The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Replacing king pins not so easy...

I knew there was a reason I don't like doing suspension. Did my homework first especially the tech tip here on king pin replacement. Very helpful. I just wanted to say that when it comes to the topic of BFH, you really mean BFH! I beat on that axle for so long, I thought I was gonna die! I'm sure I was close to being killed by one or more of my neighbors. I moved to a bigger hammer, and after a very long time, the pin moved about a quarter of an inch. So, I finnaly went out to the tool shed and got the really, really, BFH and guess what. That thing finally moved! Whew! My hands are cramping shut! Please allow me to illustrate:

http://picasaweb.google.com/orchidskip/DonTForceIt?authkey=0YGzJdcyZPQ

And it wasn't that easy. On the driver's side, the steering arm bolts were frozen into the spindle and steering arm so solidly that I absolutely had to use heat and an air hammer to drive them out. After applying significant heat to a spot near the bolt hole in steering arm and spindle, and staying on each bolt for a very long time with the air hammer, the bolts finally gave in. They were distroyed in the process. Replaced them with grade 8 and red locktite since I couldn't put cotter pins in them unless I drilled them. In any event, the castle nuts were distroyed too since I had left them on when trying to drive out the bolts and I couldn't find replacements so I just used plain grade 8. I wasn't easy but I got it done. If you ever want to change out king pins, go slam your hand in a drawer first. It'll be less painful. :hammering:

There was a member that posted here a while back telling about breaking the head, not the wood on the sledge while removing a kingpin! Myself, I left imprints in the concrete where the jacks had been.

Yes, start with the BFH and hope all goes well. Don't waste your time with something smaller. I was lucky. Only about 30 minutes of pounding to get out one side. Other side just tapped out.

I used the old "Red Wrench" and a home built shop press. They moved slowly a first but came out clean once they got moving. Going back together I left the new pins in the freezer over night and heated the axle, they slid in like they were buttered.

rent a ball joint press from the local parts store, its much easier than beating them out. after beating one side out, i had to rent the tool because i wore my arm out.

Mine took 20 tons of pressure on a 40 ton press!

Obviously you subscribe to the theory "Don't force it, get a bigger hammer".

That would be the theme here Chevman. I like Rattletrap's answer. No wonder you gotta beat the snot outa those things! Ya gotta laugh at how hard we work on these things...
For my next act, drag link and tie rod ends. Stay tuned.

Yes, king pin removal has it's way of bringing groups together. Common bonds through hardships make a tight band of brothers. In other words, It's worth it but wouldn't wish it on my enemy.