The Ford Barn

grumppyoldman · 05-20-2017, 01:47 PM

Installed the kingpins with needle bearings yesterday. Well designed upgrade. They fit without a hitch, didn't need the thrust bearing shims. All the parts were included,except for the long nut that acts as a steering stop, it has to be ordered extra. I just used the ones that were on the car, no problem. Sure tightened the spindles up, can't wait to drive it. Waiting on brake shoes for front and rear. Gonna drive it after front is finished. Like a kid in a candy store. Al

V8COOPMAN · 05-20-2017, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumppyoldman

Installed the kingpins with needle bearings yesterday. Well designed upgrade. They fit without a hitch, didn't need the thrust bearing shims. All the parts were included,except for the long nut that acts as a steering stop, it has to be ordered extra. I just used the ones that were on the car, no problem. Sure tightened the spindles up, can't wait to drive it. Waiting on brake shoes for front and rear. Gonna drive it after front is finished. Like a kid in a candy store. Al

Quite a few folks have reported experiencing wild "death wobble" after installing those bearings. I put a set on my '40, but removed them after a short time. Good, tight, properly-reamed bushings have worked perfectly-well for just shy of a century now on these old Ford front ends. I hope yours work well for you! DD

woodiewagon46 · 05-20-2017, 03:02 PM

grumpy, sorry to rain on your parade but as V-8 states, the track record isn't good for the needle bearings. Hope they work out for you. I believe this was talked about on an earlier post.

grumppyoldman · 05-20-2017, 03:52 PM

Sorry to hear a negative report on these . I was looking forward to driving without the front wheel shimmy. That I had, it wasn't the fault with the others they were just worn out after 76 years, but i'm older than that and not worn out YET. Al

4dFord/SC · 05-20-2017, 05:04 PM

Don't know about Speedway, but I've been running a set from SSBC for 11+ years with no problems.

JM 35 Sedan · 05-20-2017, 05:33 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Here's an old post I made on this subject trying to get info for a friend who was thinking about using these...

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ring+King+pins

51 MERC-CT · 05-20-2017, 06:09 PM

Although it's a different suspension, I have had them installed on my '51 Merc for 14 years with no issues.

grumppyoldman · 05-20-2017, 10:20 PM

Well I guess I'll just wait and see what happens, they're in now too little information too late. But I agree with the theory a pin not rotating on a needle bearing would probably wear sooner. Al

05-20-2017, 01:47 PM	#1
grumppyoldman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 727	Kingpins and needle bearings from Speedway Installed the kingpins with needle bearings yesterday. Well designed upgrade. They fit without a hitch, didn't need the thrust bearing shims. All the parts were included,except for the long nut that acts as a steering stop, it has to be ordered extra. I just used the ones that were on the car, no problem. Sure tightened the spindles up, can't wait to drive it. Waiting on brake shoes for front and rear. Gonna drive it after front is finished. Like a kid in a candy store. Al

05-20-2017, 03:02 PM	#3
woodiewagon46 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island,NY Posts: 1,555	Re: Kingpins and needle bearings from Speedway grumpy, sorry to rain on your parade but as V-8 states, the track record isn't good for the needle bearings. Hope they work out for you. I believe this was talked about on an earlier post.

05-20-2017, 03:52 PM	#4
grumppyoldman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 727	Re: Kingpins and needle bearings from Speedway Sorry to hear a negative report on these . I was looking forward to driving without the front wheel shimmy. That I had, it wasn't the fault with the others they were just worn out after 76 years, but i'm older than that and not worn out YET. Al

05-20-2017, 05:04 PM	#5
4dFord/SC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,579	Re: Kingpins and needle bearings from Speedway Don't know about Speedway, but I've been running a set from SSBC for 11+ years with no problems.

05-20-2017, 05:33 PM	#6
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: Kingpins and needle bearings from Speedway Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Here's an old post I made on this subject trying to get info for a friend who was thinking about using these... https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ring+King+pins __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

05-20-2017, 06:09 PM	#7
51 MERC-CT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Hartford, Ct Posts: 5,898	Re: Kingpins and needle bearings from Speedway Although it's a different suspension, I have had them installed on my '51 Merc for 14 years with no issues. __________________ DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES

05-20-2017, 10:20 PM	#8
grumppyoldman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 727	Re: Kingpins and needle bearings from Speedway Well I guess I'll just wait and see what happens, they're in now too little information too late. But I agree with the theory a pin not rotating on a needle bearing would probably wear sooner. Al