The Ford Barn

AnthonyG · 12-15-2021, 12:32 PM

I bought spindles & kingpins for my ” ‘35 to hydraulic brake project” from speedway. 1st time for kingpins & new spindles. The ones I bought have to be reamed. Does this mean line reamed to axle holes or just check kingpin size & ream spindle holes for kingpins in spindles. A mechanic friend thinks we need to take the dropped axle out & ream both spindle KP hole & axle holes together. I don’t think so because Speedway offers a Prereamed Bolt in kit w reamed spindles fitted to KP’s in kit. Help!

Tim Ayers · 12-15-2021, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnthonyG

I bought spindles & kingpins for my ” ‘35 to hydraulic brake project” from speedway. 1st time for kingpins & new spindles. The ones I bought have to be reamed. Does this mean line reamed to axle holes or just check kingpin size & ream spindle holes for kingpins in spindles. A mechanic friend thinks we need to take the dropped axle out & team both spindle KP hole & axle holes together. I don’t think so because Speedway offers a Prereamed Bolt in kit w reamed spindles fitted to KP’s in kit. Help!

No need to ream the bores in the axle. I doubt the spindles and king pin bushings come pre-machined. It's possible, but I doubt it. A quick test fit should give you an idea.

There are a few opinions on this, but the best (re: most accurate) way to do it is to have a machine shop use a Sunnen hone to align ream them to fit. This service is not terribly expensive.

alchemy · 12-15-2021, 12:38 PM

Usually the axle should be sized correctly for the kingpin. Occasionally you will find an old dropped axle has been egged a little in the kingpin hole and will need to be touched up.

The kingpin bushings need to be reamed by a piloted adjustable reamer. They can't be done with a brake hone. You need to assure both bushings are in line with each other. Also need to only ream to the kingpin size, not above too much. An easy fit of kingpin to hole is what I shoot for. If it's hard to press in, you won't have enough room for the grease.

We had a streak last year where we did a few sets in a short while, and I found some new kingpins to be different size from each other. That's why I think it's best to size each bushing for a particular pin.

AnthonyG · 12-15-2021, 01:05 PM

I have a heavy duty Allen Tool Makers drill press with good table & spindle slide ways. Table has mounting holes like a milling machine. Could I clamp spindle to angle plate indicate setup & line ream on the drill press with a correct sized reamer?

51 MERC-CT · 12-15-2021, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnthonyG

I bought spindles & kingpins for my ” ‘35 to hydraulic brake project” from speedway. 1st time for kingpins & new spindles. The ones I bought have to be reamed. Does this mean line reamed to axle holes or just check kingpin size & ream spindle holes for kingpins in spindles. A mechanic friend thinks we need to take the dropped axle out & ream both spindle KP hole & axle holes together. I don’t think so because Speedway offers a Prereamed Bolt in kit w reamed spindles fitted to KP’s in kit. Help!

If you did in fact buy the kit from 'SPEEDWAY' all information says that they are prefit to the pins so no reaming should be necessary.

meric42 · 12-15-2021, 04:43 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I have reamed many king pin bushes and I use a Snap-on line reamer that I bought on eBay, I find it easy to use and perfect for the job.

AnthonyG · 12-15-2021, 07:24 PM

Do u do on a drill press clamped to an angle plate? Or ( I’ll probably get slammed for this ) do u use a hand drill

Zeke3 · 12-15-2021, 07:51 PM

The king pin bushings don't take much to ream, you don't really need power tools to accomplish the task. I used an adjustable wrench and a reamer made for Ford king pin bushings and reamed them by hand.

meric42 · 12-15-2021, 08:18 PM

I second Zeke3 above

AnthonyG · 12-15-2021, 08:39 PM

Thx all, got a good idea of what works well!

Tim Ayers · 12-15-2021, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meric42

I second Zeke3 above

I have one of those .814" reamers as well. The Sunnen way makes them perfect and fits the bushing to the pin vs. universal sizing. Not saying it's wrong, just a different approach.

PeteVS · 12-16-2021, 05:40 AM

GBSisson and I had success honing our king pin bushings using a dowel wrapped with emery paper. But, I have absolutely zero success finding the threads here on the Barn.

woodiewagon46 · 12-16-2021, 09:58 AM

As others have suggested you need a self aligning reamer. You will never get the upper and lower bushing properly aligned by using a drill press and flipping the spindle over to do each side. The bushings must be aligned so the kingpin can be inserted without beating it in with a hammer. If you don't have the proper reamer then I would take it to a machine shop to have the bushings done properly.

ursus · 12-16-2021, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteVS

GBSisson and I had success honing our king pin bushings using a dowel wrapped with emery paper. But, I have absolutely zero success finding the threads here on the Barn.

I also followed GB Sisson's process for honing king pin bushings on my Model A and ended up with a perfect fit. Take your time and use gradually finer grits of emory paper to close in on the end result.

I did this after paying good money to a machine shop that honed the bushings so loose that the king pins felt loose and would easily fall out of the bushings by their own weight. This shop was somehow regarded as "the best in town".

GB SISSON · 12-16-2021, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ursus

I also followed GB Sisson's process for honing king pin bushings on my Model A and ended up with a perfect fit. Take your time and use gradually finer grits of emory paper to close in on the end result.

I did this after paying good money to a machine shop that honed the bushings so loose that the king pins felt loose and would easily fall out of the bushings by their own weight. This shop was somehow regarded as "the best in town".

My method is not foolproof, but let it be said, "It is a poor craftsman who blames his tools." My mentor taught me that. He is 5 years older than me at 73. I have honed perhaps 15 sets of kingpins (mine and others)with the slotted dowel and sandpaper routine. Maybe I made a bad impression on some by using my wife's wooden spoon handle when a 5/8" dowel wasn't readibly accessible. The main difference between my methods and other's like a brake hone.. ( so wrong) is the alignment. I took a video of one of my kingpins dipped in 30 w dropping verrrry slowly under it's own weight, but the video had other flaws so I never posted it. Just so happens I towed another ford tonner into my shop last night and with a hub/spindle/brake inspection the kingpins are shot. Stay tuned. Pics of the time I slotted my wife's wooden spoon....

40cpe · 12-16-2021, 10:40 PM

POST # 359
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...el#post1483006

GB SISSON · 12-16-2021, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40cpe

POST # 359
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...el#post1483006

Thanks so much for posting that! I knew it was out there somewhere.

AnthonyG · 12-21-2021, 03:54 PM

Another question, can I use a large machinists vice to press greased up bushings into spindles? Can’t see with the spindle config it’d be any better in an arbor press.

V8COOPMAN · 12-21-2021, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40cpe

POST # 359
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...el#post1483006

These pics need to be seen by the masses! Pretty slick technology! DD

40cpe · 12-21-2021, 08:38 PM

[QUOTE=V8COOPMAN;2087497]These pics need to be seen by the masses! Pretty slick technology! DD

Yes, GB has shown me many times over that he can tackle serious jobs with minimum tools and maximum ingenuity.

12-15-2021, 12:32 PM	#1
AnthonyG Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Pa. Posts: 2,167	Replace kingpin & spindle I bought spindles & kingpins for my ” ‘35 to hydraulic brake project” from speedway. 1st time for kingpins & new spindles. The ones I bought have to be reamed. Does this mean line reamed to axle holes or just check kingpin size & ream spindle holes for kingpins in spindles. A mechanic friend thinks we need to take the dropped axle out & ream both spindle KP hole & axle holes together. I don’t think so because Speedway offers a Prereamed Bolt in kit w reamed spindles fitted to KP’s in kit. Help! __________________ Nomad

12-15-2021, 12:38 PM	#3
alchemy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: middle of Iowa Posts: 647	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle Usually the axle should be sized correctly for the kingpin. Occasionally you will find an old dropped axle has been egged a little in the kingpin hole and will need to be touched up. The kingpin bushings need to be reamed by a piloted adjustable reamer. They can't be done with a brake hone. You need to assure both bushings are in line with each other. Also need to only ream to the kingpin size, not above too much. An easy fit of kingpin to hole is what I shoot for. If it's hard to press in, you won't have enough room for the grease. We had a streak last year where we did a few sets in a short while, and I found some new kingpins to be different size from each other. That's why I think it's best to size each bushing for a particular pin.

12-15-2021, 01:05 PM	#4
AnthonyG Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Pa. Posts: 2,167	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle I have a heavy duty Allen Tool Makers drill press with good table & spindle slide ways. Table has mounting holes like a milling machine. Could I clamp spindle to angle plate indicate setup & line ream on the drill press with a correct sized reamer? __________________ Nomad

12-15-2021, 04:43 PM	#6
meric42 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Blenheim, New Zealand Posts: 879	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have reamed many king pin bushes and I use a Snap-on line reamer that I bought on eBay, I find it easy to use and perfect for the job. __________________ I need an 01A 1453 Brkt Spare wheel hold down for my sedan delivery - PLEASE HELP Gotta love my '42 Sedan Delivery's - Now that I own the only two in New Zealand http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/album.php?albumid=580

12-15-2021, 07:24 PM	#7
AnthonyG Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Pa. Posts: 2,167	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle Do u do on a drill press clamped to an angle plate? Or ( I’ll probably get slammed for this ) do u use a hand drill __________________ Nomad

12-15-2021, 07:51 PM	#8
Zeke3 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Columbus, IN Posts: 1,406	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle The king pin bushings don't take much to ream, you don't really need power tools to accomplish the task. I used an adjustable wrench and a reamer made for Ford king pin bushings and reamed them by hand.

12-15-2021, 08:18 PM	#9
meric42 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Blenheim, New Zealand Posts: 879	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle I second Zeke3 above __________________ I need an 01A 1453 Brkt Spare wheel hold down for my sedan delivery - PLEASE HELP Gotta love my '42 Sedan Delivery's - Now that I own the only two in New Zealand http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/album.php?albumid=580

12-15-2021, 08:39 PM	#10
AnthonyG Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Pa. Posts: 2,167	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle Thx all, got a good idea of what works well! __________________ Nomad

12-16-2021, 05:40 AM	#12
PeteVS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: FP, NJ Posts: 2,770	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle GBSisson and I had success honing our king pin bushings using a dowel wrapped with emery paper. But, I have absolutely zero success finding the threads here on the Barn. __________________ Don't never get rid of nuthin!

12-16-2021, 09:58 AM	#13
woodiewagon46 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island,NY Posts: 1,555	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle As others have suggested you need a self aligning reamer. You will never get the upper and lower bushing properly aligned by using a drill press and flipping the spindle over to do each side. The bushings must be aligned so the kingpin can be inserted without beating it in with a hammer. If you don't have the proper reamer then I would take it to a machine shop to have the bushings done properly.

12-16-2021, 10:40 PM	#16
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle POST # 359 https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...el#post1483006

12-21-2021, 03:54 PM	#18
AnthonyG Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Pa. Posts: 2,167	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle Another question, can I use a large machinists vice to press greased up bushings into spindles? Can’t see with the spindle config it’d be any better in an arbor press. __________________ Nomad

12-21-2021, 08:38 PM	#20
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Re: Replace kingpin & spindle [QUOTE=V8COOPMAN;2087497]These pics need to be seen by the masses! Pretty slick technology! DD Yes, GB has shown me many times over that he can tackle serious jobs with minimum tools and maximum ingenuity.