Got a minute in the shop today and made a few pictures. 1st shows the missing thrust bearing (that I now realize is missing the ball bearings) with the wheel off the floor. 2nd image shows the top of the kingpin with the truck's weight on the tire. The spindle has shifted and the new found clearance is now at the top of the kingpin. Third image shows the still good left kingpin with the complete trust bearing with all ball bearings in place along with the seal or dust cover intact.
If most of my driving was on paved roads like most folks, I'd do as klhansen suggested and just grease regularly and drive on. However I drive on a Lot of gravel roads, they're either dusty or muddy. Heck, it's a 1/4 mile of private gravel road from the house to the main paved road. That being the case I feel the need to replace kingpins, bushings and thrust bearings sooner rather than later.
Would it hurt to put it off a few hundred miles,,,,,,don't know.
