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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 148 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 148 | Hey guys, still monkeying around with the front end of ole red 49 1/2. Got lucky and still had a little adjustment around the ball joints, but noticed that when i put pressure on the top and bottom of the break drum, had too much play. I could actually see the movement easy, so as usual I have never delt with this before and was wondering if this is a job for my barn or is there a lot of pressing off and on to be done. I do appreciate you all helping me stumbling these projects. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 393 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 393 |
It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 305 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 305 | I did my own King pins.
I was lucky the previous owners greased regularly because they slipped out with a slight tapping with a socket. I have heard horror stories of having to press them out at a machine shop. To do that you have to take the axel off, so why not give it a try and worst case pull the axel.
John | | | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 148 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 148 | Awsome tech tip, got it copied and plan on jumping on it tomorrow. Thanks again guys of the help. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | ...I have heard horror stories of having to press them out at a machine shop. To do that you have to take the axel off, so why not give it a try and worst case pull the axel.
John One step before pulling the axle borrow/rent/make/buy one of these http://www.amazon.com/OTC-4240-Hydraulic-Kingpin-Anchor/dp/B0002SRIL4Grigg | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 235 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2005 Posts: 235 | Remove the dust caps first...
Just because you don't see any snap rings, I didn't, doesn't mean they are not there.
Mine were the the "punch in the middle so they expand" type.
I had never seen them before, and thought someone had somehow pounded the daylights out of the kingpins
8-)
Drill a hole through the cap stick a punch through the center and pry it out.
I still had to pull my axle and use our hydraulic press to get them out.
The life of my 3800 was full of abuse ata logging company though..
Pulling the axle isn't so bad.. And you get to lube and paint and straighten and do the brakes and maybe I'll do....
Jeremy
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | Did I miss something or did our poster say "as usual I have never delt with this before", first thing that comes to my mind is, "did you check the wheel bearing adjustment first?" seems like all the replies jumped right in and condemed the king pins right off.
Denny G
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 394 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 394 | Now that you Bolters are on the subject, I need a number and company where I can pick up a pair of king pins, for my stock 1955' 1/2 ton chevy truck axle. Thank you.. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | | | | | | Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 452 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 452 | Did mine a few years ago...
Walked into NAPA here in Calgary and told them I needed new king pins for my 49 3/4t. The guy at the desk checked the computer and a couple books, walked to the back and came back with a dusty box with all the parts I needed.
Surprised me that they had them on hand, but made me a happy camper.
Current fleet (subject to change w/o notice) \'49 GMC 3/4-Ton , 60 Austin Healey Frog-eye Sprite (some assembly required), 2011 Dodge Avenger, 2015 Jeep Cherokee. No, they don't all run. My other ride is a (B737)no, (B767)no, A320.... Update... was Embraer E190, now Boeing B787. Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but ignorance means you don't know you can't do something.
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