When to change kingpins?
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When to change kingpins?
Hi, I have a '79 F-250 with a dana 60 front. I was just wondering when do I change out the kingpins? As of right now i have a little bit a death wobble at around 30 -40 MPH after that and before that there is nothing. I am runnin 35" super swampers also so that may be it. I was wondering what this could be? bushings? bearings? kingpins? tell me what you all think Lastly, if it is the kingpins, do i have to change out the actual kingpins or just the bushings around them? thanks
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Gainesville, FL
Screamin,
Please don't do a half-*** job on your kingpins. You should only have to replace them once in a lifetime. If you jack the truck up, you should be able to feel the play by pushing/pulling on the top and bottom of the tire. If they are bad enough, you will here a hollow clunk. Kinpin bushing wear causes a misalignment of the tire which should cause a negative camber situation, which balds the inside of the tire. This is usually a severe situation and it happens rapidly. replace the entire assembly. I had mine done professionly, .. I hope.
KingFisher
PS A front end shop should be able to show you the wear items and the play in them.
Please don't do a half-*** job on your kingpins. You should only have to replace them once in a lifetime. If you jack the truck up, you should be able to feel the play by pushing/pulling on the top and bottom of the tire. If they are bad enough, you will here a hollow clunk. Kinpin bushing wear causes a misalignment of the tire which should cause a negative camber situation, which balds the inside of the tire. This is usually a severe situation and it happens rapidly. replace the entire assembly. I had mine done professionly, .. I hope.
KingFisher
PS A front end shop should be able to show you the wear items and the play in them.
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
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You don't have king pins, they are only found on 2wd I-beam front suspensions. You have ball joints.
I would start with normal service items. Rotate and balance the tires, check the steering linkage for wear and grease, check the wheel bearings for looseness, get an alignment if the tires show wear indicating misalignment. If the ball joints are worn, when you lift one tire or the other off the ground, the bottom of the tire will noticeably move in or out as the weight is being taken off the tire. Generally bad ball joints or king pins will be noticeably worse at higher speeds. I would start with the above list, basically in order, working your way to the ball joints. Good luck.
I would start with normal service items. Rotate and balance the tires, check the steering linkage for wear and grease, check the wheel bearings for looseness, get an alignment if the tires show wear indicating misalignment. If the ball joints are worn, when you lift one tire or the other off the ground, the bottom of the tire will noticeably move in or out as the weight is being taken off the tire. Generally bad ball joints or king pins will be noticeably worse at higher speeds. I would start with the above list, basically in order, working your way to the ball joints. Good luck.
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neverenough, the dana 60 fronts do indeed have kingpins. I was just wondering what the wobble might be from. You think its just a bad wheel balance? It only happens at around 30 mph then stops if you keeps accelerating?
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