Fitting Spindle Bolt - King pin in new bushings

K

Keith

Senior Member
Fitting Spindle Bolt - King pin in new bushings.
Replaced the upper and lower bushings in the front wheel spindles and reamed using the kingpin bushing reamer (0.8125" dia.) but the new King pins or spindle bolts still will not go in. Question any tricks to open the bushing up. I thought about using a Flex hone but do not see one for an 0.8125 hole.
Thanks, Keith
 
Keith - You can use a spring-loaded brake cylinder hone to smooth out from the reamer and open more if necessary. Available at any good auto parts store (like, independent or NAPA, not O’Reilly/Autozone/etc.) although you may need to find an old timer who knows what one is. Go slowly with plenty of oil as lube.

Also available from Amazon, search for “brake cylinder hone”.

You might put a very slight bevel on the bottom of your kingpins to make sure you are not hanging up on a burr.

On the holes for the spindle retention bolts/steering stops - I have found some of those with burrs as well, they should be reamed to 9/16” (0.5625”).
 
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Be sure to test fit the cotter through the axle with the kingpin in place to make sure it will go in before having the hub in place.
 
Wrap a .002” thick shim stock around half of the reamer and run it through by hand. That will open it up just a bit.
 
I just finished putting new kingpins and bushings in my car and I used the wheel cylinder hone to put the finishing touch on it.
 
Keith said:
Thanks to all tips, I will approach fitting these slowly.
Click to expand...

But don't leave them too tight. The car will be all over the road and scare the crxp out of you. I'm happy with no discernible play in the bushes and I'm able to turn the king pin by hand.
 
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