Anybody done kingpin replacement on a 75-91 E-150? How hard is it to do yourself? My 89 needs new ones. I got them from Moog, but need to know if I should try to do them myself or take them in to a shop to have it done. The first shop I took the van to won't touch them.
Can I do kingpins myself? I have a 12 ton arbor press...
I have no idea on this one. . . . but this will bump it up for ya.
Two more shops, two more declinations.
Depends on their condition, my 75 F-100 required a flame wrench, was almost to the point the I-beam needed to be replaced as it was siezed, pin, brass and beam, but the guy at the garage managed, cost over a grand to completely rebuild the front end.
Yikes. THe first shop said the rest of the front end components were fine, but the kingpins were worn. I have a complete kingpin replacement set from Moog that includes new bushings, pins, washers, Zerk fittings, the works. The way it is looking I might end up haveing to pull the I-beams and doing it myself. I actually wouldn't mind doing this too much since it would give me a chance to replace the original pivot bushings on the I-beams.
Looks like that might be ewer only option.....
Yeah, I am just getting to the age when I no longer relish rolling around on the cold cement on my back.
okay, I talked to a buddy of mine, he is a diesel mech and he say take it to a BIG RIG repair shop as almost all big rigs run King Pin set ups, so they know how to do it right. He says a RV shop might be a good idea too. . . .
Good luck and keep us posted.
Thanks. There are a few semi shops in my town since Tacoma is a big port city. There are also lots of RV shops. I will call around and see if I can't someone who does it.
Mine refused to take grease, turns required you to recenter the wheel, didn't return on it's own, they were severely thrashed, I'm glad my 99 has ball joints tho.
Yeah, I like ball joints better. My 83 Dodge van has a smoother ride and is easier to steer than the 89 Ford. The Dodge uses ball joints but the Ford kingpins. Ugh. I just know I am going to end up doing this myself.
From what I've seen out in the shop they are a pain inthe butt to replace
Yep, that is what I am afraid of. I think I will try replacing them myself and if I can't do it with my 12 ton arbor press I will take it to a shop.
Yea it's worth a try,Good Luck
Would be cool if you could swap in a late model beam that uses ball joints.
Hmmmmmm. Why do you tempt me with such ideas? Hmmmmmmmm......
There are drop I beams for late models, not the tubular junk, but actual beams, they have ball joints, I'd love them on my 99, but I don't have $600 to purchase them, require bagging my rear as extended can't be dropped without risk of dragging.
I don't want to lower the van. One of the things I like about vans is how high they are and how good the visibility is. Plus, $600 is about $500 more than I want to spend on this. I think I will keep it stock for now.
Yay! I found a shop that works on semis that will do my kingpins. Cool beans.
They can bend the beams to correct your camber, most shops can't, they just suggest replacement of coils and everything, and hope that fixes it.
I'm glad to hear this. . . . and really glad my suggestion helped out.
The only problem with the steering is it is a bit sloppy. I had one shop I trust check it out and they said all the components were fine except the kingpins. Before I go so far as to get into bending stuff, I am going to see if the kingpins alone fix the problem. I will also see if they can replace the pivot bushings while they are in there.
And, yeah, thanks Fester!
So what ever came of this? I ask because I ordered all new front end steering parts for mine and pick them up tomorrow.
Was just going to replace the leaking and sticking steering gear box but it led to one thing after another that either broke or was loose and wobbly so I figured I would just R&R everything. Hell, the rag joint fell apart when I took it out. That's scary
Has anyone done the poly bushings on the front? You can get the whole setup for like $100. Might be well worth it.
Sorry I didn't update this.
I had the whole front suspension rebuilt. All bushings, kingpins, etc... The steering was better, but still had a bad dead spot. I drove it like that for about eight months before breaking down and installing a rebuilt steering gearbox from Redhead gears in Seattle. The steering is tight now, but I am fairly certain the van needs to get a good alignment. I may yet need to get the arms bent, but that will be my last resort.
I&^@^#(!%#)!@$#%!!!!! I have been driving the van for a while now after the alleged front end rebuild. Everything is supposed to be new from the end of the steering column shaft out to the wheels. I replaced the gearbox myself and paid a shop to rebuild the rest of the front end with Moog parts I supplied. The steering has always felt sloppy and off ever since the "rebuild." Today, I went out and on a whim I tried rocking the top of the passenger tires back and forth. There is about 1/8 of an inch in-and-out play on the top of the tire and an audible clicking sound. Somebody ripped me off and didn't do their job right. Looks like I will be having to pay someone else to rebuild the front suspension, again. At the very least it will need new kingpins.
NO! I remember all the trouble you had finding someone to do it before. . . . Best of luck brother!
Thanks. I'm pretty bummed about this. Already my van needs a new cruise control cable, it has a huge transmission leak, the front doors are starting to leak water, the engine hasn't run perfect for a long time, and the paint is really showing its age. I am almost to the point of cutting my losses and looking for a new van. I won't know until I can spend some time carefully inspecting the front end and seeing what's what. The driver's side appears to actually be OK, but I need to take the wheel off and really inspect everything before i confirm any diagnosis. Crap.
Check your front wheel bearings, a lot (too many) dont know how to clean,pack or assemble them. If they did the pins they removed the rotors. You would be suprised how many cars are running dry front bearings,loose bearings after having brake shops redo their brakes.
I was told by an old timer (guy that did all mine years ago)that did king pins since the late 50s that they need to be reamed to fit the pins.
If you grease them from the bottom and it moves , the pin is loose and or worn .
Thanks. The wheel bearings were the one thing that I didn't tell the shop to replace. I will go ahead and replace all four and repack them. I will also hit all the Zerk fittings with some grease and check for play in the allegedly new kingpins.
Checked my '88 last summer and the king pins were still good. It's close to 120K miles so I guess it could be called low mileage.
Once those bronze kingpin bushings are pressed in place it's easy to get in a hurry and hone them too large and you can't put the metal back. Honing and checking, hone a little more and check again and again is time consuming and getting it right requires someone who really cares about the quality of their work.
That's the problem- finding someone who cares about their work. I only found two shops where I live who even did this kind of work, and I chose the one closer to me, not the one that was recommended. I think I am paying the price for that now. I never got a good vibe from the place I went to.
Good ol' Sunnen Machine video.
(I prefer actual measurements to "feel" but it depends on the operators experience I guess.) I like the fact he doesn't trust a reamer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw0-vPhRuCo
Thanks for that video! I wish I had access to and knowledge of how to use machining tools. If I find that it is more than just worn wheel bearings, I may pull both front axles and take them both out to the same machine shop that I take engines to. I would also trust a hone much more than a reamer, and I would trust actual measurements than a premanufactured tool. Ugh.
I had a shop tell me a I needed new upper ball joints (they were only 5 years old). So I replaced them myself with MOOG parts only to find that my wheel bearings were shot! Dammit I was pissed.
I guess the "mechanic" saw movement in the wheel and diagnosed it as bad ball joints.
I still have my fingers crossed that the problem is wheel bearings. However, the wandering steering has taken a back seat to fixing the transmission, oil, and radiator fluid leaks that have suddenly appeared and figuring out why the motor suddenly started running like crap. Argh. To top it off it has been too freaking cold and I have been too freaking busy with work to do any wrenching on the van. Grumble grumble whine whine.... I'll get to it one of these days.