The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline King pin reaming?

Does every new king pin set require that you ream out the new bushings to install the king pin? If so could someone please help me with what size and style of reamer is required to get this front end back together. Thank you

What model truck?

48-54 (and others) 1/2 ton do not need reaming.

Most others and larger trucks are reamed after installing.

Many automotive machine shops can do this for a reasonable charge.

If you have a 1/2 ton it is not unusual for the spindles to take a beating and have slightly enlarged holes. If the bushings drop thru the spindle opening the spindles should be reamed for oversized bushings. The reamer should be long enough to go thru both ends of the spindle at the same time so that the pathway remains perfectly straight.

I am under the impression that oversize kingpin bushings were only made for oversize kingpins. These kingpins were made to deal with the problem of a damaged axle bore. Thus the oversize bushings are only oversize in the ID.

Well I have oversize bushings in my 1/2 ton spindles with a standard axle bore. Since the king pin doesn't (or at least shouldn't) move in the axle bore it would take a really worn setup to damage the axle. I suppose if the tapered pin holding the king pin tight in the axle were missing that might occur.

The problem I ran into with 1/2 ton spindles that had worn spindle bores, is finding the overside bushings that Hookalatch is talking about. Apparently years ago these oversize bushings were more readily available. I just faced this dilemma and could not locate any. Fortunately they were not that bad and thru this forum it was suggested that I use Loctite 660 on the OD of the bushings (ID of the spindles) to lock them in place to prevent further damage to the spindles. I did some further research on the use of Loctite 660 and it is commonly used in the industry on worn king pin bushings.

The the wear on mine was between .002” to .006”. It appears to have worked but only time will tell.

Truckernix is right. The only oversize king pin kits I could find were for in case the axle bore was worn from the king pin. In that case you would ream the axle for the oversized king pin.

I sent my spindles to Sid's Axles https://droppedaxles.com/chevy-dropped-axles-0 to ream the spindles and fit oversize OD bushings.
He has a lot of good info on his site. He lists Moog 8294B as a kit for standard axle and spindle size and Moog 8451B for standard axle and oversize OD bushings.

Thanks for that very good info, Chuck (Hookalatch).

"CHEVROLET SPINDLES

41-59 chevy spindles.
1941-59 Chevy spindles.
I will fix your spindles that have wore out bushing holes. Install new over size ID bushings for standard .866 size kingpins and include new kingpin set for $120 a set."

If what he does is good and it is guaranteed, $120 a set is a good price.

Thanks for that info Chuck, I may need to send mine in the future.

I looked up the part number for the Moog oversized bushing king pin kit 8451B, (.015” larger on the OD of the bushings), and it referenced being from a 42-46 chevy 1/2 ton. Are the 42-46 1/2 ton spindles the same as the 52’ 1/2 ton?

Does anybody know the difference between the 42’- 46’ chevy 1/2 ton steering knuckle and the 52’ 1/2 ton.

If the kingpin diameter and length are the same (I don’t know) then most likely interchangeable.
I have mix and matched other models and years with good success if dimensions are the same.