The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline How much play should a kingpin have? How to check?

Just wondering how to check play and when to replace the bushings on kingpins. I have a slight play in the front one on the left side (everything is off but the spindle)
I'm cleaning all the grease and grime off the kingpins/axle as I'm doing the brakes. Just curious. Thanks

You should have no play in them.

Really? Seems like most suspension things like ball joints, etc.. have a small amount of play.

You should be able to turn the spindle with your hand, but should have no wiggle at all from side to side.

Jeff

I have a small amount of play. Maybe a millimeter or so.
How hard is it to fix? I have an ancient set of kingpin reamers from an estate sale. Cornwell brand I believe.

Its true there shoould no play in them. It depends on how picky you want to be & what you are going to do with the truck weather you should replace it or not. Basicly they are pretty easy to replace but you can run into problems. Sometimes the kingpin is stuck in the axle & can be a nightmare to get out. Then its possible the axle is scored & the new kingpin fits loose in it. Then you have to ream it out & use an oversize kingpin set. I dont mind working on any part of these old trucks but the kingpins scare me. You probably have floating bushings in yours so the bushings will not have to be reamed. Hang on to those reamers. You cant buy them anymore. Some of the older cars had load carying ball joints with a certain allowance for play, But other then that no steering component should have any looseness. Like tie rod ends or drag link ends.

What do you guys think about using an adjustable reamer when doing kingpins? Thanks Don

If you have a half ton, your bushings will not need to be reamed. A 1 Ton has pressed in bushings that have to be reamed. If you have everything off the front except the spindles, I would definitely replace the kingpins. If you get stuck, just take the axle off and take it to a shop.

So I don't have to ream the axle for the new kingpin bushing? It's a 3200 1/2 ton.

Here's the set I was talking about,

[IMG]http://i51.tinypic.com/xo1pb7.jpg[/IMG]



Truth is I don't know if it's in fact a kingpin reamer kit since it's so old I can't find info online for it. I'm assuming though.

You do not need to ream the 1/2 ton truck's king pin bushings (an upper bushing and a lower bushing) that reside in each of the steering knuckles.

The king pin also passes through the axle. If there is very little (or no) movement of the king pin in the hole in the axle, you will not have to ream the axle to fit a an over-sized king pin.

Okay let me get this straight. The bushings upper/lower are in the knuckle which has the spindle on it correct? I can just knock these out and install new ones and I should be good to go as long as the king pin isn't sloppy?

I have a drop axle in the backyard maybe I could practice on that one first.

I used these instructions from the tech tip section of this fourm.

I purchased the replacement kingpins from my local auto parts store for my 3100. The kits come with pins, bushings, and shims if needed.

You will have to search for correct part number for your year truck.