king pins

[Faltura]

I have a 69 F-250. The axle stablizer bushings are shot. However, the king pins seem to be tight with no wiggle to them. With the pins being tight, would there be any advantage to replacing the king pins? I would tend to want to get it all done but some of the geezers around here say "if it aint broke, don't fix it." That is if it is not reemed properly it may be worse that before. This area is not over run with good machinist type folks.

Can you all give me your opinions on this.

[fordman]

usually on these trucks the king pins get stuck in the axle. because they don't get any grease into the axle. so they tend to be hard to get out sometimes. the advantage of doing them now might make it easier to get them out now than waiting. but you don't realy know if they are stuck in the axle until you go to pull them out. so its a big guess when you do the king pins. i guess the choice is up to you.

[robroy]

Hi Faltura,

I'm by no means an experienced mechanic, but I was faced with the same decision recently. For me it was easy to decide what to do since I wanted to clean and paint the spindles and I beams.

Besides this, I did notice that although my kingpins didn't seem loose (when I tested them by hand, and I'm not sure that hand testing is even valid for these heavy duty parts), they were extremely stiff towards the end of their travel in both directions. After they were totally rebuilt, they were nice and tight *and* rotated smoothly through their entire travel.

-Robroy

[robroy]

Hello Faltura,

Here are two threads I started when I was replacing my king pins; they may be useful and/or amusing to you, since you're thinking of doing this:

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=36754
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =5&t=35039

-Robroy

[Faltura]

Thanks guys.

The bushing or what ever it is that is located between the top of the axle and the bottom of the spindle ( about 1/4 in thick). Is that a bearing? bushing ? something that can seize up

[fordman]

that is a spacer. i guess it could freeze up with rust. one way to check would be to mark the spacer and turn the wheel if the mark turned then the pin is moving and not the spindle. or at least the spacer is moving.

[robroy]

Hi Faltura,

Do you mean the silver thing in this photo?



That was/is a bearing on my truck. When I removed the old bearings they were absolutely toasted!

Or am I not understanding what you're referencing?

-Robroy

[Faltura]

Robroy,

That is exactly what I mean. Seems to me that the weight would have to ride on some type of bearing. Something would have to hold the weight while twisting.

Being that it is a bearing, It may be worth my time and effort to remove the pins and replace them. I never hear about anyone having a bearing problem. It is always loose bushings/pins.

So, I guess the bearing is another issue to consider when redoing the axles.

It always helps to talk to ya guys that have done this type stuff before I jump in.

I'm going to do some good checking out here in a few weeks to see what I have.

thanks

[robroy]

That is exactly what I mean. Seems to me that the weight would have to ride on some type of bearing. Something would have to hold the weight while twisting.

Being that it is a bearing, It may be worth my time and effort to remove the pins and replace them. I never hear about anyone having a bearing problem. It is always loose bushings/pins.

Hey Faltura! It's a bearing on my truck, but I'm not certain if it is on all Bumpside trucks. I see that Fordman says it's a spacer, and he's very experienced with these trucks. It's possible that it's some kind of spacer on F100s and light F250s, and a bearing on heavy F250s and F350s. What is the GVW rating of your F250?

So, I guess the bearing is another issue to consider when redoing the axles.

Seems so!

It always helps to talk to ya guys that have done this type stuff before I jump in.

Yes very true! I know that if it weren't for this wonderful site, my truck build would have been completely different from how it is today. I wouldn't have had any way to be exposed to all the great upgrade part options like the RobbMc starter, Mustang Steve clutch/brake pedal bearings, and modern Ford alternator.

-Robroy

[fireguywtc]

I just put one on my 67, it is indeed a bearing. I believe they are the same on the F100's. It has an inner race that spins and I believe it uses brass on the inner parts of the bearing, no needles or steel ball bearings. Not sure though I have never seen one apart and I suppose there could be different types.

[robroy]

Hi Bill! Yes the bearing was definitely a different type than wheel bearings, for instance.

One thing to note about these special bearings: it's normal for them to feel a little gritty, no matter how much you clean them out. They don't feel completely smooth like a wheel bearing. One of the threads I posted a URL to near the beginning of this thread goes in to detail about that.

Bill, thanks for confirming that these are the same on F100s!

-Robroy

[fordman]

you guys could be right i havent really looked at one of those up close. i thought it was just a spacers. my bad. isnt that the new saying.