king pin question

I finally got drum brake hardware off the spindles for my disc upgrade. How much play is acceptable in the king pin? i doubt they've been greased in the last 20 years, so will a new flow of grease do the trick?
thanks.

thanks for the info. i have a bit of movement. More on the drivers side than the passenger. How hard a job is this to replace? And please tell me i don't have to remove the axle. :0)

also, do i replace with nylon or metal bushings?
thanks

ok. i got the kingpins out and spindles removed. I was lucky and it was not difficult. after removing the retaining nut on the side, i removed the dust cap on the top. Using a 5/8 inch spark plug socket, i drove the pins down with a small sledge. If you have a drift pin, use that to drive out the kingpin. The spindles look the same, but i scored one of them just in case. I'm going to get them all cleaned up while i wait for my kingpin set from rockauto.
thanks everyone.

Just make sure the old kingpin shaft is a tight fit in the axle,,,,,sometimes the hole in the axle wears out,,,,,then you got problems,,,,,,

From what i've read, the new kingpin should be a snug fit; which is what i think you're telling me. I also came across an interesting tip when greasing the kingpins: lift the vehicle off the ground to take the pressure off the kingpin; this allows the new grease to get all around the pin to properly lubricate.

But make sure 1st that the old kingpin fits tight in the axle,,,,,if the hole in the axle is worn out, new kingpins are not going to help,,,,,sometimes the kingpin shaft gets loose and eats up the axle itself,,,,bushings are made to wear out,,,,but not the hole in the axle,,,,,and they do sometimes,,,,,

Ive replaced kingpins before -yet never on any of our vans as yet - i do know before i had ro ream to size some of the metal replaced bushings. Then fit the pins .

i understand now. I cleaned up the old kingpin and verified that it was a snug fit in the axle. it didn't drop through which is good. lol. yup. snug fit and no play. thanks again for your help.

anytime -just grease it good too when installing & after!!

I just finished cleaning up for the day and couldn't help thinking i got off easy somehow. I re-read what i found on the web, here, and the axle chapter in the manual and figured it out. I still have to get the bushings out of the spindle. lol. The book calls for a special tool (C-328-A), but i'm sure there's another way? anyone know how to get the bushings out? do I need a special tool?
thanks

Just knock them out with a socket,,,,,,or the right sized flat washer and a punch.....just get mean....i don't think you can damage anything beating out the old bushings,,,,,

OK. I'll give that a try. According to the shop manual, the top bushing comes out the top, and the bottom comes out the bottom. I might have to get fancy. lol

I think that is just the directions for that confusing puller,,,,,,a big vice would work removing and installing the new bushings,,,,,,,or a big bolt or threaded rod to suck the bushings out and in,,,,,,,

Getting out no big deal.After you get the new bushings in. Make sure to slide the pin through.They may need reamed to size.A machine shop can do both operations.