and heat the assembly and pound it back in. The other approach is to heat it up and use a hydraulic jack to push it up and out and heat it up and push the new one in. What are yall's thoughts on this?
Shout out to Franklin2 for his help with my seized rear axle bearing, Thanks!!

 

Don't use heat on steering/suspension components. The parts are heat treated for strenght and toughness. Hammering destroys bearings and bushings. Components must be pressed into place using the proper tools and techniques.

Pull the whole I beam assy and take it to a shop for service. When the kingpin is installed the bushings must be replaced and reamed to size with a $pecial reamer. This is not a do-it-yourself project unless you have the tools, equipment, and knowledge. Even then it is a lot of work!

 

Ditto, on Eric's advice. Been there done that. For starters, you'll never get enough heat supplied to the pin to do anything. Have you tried removing it yet. I did mine (5/01 - and there are few posts - do a search) and one pin came out easily with some light tapping, the other pin was bent and had to be removed with an impact hammer. The whole job is a bear. 1st, try to remove the pin, if you can and bring the spindle into a shop to have new bushings installed - get the metal ones, don't fart around with the plastic ones. If you can't get the pin to come out easily, save your self the headache, & drop the entire I beam...while you're at it have the pivot bushing replaced too.