King pin question

[LopezCarguy]

I have just installed new king pin bushings and reamed them 2 thousands over, installed new bearing etc...now the spindle seems way too difficult to turn..this by hand as front axle is on bench during rebuilding...I wanted the steering tight, but this seems too tight...do you think it will loosen up when installed and weight of car is on the bearings?? Dick

[jimvette59]

Two thousands over is two much. The pins should go in snug and not be sloppy. How is the finish of the bushing ? JMHO.

[Fordors]

Bushings reamed in line, or one at a time? .002 clearance sounds like a lot for the spindle being tight. When you say you installed new bearings are you referring to the thrust bearings under the top of the king pin? If that is the case remove the lock pin and tap the k/p up a little and see if the spindle rotates easier. If so, remove k/p and thrust bearing and compare thickness of bearing to an old one.

[c follner]

You should always hone them in line

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Lopez,

Sounds like you may have reamed one bushing at a time & the two bushings are not aligned with one another.

Model A vendors sell "long" king pin bushing reamers to keep bushings aligned -- have one, works perfectly -- no need to oversize.

After I ream bushings, I burnish insides of same with four (0000) steel wool wrapped a round a wood dowel -- leaves a polished mirror finish -- professional gunsmiths use same polishing insides of shotgun barrels on high grade guns.

Spindles then rotate easily on king pins with no side play.

[super flat]

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You probably now need new bushings. Put them in and find a place that can hone them for the proper fit. Sorry

[LopezCarguy]

I reamed both bushing inline with the proper king pin reamer...it only gets tight when I install the drive in pin...I did install one shim under bearing thinking it will insure bearing is in contact with rotating part...which it does, but gets tight when pin is installed...also there was no play when installing king pins, or at least that I could feel..thnaks for help guys..........Dick

[oj]

The axle kingpin bore might need tightening, the tapered pin can push the kingpin to one side and tighten the mess up because it is a thou out of alignment with the spindle bosses'. I've had that happen to me. How well did the kingpin fit in the axle?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Remove the shim under the bearing and try it again.

.002" seems a bit on the loose side, but I'd go with it. If you ever wear it to the point of needing to be replaced again, you could make it .001" clearance. Mine are very worn on the temporary front axle I'm using while I restore my original, but the car steers fine and doesn't have the death wobble that several guys have had.

[LopezCarguy]

I can't remember but it seemed the king pin miked at .810 or .811 and the king pin reamer was .812 ..the king pins fit nicely..no slop I could see or feel...I will take shim out and see what it's like...the pin pushing king pin to one side makes sense..hmmm...I would guess that to be the issue whether loose or tight...???

[Tom Wesenberg]

The locking pin should have NO effect on the bushing fit, since it simply locks the position of the kingpin in the axle. It's the bearing/shim thickness that matters and the two bushings being done at the same time in line, which is what you did.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Per your comment in reply #10, adding a shim when not needed can cause rotational binding of the spindle.

[super flat]

Originally Posted by h. L. Chauvin

per your comment in reply #10, adding a shim when not needed can cause rotational binding of the spindle.

agreed