The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Front Axle Troubles

I have to say I didn't expect this. While removing the front axle and leaf spring assembley, I noticed the passenger side was sagging. I jacked the front up and the right side hit the floor. The main leaf in the leaf spring had broke!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/trevorware/broken.jpg

The red arrow indicated the break. The curved shape you see should be there, the break is at the center of the curve. It's the fully looped leaf that the bushing and bolt go through. Anyways, does anyone know what years this leaf was used up to? I need to hit the junk yard...
EDIT: is welding an option here, or is there just too much stress in the leaf area for it to work?

Also, I posted this today but I guess it was lost in the server fail. Someone suggested I change my kingpins during the rebuild. But in examining the spindle I found no play or obvious wear in the king pins. Should I replace them as a cautionary measure anyways, or is this unnecessary? Thanks guys

trevor

Trevor,

I may be able to save you some junkyard time. I just removed the main leafs from my '50 3100 and replaced them with new. You're welcome to both of my old ones, to pick the best. You pay shipping and I'll send them out. But I would suggest replacing it with new. They only cost $59 each, and you won't have to worry about them for another 50 years.

I was in the same situation, front axle removed, might as well replace the kingpins while I'm here. It turned into the biggest headache. I couldn't get the retaining pin out, but screwed it up enough so it definitely needed to come out. So, off to the shop.... By the time he finished with it, I needed a whole new axle because there was too much slop in the old axle. That was a costly "fix" that didn't need to be done.

So, again, if you go through with it, I have a new kingpin set sitting on my workbench. That won't be free but we can work out a reasonable price. Send me a PM and we'll talk.