King Pins & Bushings

I am no expert but I found at a Ford site the following relating to the difference:

"Now you're ready to install the kingpin bushings. If you're using the plastic bushings, you should be able to tap them into the spindle using a block of wood. The bronze bushings will need to be pressed in and reamed to fit the kingpin and is a job best left for the machine shop."

If you are doing it your self the nylon sounds easier.

Speaking of king pins, I notice some play on the driver side spindle once I had it opened up to install the disc brakes. Do you guys know how much play there should be and if I too will need to do what it seems Polar Bear is doing?

I've used a wheel cyl hone to machine new bushings when their too tight for the new pins.

I checked out Rockauto and NAPA online and they both had king pin sets for about $65 but the "bushing" is nylon. I wonder if you guys think this price is reasonable for the complete set and if the metal bushings are best where can they be purchased?

Kakster

There are alot of heavy trucks that use nylon king pin bushings,
I dont think id be afraid of them.

I may be a little late in my reply, but when I did my 65 chevy 25 years ago they had this new thing called nylon bushings. I tried them with in 5000 miles the spindles had play in them again. They were easier but they did not last. A couple of years later I had them replaced on my 70 ford with brass bushings and drove it for another 15000 miles with no play at all. It was worth the extra cost. Hope this helps.

I've always just bought the pin kits with the brass/bronze bushing for my A-vans. Always had good service.

I just R&Red the ones on my 67. I didn't look exhaustively but I only saw nylon bushings available. Got the AC/Delco set from Rockauto. The ones in the van were nylon, and in the Chevy factory manual they describe glass reinforced plastic bushings. The passenger side was still solid after 41 years, but the driver side had some slop which is why I did the R&R.

Next I can progress on the M1D disc brakes (finally)

I wonder if they are the same as the Dodge pins. What's the P/N for the Chevys?

The Dodge use a different p/n. 8453 B or N. That's a MOOG number.

As I am a beginner, would I be able to install the nylon bushings myself with non-specialized tools? I need to get the king pins changed in order to pass my safety inspection. Originally I was going to have the mechanic do this but with my ever increasing confidence and the help from the fine people here I think I may do it myself. Plus the mechanic was going to charge me 700.00 to do it including parts.

That's simply "Outrageous"!!! $700 bucks!
B.W.

Which did our vans come with? Nylon or bronze? I know one of my 65's has nylon in it now and they are tight.

I don't know the history of my van prior to me owning it, but when I recently R&Red the king pins, the old ones and new ones were plastic. Additionally, in the 1968 Chevy Truck Factory Service Manual they describe the steering knuckle bushings as "splite type floating glass filled polycarbonate bushings on all axles except the 9000 LB and 11,000 LB axles which have Delrin". Though not Nylon, polycarbonate and Delrin are plastics, not metal.

As for a home mechanic doing the repair, I found it not so tough. If you happen to be doing a disc brake conversion, you are already elbow deep into that part of the van anyway so it is a good tome to be fixing all those 40+ year old parts anyway.
Kakster

RockAuto shows two kits, both with nylon... they are only for our vans!


I need to do mine!
Later,
Rip