kingpins

[boots]

I searched the forum but did not find the answer I was looking for. I got my front end kit from PTS, and before I do anything I am going to install my kingpins. To get it over and done with. I have a big hammer, and a big torch, but dont know if heating it would be the best thing, i've heard of people doing it though. I really dont know how the kingpin goes together, but If I do this at my house I will go ahead and find out, before I do that I need to know if this can even be done entirely at my house, with no machine shop visits. I read that you have to press in bushings when reinstalling everything, does this need to be done at a shop?

[flyboy2610]

I really recommend taking the I-beam and spindle to a shop and let them do the job. You'll have to take them in anyway to have the bushing reamed out for the king pins.

[boots]

ahh ok, thats what I was looking for, so its impossible to do the entire job without taking the i-beams to the shop? I was on the net and read that people have replaced both kingpins in the driveway...how did they bypass getting the bushings reamed out in a shop?

[fordman]

maybe they didn't put in the new bushings. and just put new pins in without the bushings if that is possible.

[FORDification]

The people who do the kingpin rebuild in their driveway use the plastic bushings instead of the bronze. Those don't require reaming...but don't last very long on a truck that's driven regularly. I'd highly suggest replacing with the bronze bushings....with regular lubrication, they'll outlast the truck.

[boots]

The people who do the kingpin rebuild in their driveway use the plastic bushings instead of the bronze. Those don't require reaming...but don't last very long on a truck that's driven regularly. I'd highly suggest replacing with the bronze bushings....with regular lubrication, they'll outlast the truck.

the bushings from pts are plastic correct?

[Jake11]

If the spindles come of ok, and they do 1/2 the time. you don't have to
pull the whole axle off. The bushings are in the spindle. The plastic ones
are not as good, but I got them in my F250 for a couple years now.
They can be changed in your driveway, no machine work in 20mins a
side. Keep them greased and they will last a while. The grey Moly grease
is the best stuff that I've found.

[boots]

ok I got both kingpins and everything out, just used a little heat and a big hammer. I am going to use the bushings from PTS, they are nylon right? So when I put the new kingpins and hardware back in is there anything special I should do? Also, the bushings don't seem to fit over the kingpin by hand, I have to use a hammer to get them on correct? So should I put the bushings on the kingpin and then slide the kingpin in?

[FORDification]

The bushings should be installed in the spindle first, then you grease the heck out of both and slide the kingpin in. I definitely wouldn't suggest using a hammer on those soft bushings.

[QC]

Are you sure you have plastic bushings? All the plastic ones I've see were split on a spiral and should slip over the king pins easily.

[boots]

hmm, here are pics of them..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/ ... 010031.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/ ... 010033.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/ ... 010032.jpg

QC, are you talking about the inner part of the bushings?

[spartman]

Those be the bronze ones.

[boots]

looks like im going to the shop.

[FORDification]

Yep, those are the bronze. You'll be MUCH happier with them. Incidentally, the reason they don't fit right now is because they have to be reamed to fit the kingpin. I think about a year or so ago when I got mine done I just dropped the I-beams and spindles off and picked them up the next day, only cost $50-$60, but well worth it.

[flyboy2610]

Keep 'em greased and they'll probably outlast the truck.
This is going to be the next job on my do list, as well.