King pins?

SoonerStateRedneck · Post by **SoonerStateRedneck** » October 14, 2006, 1:59 am

I've been driving my 66 F250 back and forth to work the last few weeks, I've been noticing a lil front end wobble as i'm driving at highway speeds. Could this be the king pins? If so, How tough of a job is this to replace them?

ABA · Post by **ABA** » October 14, 2006, 6:30 am

I would check tie rod ends or ball joints first.
Jack one tire up at a time and see if you got any side to side movement. That center ball joint may be your problem.

64 f100 · Post by **64 f100** » October 14, 2006, 7:48 am

Easy diagnosis, not so easy fix sometimes. Getting old king pins out of the axles is sometimes difficult. May have to resort to hotwrench to heat up axle, to drive out pin. Diagnosis, jack up one side at a time, and check for play. Place hands at twelve o'clock and 6 and move in and out. If there is play, then check for play at 3 and 9, to try and determine if you have loose wheel bearings or bad kingpins. I would also check my tires for pattern wear, and balance. I would also check all the tie rod ends, by having someone rock the wheel, while you hold each tie rod end. Hold both connecting parts, as it is often easier to feel play, than see it. Have plenty of rags and some hand cleaner handy, you will need it. Other places to check, rubber bushings on the axles, and rubber bushings on the braces, coming from the axles to frame. Usually, the kingpin s are a farm out job, unless you have a kingpin reamer, and driver, for the bushings. Make sure you get the grease holes lined up when installing bushings. One piece of advice sI picked up on this site from a fellow member. Jack the axle up, so the wheel is off the ground when greasing the kingpins, lets the grease get where it needs to be. Common sence really.

Rich

jimbob1021 · Post by **jimbob1021** » October 14, 2006, 7:58 am

your king pins is what hold's the caster and camber and is the pivit point for turning and with out the right tool's they are hell to replace your problem could be in the drag link were it mount's to the pitmem arm or one of the inner or outer tierod ends hope this helps you out jim.

ABA · Post by **ABA** » October 14, 2006, 10:02 am

Same thing I said but I forget what the parts are called. :wink:

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » October 14, 2006, 10:14 am

i got a 65 f250 earlier this year, mainly for the cab and bed and all the custom cab trim.after i removed the front clip i got an excellent view of the kingpins.enough slop in the holes that you could fit a piece of pipe around them at the top.as it was never running i could not tell you how it steered but i would bet terrible.

Texas Monty · Post by **Texas Monty** » October 26, 2006, 9:30 am

I had plenty of play in the top to btm movement when I jacked the wheel to move it. No question - King pins - were bad. but I also had a bad drag link - that contributed to the side to side play.

and a good shop - find a good shop. I know good shop here in Austin, and the one Skip recs - in Houston. but ask around and take your time. A big truck shop has more experience with straight axles. The pros - that I talk to - don't recommend poly bushings.

and one other thing - my 64 had been driven with bad king pins for so long that it wore the axle eye - right side - had to pull it and get a machine shop to ream and re sleeve. Knew right off the bat when that king pin FELL out without pushing. Now that's a loose king pin.

Paul Merrell · Post by **Paul Merrell** » October 26, 2006, 6:17 pm

You also should check the rear spring pins mine were worn out had to replace hanger

Comet · Post by **Comet** » October 28, 2006, 9:47 pm

I finally had to take my axle to a shop to get my king pins out. And they told me it was a major pain for them as well.