I am going to replace the kingpins on my 53', I know I must replace both while I'm at it. The right side is dangerously loose, and the brakes pull left, into oncoming traffic if you are not careful! I did my 47' while it was down to the chassis, easy to send to a shop to be pressed in and out. But, is there any way to replace them without removing the entire axle. Should I be replacing anything else while I'm in there? I, as usual appreciate any advice I get from the group. Time and money saved is always good in this economy. Flashlight
Using oversized King Pins is a good alternative. Hi Flashlight Jack the truck high up, then heat up one location after another with a gasflame and spray CRC oil spray on top. I tried it the hard way first with hammers and an airpressure sissel , but that was`nt really working it sat so hard together and it would `nt move a bit. I thought that the parts easely could be damaged ! Then i aproched the job in another way "the long time during road". I removed all the movable parts in front. Pressed out the old King pins with an manual bench pressjack and replaced the old ones with oversized King Pins. When i checked out the rest i dicieded to Change out the Tie rod drag link, Pitman Ball stud.Tie rod ends+boots, leaf spring shakles and the shock absorber. Every became nice and tight. Then i went to a my mecanic and he checked the "toe in and out" and casting, then adjusted everything properly so the truck went straight on the road and did not pull to the side when i used the brakes or drove with my hands free (some secs) from the steering wheel. N.B. Our host CPA have all the parts (catalog site 68, 69,70) P.s. I would check out the brakes mechanical function and the quality of the old brakefluid to! I dont know if your brakes are mecanic drumbrakes or disc brakes A lot of money poorer but a truck that is safe to drive. Good luck Martinius.
Two things that help are to get it high enough to allow a full swing with a big hammer and the second is to removes the hub/drum and backing plate so you can get a straight shot at the bottom of the pin. You know, I'm sure, that the tapered lock pins have to be removed. These pins mushroom fairly easy if hit directly with a hammer so use two hammers or an air punch with the nut still on a couple of threads. We use an electric jackhammer, even on axles that are out, to remove them. Some that didn't move with the press gauge showing 25-35 thousand pounds would move when a receiver pipe was placed on our big steel block and the the jackhammer used. I think the vibration along with the force does the good. You can rent a long stroke air chisel or an electric jackhammer from tool rental places which is better and easier on the fingers than having to hold a drift in one hand and swing a hammer with the other. Just be sure to get a punch that will fit through the pin hole. Finally, sometimes soaking with a little Kroil for a few days and they will tap out with a 1# hammer. (but never for me).
King pin test? Okay~ So the front end of my truck came off a working '54 Chevy truck. I have it on the springs, but have yet to paint and apply the steering linkage. It's just the axle, drums, and wheels. Is there a way to check and see if the king pins need to be replaced? TIA!
King Pin Slop Test Of course ! Jack up and safely block the truck so you can easily slide underneath it then grab the tires at thier top ansd bottoms , rock them whilst looking closely at the kingpin where they pivot ~ if you see any play , they're bad ~ simple , eh ? . Of course , you know to carefully scrape off all that 1/2" of accumulated grease & road grime first... If you're rich , adding Torringtion thrust bearings whilst it's apart is a *very* good idea . If it doesn't rattle & wander down the road , try greasing well and installing two matching front tires then set the toe - in to 1/16" and see if it's o.K. ~ my '49 trundles along quite happily this way.....
Yeah , Me Too ~ Every time I have the front end jacked up for greasing , I grab the bottom of the tire and wiggle it and wonder " who the hell ' rebuilt ' this front end ? " because it's a wobbly old thing to be sure . Good thing I didn't pay the asking price for my poor old shop truck .
