question concerning installation of new king pins. Following Ford's repair manual. After installing bushings, drive the new king pin in. A real tight fit. Problem is, as I drive the kingpin in to the lower bushing, the bushing is driven out. I will try using a large c-clamp to press it in tonight. Is this right or am I screwing up somewhere? Thanks for any help

 

It sounds like there is a inner diameter/slight misalignment issue to deal with. Some places that install king pin bushings also use a ream .0005 smaller than the king pin to make the holes perfectly round and align. If the bushing deformed a tad while being installed this may explain what you are experiencing.

 

I think the new bushings need to be reamed out to fit the pin, i just had them done... but on an I beam truck.

 

LHK,
Are you installing metal or plastic bushings?

BarnieTrk

 

OK we can close this, Got it figured out. buy new king pin bushings, take the spindles off the axle. take them to a machine shop and let the ream the bushings. A little extra money is worth the learning experience? I doubt that this is the last one. Thanks for your help

 

Not having a press nor a reamer (nor the skill set), that was my solution too! However, wasn't easy to find a machine shop locally that would/could do it. Bought the king pins and bushings from NAPA, dropped it off one day, picked it up the next. Think it was $60 for the parts and $100 for the install.

 

When needing king-pin bushings, you need to get the new bushing installed and honed at a machine shop. My understanding is that the nylon bushings don't need the reaming, but I always went w/ the brass, which do. Nothing new.

 

You must REAM them not HONE them. Honing does not work on brass like it does on a steel brake cylinder or engine bore. Reaming actually cuts the material away. I bought a used reamer off Ebay for $40 and no doubt I will sell it someday since it is unlikely I will ever use it again since the brass busings last so long.