I was planning to replace the pin and bushing kit to repair the slop in the left front spindel. The wear is in the axle not the spindel.
What are my options? Thanks...

 

Welcome to FTE

You might try sleeving the axles (an automotive machine shop can do this), then you can use standard king pins.

Otherwise you'll need to drill out the spindles & axles and use an oversized king pin set, but this kit may be hard to find.

 

I find it a little surprising. The king ping does not fit very tightly into the axle. There is a 'wedge bolt' that holds the king pin tight in the axle and once the wedge bolt is tight, the king pin should never move, so I don't understand how it could wear the axle.

There are bushings in the spindles that rotate on the stationary king pin and those bushings and the ends on the king pins that stick through the bushings are the wear points.

So I would recommend getting a new set of king pins and bushings, lots of places sell them (Dennis-Carpenter, LMC, etc). A new wedge bolt also comes with it. Take the spindles and parts to a machine shop and have them install the new bushings and ream them to fit the new king pin. Note: the bushings are always oversized and must be reamed after they are installed in the spindle so they are perfectly straight with each other. Our machine shop in town charges $7 per spindle. There is a tool made for this, but they are pretty rare now a days.

Go ahead and install the spindles and snug up the wedge bolt and see if the kings pins are tight in the axle. If somehow the axle hole is too big, there are only two options: replace the axle or sleeve the hole. Both require removal of the axle. Since there is no intended movement in the axle hole a sleeve will work fine, but it will have to be notched where the wedge bolt goes and this work can also be done by a machine shop after you remove the axle.

Hope this helps and good luck.

 

FTE sponsor GREEN SALES has 10 sets of genuine Ford new, old stock (NOS) std. King Pin Kits in stock: 800-543-4959

B7C-3111-A .. King Pin Kit ~ Fits 1957/60 F100/250 2WD


B7TZ-3111-E .. King Pin Kit ~ .010" oversize. Fits same as above.

GREEN SALES has these oversized kits, too.

 

Thanks Bill, I should have mentioned sponsors first..............

 

Thank you guys for confirming what I was afraid of. I was surprised to find this enlarged axle hole also. I took the right side apart just to compare the two. I did'nt know if I could get it sleeved or if I needed to start looking for a new axle.
The oversize bushing kit only repairs the worn spindel, right? Who has a bushing kit for the axle? Could I use the same bushings?
Thanks again
John

 

Two king pin bushings per side...both fit into the spindle..one at the top, one below.

There are no bushings for the axle, just for the spindle.

If the axle holes have rounded out, I would think the king pin holes in the spindle would be the same way.

As noted in the post above, there's an oversized king pin kit available.

 

A sleeve for the axle should not be hard to make, I would just talk with the machine shop and explain the situation and they should be able to bore it out, make a sleeve and install it.

Another option would be to start a new thread and ask if anyone has a spare axle for a 57-60. Many of us have donor trucks, the axle is not that big and can be easily shipped.

 

FYI: FTE member Mrcman58 has tons of used parts from the 1940's thru the 1970's.

 

If you are considering changing the axle, it is my understanding that the '57 axle has about 1" more drop than the other years. Maybe someone can confirm this. It would allow you to lower the front end while making the repair.

 

Rockauto had the oversized kingpin kit.

If you have have to get the axle fitted with sleeves, that can be expensive, and it may be worth buying a new dropped axle instead. (1957-60 2" dropped axle from Classic Performance (5760DA) would be $419)

By the way... something I've learned the hard way: use a generous amount of grease when installing the new kingpins in the axle. I've got a couple of axles where those kingpins just ain't coming out without destroying either the axle or the spindles. (Does anyone reading this on Vancouver Island have an extra axle or spindles?)

 

Confirmed

B7C-3010-A .. Axle ~ 1957 F100/250

B8C-3010-A .. Axle ~ 1958/60 F100/250 2WD