Worn kingpins and total toe
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville,AR
Worn kingpins and total toe
I went to have new tires and an alignment on my 1979 Ford f-100 2wd and the mechanic said that he could not align the front end because the kingpins were worn. I asked him to show me and he did. Then I asked how do you set the caster/camber on this truck and he said that you can't. Went on to say that the only adjustment was total toe. What does to have to do with the kingpins? Can I get the toe adjustments closer than it is now? Can I do it myself?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 767
Likes: 1
From: Franklin, GA
Yeah, you can set the toe yourself. The trick to doing it yourself is still having the steering wheel strainght when you get through. But if the toe is bad off you can get it close enough in the driveway to not eat your tires too bad till you can get the king pins done. I can't believe the guy wouldn't at least set the toe close so you could drive it.
Drive the truck in a straight line to get the wheels/steering wheel pointed straight as possible. Shut the truck down, get out and start marking the center of the front tires with a marker that will show up. You want to mark the tires in the center of the tread on the forward and rear of the tire, in a line as parallel to the ground as possible. After the tires are marked, it's just a matter of measuring the front to front marks and rear to rear marks, figure the difference, and determine how much toe in or out you have and adjust accordingly by turning the sleves on the tie rods.
Drive the truck in a straight line to get the wheels/steering wheel pointed straight as possible. Shut the truck down, get out and start marking the center of the front tires with a marker that will show up. You want to mark the tires in the center of the tread on the forward and rear of the tire, in a line as parallel to the ground as possible. After the tires are marked, it's just a matter of measuring the front to front marks and rear to rear marks, figure the difference, and determine how much toe in or out you have and adjust accordingly by turning the sleves on the tie rods.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 69
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From: Fayetteville,AR
The mechanic also said that getting the kingpins out would be a major problem. I typically do most of my own work, but if this is too big of a job I guess that I will farm it out.
How do the kingpins come out and what tools do I need to do it myself. I have never began to tear this stuff apart so please be extremly specific.
Thanks.
How do the kingpins come out and what tools do I need to do it myself. I have never began to tear this stuff apart so please be extremly specific.
Thanks.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 767
Likes: 1
From: Franklin, GA
Disassembly of the front end components are pretty straightforward and not that difficult. What your mechanic was referring to is actually getting the old king pins out of their mounts. Sometimes it can seem as if they are welded in there! I've never been unable to eventually remove old pins, you just might have to be more persuasive than you would expect. Some fall out and others need torch heat and big hammers. Heat and air chisel has worked for me in the past. Kinda like jack hammering the pin out. My biggest problem is the cramped space you have to do the work in. Not a whole lot of room to forcefully swing a heavy hammer inside the fender well.
