King Pin Shims 1950 Merc

M

Mr Bob

Junior Member
The king pin "kit" I received (Dennis Carpenter) included several shims and the 1949-1950 Mercury "Shop & Overhaul Manual" does not discuss using shims. My question is "are the shims placed on top of the thrust bearing or inside of the thrust bearing". When I removed the old parts, I found shims inside of the thrust bearing. I would appreciate any assistance that you can provide
 
The shims are not meant to carry any load but to compensate for any excess play when placed in the lower location between spindle support and spindle.

There should not be any shims in the location of the upper bearing.
 

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This is where the 3117 shims should be located as required on '49-'51 Merc.
494895
 

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19Fordy said:
Bob, Be sure to buy the (red) manual.
Also, look here:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/install-king-pin-set-51-mercury.833444/

Be sure to read this about shims and uprights (spindles).
https://static.speedwaymotors.com/pdf/91024148.pdf
Click to expand...


(Be sure to read this about shims and uprights (spindles).
https://static.speedwaymotors.com/pdf/91024148.pdf[/QUOTE)
This does NOT represent the geometry of the '49-'51 Mercury suspension and just tends to add to any confusion.
 
Gee, I have a 51 Merc. and I found that info. to be helpful regarding the THEORY for using king pin shims as shown in 51 MERC-CT's very informative pictorial. He is an expert on 49-51 Mercs, in my opinion. Given the choice, I would read both and then use 51 MERC's detailed pictorial info.
 
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The originals didn't have shims due to the large ball design of the thrust bearing. Some thrust bearings have smaller balls and are not as thick as the OEM types so shims are supplied to make up the difference. True, there is no load on the bottom knuckle and the shims can be placed there if you want. They are basically to adjust the fit of the upper knuckle stack with the bearing. They can be placed on the bottom of the thrust bearing between the bearing and the top spindle boss. They are generally some form of steel so they can take the load and they should not rotate since the bearing does all of the rotating. Eliminate all the play you can there without making the fit too tight. It can have a little clearance and still function as it should.

Some of these kits for the big 15/16 pins are crap. I've seen bronze thrust plates supplied instead of a bearing by the cheap crap manufacturers of these type kits. So far I've been lucky to find NOS FoMoCo parts but there aren't as many out there as there once was. Thankfully, they last a lot of miles so most folks that care for their antique cars will never wear them out.
 
for years ford & others used what was called the elliott system. where the spindle bushings were in the spindle. then they went to the reversed elliott system where the bushings are located in the spindle support. any body know the reason for this. is it a better system
 
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