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#1235626 09/20/2017 2:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
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J
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Bear with me, I understand what a king pin is and what it does, but having never replaced them myself....the following questions might be dumb.

I've read the shop manual and tech tips. Sounds like on the bigger AD trucks, you actually ream the bushings to fit the oversized king pins. Whereas the 1/2 ton AD are "precision fit" (floating?) bushings.

Looking on rock auto, you can buy standard size or oversized king pin sets for not a great deal of money. Although it's not on my immediate list, I can tell there is some noticeable play in mine....so this job is in my future.

So when you buy an oversized kin pin set for a 1/2 ton, what are you really buying? Bushings with standard OD and a larger ID to accommodate the larger pin? And then you ream the axle bore accordingly?





Last edited by JW51; 09/20/2017 2:10 PM.

1951 3100
JW51 #1235633 09/20/2017 2:36 PM
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This thread is like a tech tip on replacing the king pins and bushings in a 1/2 ton AD truck.
See if it answers all your questions?
King pin replacement thread


•1951 GMC 250 in the Project Journals
•1948 Chevrolet 6400 - Detroit Diesel 4-53T - Roadranger 10 speed overdrive - 4 wheel disc brakes
•1952 Chevrolet 3800 pickup
---All pictures---
"First, get a clear notion of what you desire to accomplish, and then in all probability you will succeed in doing it..." -Henry Maudslay-
JW51 #1235644 09/20/2017 3:07 PM
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'Bolter
'Bolter
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Thanks.

Were you reaming the axle in the truck, or remove the axle?


1951 3100
JW51 #1235744 09/21/2017 2:21 AM
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Renaissance Man
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You will not know if you need an over-sized king pin until you take everything apart. The only time you would need an over-sized king pin is if there is slop between the original king pin and the axle. That occurs very rarely. What does occur all too often is excessive wear between the outside diameter of the spindle bushing and the spindle. An over-sized king pin kit won't fix that.
Carl


1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
JW51 #1235808 09/21/2017 1:07 PM
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J
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Thanks. Understand better now. I was thinking maybe the oversized kit also had oversize OD bushings that allowed for correcting the spindle wear.


1951 3100
JW51 #1235813 09/21/2017 1:55 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
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I think someone posted a part number for a 47-55 3100 king pin set that had over-size outer-diameter bushings (with/without oversized king pins) that might save a "wallowed-out" spindle/knuckle and axle. The spindle/knuckle would have to be drilled/reamed to match the outer diameter of those bushings.

Maybe someone can find that post with the part number?

My observations have been that the bushings/pins get loose and eventually wallow out the spindles, while at the same time wallowing out the king-pin holes in the axle. Poor maintenance/inspections is the obvious cause of the often irreparable damage.

As stated above, over-sized king pins are readily available (sometimes in two over-sizes).

JW51 #1235844 09/21/2017 4:37 PM
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Originally Posted by JW51
Thanks.

Were you reaming the axle in the truck, or remove the axle?
Out because that's how I received it, without truck, but it doesn't matter.


•1951 GMC 250 in the Project Journals
•1948 Chevrolet 6400 - Detroit Diesel 4-53T - Roadranger 10 speed overdrive - 4 wheel disc brakes
•1952 Chevrolet 3800 pickup
---All pictures---
"First, get a clear notion of what you desire to accomplish, and then in all probability you will succeed in doing it..." -Henry Maudslay-
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,684
J
'Bolter
'Bolter
J Online: Content
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,684

Originally Posted by tclederman
I think someone posted a part number for a 47-55 3100 king pin set that had over-size outer-diameter bushings (with/without oversized king pins) that might save a "wallowed-out" spindle/knuckle and axle. The spindle/knuckle would have to be drilled/reamed to match the outer diameter of those bushings.

Maybe someone can find that post with the part number?

My observations have been that the bushings/pins get loose and eventually wallow out the spindles, while at the same time wallowing out the king-pin holes in the axle. Poor maintenance/inspections is the obvious cause of the often irreparable damage.

As stated above, over-sized king pins are readily available (sometimes in two over-sizes).

Was this the thread you were thinking of?


https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/977880/2.html

Last edited by JW51; 09/21/2017 7:24 PM.

1951 3100
JW51 #1235910 09/22/2017 12:33 AM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269
Thanks, JW51


Moderated by  Dusty53, SWEET 

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