My front suspension and tranny (c 6) still remains on the bucket list for this 1980 xlt ranger 2wd 5.0 twin I-beam (forged) suspension. So far got inner and outer left and right tie-rods. The new tie rods 2 of the 3 don't have zirc fittings but rather also have a bigger more solid boot. Is this a cheap thing? or a new thing, cuz the old ones had zircs. Also, just tried to get some ball joints upper lower left and right because my lower drivers side has a slight bit of movement when checked for movement on a jacked up wheel. Side to side no but top and bottom you can see what looks like a ball joint lower of the two moving up and down. Just replaced axle pivot bushings and inner/outer control arm bushings. New springs too so this should wrap it up but come to find out, they have a 1-piece hub and spindle with a steering arm and knuckle built on and apparently require bronze bushings that get reamed. My question is I plan to eventually replace this spindle due to some cooked on races that I ended up grinding off and went too deep and left a small gouge 1/8" deep x 1/2" long. Would it be better to get 2 spindles that take ball joints? I've read that the bronze bushings last forever if you keep them greased. Thanks for any knowledge about these things you could pass on.

 

The factory did not use grease fittings. The ones that have grease fittings have been replaced some time before. Your new ones don't have them which is unusual, but I would not worry about it. You could put some in if you really wanted to.

You may want to get the complete beams/spindles/hubs from a later model f150. In case you ever want to lower it, the lowering beams fit those later beam suspensions. It's probably your cheapest option also.

 

Thanks Franklin. I'm sure I'll never want to lower it and after those axle pivot bushings I'll just be thankful it's done. Maybe they sell the bearings that go under and over the beams at the spindle.

 

In 1963 Ford introduced "Life Time" Lubrication, began putting rubber plugs where the zerk fittings were originally placed. By the mid 1970's, the parts no longer had holes for the plugs or zerk fittings.

 

Thanks for the information Number Dummy. As for the ball joints I was able to get from Riebe's Napa a spindle set kit. It's by Precision Engineered, a USA co. and made in USA. It was about$110. The 4 ball joints I returned were $200...cool. Almost done with this.

 

Spindle set kit #262-1524 might be the Napa number or Precision Engineers number. for 1980 f150 2wd

 

If those are the normal brass bushings/king pin set, then I guess you know after they are pressed in they will need to be reamed by a shop that has the proper reaming tool? I have seen some kits lately that use needle bearings or plastic bushings, but the original way they did it as with brass bushings and they shrink(on purpose) when they are pressed in. To get that smooth slop free motion they need to be sized by a reamer after they are pressed in.

 

The number he gave (262-1524) think is a NAPA number but when Google it gave me Stemco no ream king pin site http://www.cbsparts.ca/admin/vendor/Catalog.pdf


What I did find strange is Ford (from this site) has 2 different KP's, 1 for power and the other for non-power brakes?
Dave ----

 

I seem to remember someone said the f100's with the power brakes had front drums or discs and the small car bolt pattern, while the f100 with manual brakes got the disc brake frontend end with the larger f150 bolt pattern.

 

I remember reading something about wheel bolt patterns and ment to check mine as it could lead to issues with spare tires


Both of my trucks are 81's both have 300's both are sticks (FS 4sp granny/parts LWB SS 3sp OD) the parts truck is power the builder FS is not but every thing from the LWB (power brakes/front suspension) is going on the FS.


Just seams strange Ford would use 2 different king pins between the power/non-power trucks. Maybe wheels I can see but even still?
Dave ----

 

Thanks Franklin. I'm aware of that and plan to go back to Napa's machine shop where this old-timer does most of the work and hope he knows about this procedure.
They're steel pins with a notch about 2/3 up for a bolt to get wedged in and nutted down. The bushings are bronze.brass and the pin doesn't fit them now because they do still need to get reamed. The bearing fits snugly around the pin and it comes with a grease seal and top and bottom caps that thread into their respective parts which have a bent and a straight zirc for bottom and top. Looking forward to this being done but will take my time and get it right.

 

Darn I was out cleaning up parts for painting and forgot to check the wheels if they will inter change.
Gives me something to check tomorrow to get me out to the garage to do more work.
Dave ----

 

My 1981 F100 has power brakes and kingpins but has the 5.5X5 bolt pattern wheels.

 

If Ford did not use grease zerks in the tie rods anymore then why did my truck have Ford tie rods with zerks in all 4 with the metal Ford tag with the engineering number still on them all? something doesn't make sense there.

 

My truck also has zerk fittings in the tie rod ends. I know they are the original tie rods.
But I know on older Ford vehicles that we had that there many instances of screw in plugs
that were present in the tie rods that could be removed and zerks installed. I don't know
for certain that was done on my truck in the past but it could have been done at some
point when my Dad owned the truck.