The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Kingpin slop

I just disassembled my '51 3100 kingpins - came apart easily, and the bushings seem reasonably tight on the pins, but the whole unit had slack in it before I took it apart - I could rock it in and out and see the spindle move in relation to the axle. I tried to mike the pins..if I did it right, they measure 0.861" and 0.8608". The axle bore seemed to be about 0.875" both sides, but it was hard to get a good measurement here. If I just replace pins and bushings, won't the slack still be there in the axle? Or should I be buying larger pins? If I use larger pins, do I have to have the axle machined? I'd really appreciate any help here, I hate to waste time and money trying to learn what you guys already know....THANKS for any help!

I just had the same experience with my 48 Chevy 1/2 ton. The passenger side axel king pin hole was worn out of round. Good machine shop can ream and sleeve back to standard size BUT VERY EXPENSIVE.I started looking for replacement. I took the king pin with me to check the replacement axel. I was suprised how available these axles are when you really start looking. I was told the axels thru 59 will fit. A good spin off from this for me was I bought a complete axel from some guy who had clipped his 57 Chevy and wanted to get rid of the old front. For $25 I had a goo d axle and the newer Bendix brakes. There is an abundance of axles out there when you start looking.

I believe you can get .010 oversize pins for these axles, but that not provide enough for your axle?.Some machine shops will accurately bore the axle eyes oversixe for you .Any auto machine shop can line ream the bushings already assembled in the axle for about 25 bucks.Be aware that most spindle bushing eyes are egged shaped from wear, it pays to use press in bushings, and ream them, rather than the stock floating junk.Also, in many states its illegal to bush the ends of a beam axle on a commercial truck. I have personally seen a bushed axle fail on medium sized truck. Now on your lightly loaded 1/2 ton, the bushed axle may not ever be a problem.Check with Obsolete Chevy parts here on the Stovebolt links,at one time they has NOS front axles for about $250, plus the freight of course.