King pin replacement
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
King pin replacement
Would new king pins help on a camber problem. 79 f-150 sc front suspension all rebuilt along with new coil springs accept for king pin replacement. These parts came from one of my old work trucks i used for a lot of years , lots of miles. Put it all under my 73 f-100 short box. Had the front end lined up and went good accept the shop said the camber was off a very small amount on the right side. They were unable to bend the I-beam to correct it due to not having the equipment and i believe knowledge to do it.
I haven't found a shop in the Boise, Nampa ,Caldwell Idaho area that know what i am talking about let alone have the tools. It drives good other than wanders a small amount more than i like. As far as i know it has the original factory king pins and the shop never said any thing about them being loose. I know it won't hurt it and hopefully will help. What's every body's opinion am i expecting to much out of the old I-beam suspension ?
JIM
I haven't found a shop in the Boise, Nampa ,Caldwell Idaho area that know what i am talking about let alone have the tools. It drives good other than wanders a small amount more than i like. As far as i know it has the original factory king pins and the shop never said any thing about them being loose. I know it won't hurt it and hopefully will help. What's every body's opinion am i expecting to much out of the old I-beam suspension ?
JIM
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
All new bushings though out , just never replaced the king pins. What is the best way to check them ?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,574
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From: Cranbrook, Ont., Canada
I don't know anything about replacing those kingpins BUT, if you can grease them they aren't seized.
I have seen first hand how to free them up. The mechanic heated the spindle till RED hot the he took his grease gun and forced grease into the kingpin. Smoked like crazy but they freed up. Drove that truck for another 5 years before the MTO took it off the road due to body rust.
I have seen first hand how to free them up. The mechanic heated the spindle till RED hot the he took his grease gun and forced grease into the kingpin. Smoked like crazy but they freed up. Drove that truck for another 5 years before the MTO took it off the road due to body rust.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
I don't know anything about replacing those kingpins BUT, if you can grease them they aren't seized.
I have seen first hand how to free them up. The mechanic heated the spindle till RED hot the he took his grease gun and forced grease into the kingpin. Smoked like crazy but they freed up. Drove that truck for another 5 years before the MTO took it off the road due to body rust.
I have seen first hand how to free them up. The mechanic heated the spindle till RED hot the he took his grease gun and forced grease into the kingpin. Smoked like crazy but they freed up. Drove that truck for another 5 years before the MTO took it off the road due to body rust.
I may have to try that . The old 79 i took the parts off of did sit unused for about 6 years so it might just need a little grease .
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 17,708
Likes: 136
From: Calgary
I know how to recognize a kingpin that's gone bad from the drivers seat but it involves long distance driving, your elbows get sore from the suspension shock that gets sent through the column. Was sure that a person checks kingpins the same way you check for bad ball joints. Lift tire off ground and see if it moves in or out top and bottom, doesn't move much at all even if their bad unless real bad. Will probably hear a clunking noise from the pins before detecting motion. Agree with the grease, lube job tricks they won't fall out, wives tale, there is a lock bolt that keeps them in.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
I know how to recognize a kingpin that's gone bad from the drivers seat but it involves long distance driving, your elbows get sore from the suspension shock that gets sent through the column. Was sure that a person checks kingpins the same way you check for bad ball joints. Lift tire off ground and see if it moves in or out top and bottom, doesn't move much at all even if their bad unless real bad. Will probably hear a clunking noise from the pins before detecting motion. Agree with the grease, lube job tricks they won't fall out, wives tale, there is a lock bolt that keeps them in.
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FTE Legend
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From: NY and VA
Jack the truck up on the axle, to see if there is play in the kpins. Which should have been done when doing the "alignment". AKA setting the toe-in.
Greasing might or might not help. A slight amount of neg camber should not effect steering. What was the caster reading?
Greasing might or might not help. A slight amount of neg camber should not effect steering. What was the caster reading?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: South west Idaho
I don't know what the caster reading was ,i should have ask for a copy of the read out i guess . Can the caster be adjusted on the twin I-beam ? I'm going to check for grease later today if it quits raining. I don't know if they tried to grease it or not. A few years ago you could go in the shops and watch them but now days they won't let you in the work areas at most places.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
Yes but like i said in the first post i am having trouble finding a shop that can do it . I thought somebody in my area would read this and point me in the right direction to a shop that can do it. Thanks .
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: NY and VA