Front axle end holes
- Thread starter Mongo
- Start date
Pete
BANNED
First, you clean the rust and corrosion out. This can be done mechanically or chemically. Wire brush or vinegar and wire brush. If you use vinegar, neutralize with soda afterward.
Then there are several different instruments you can measure the wear with.
Since you asked the basic question I will assume you have nothing to measure with so it would probably be easiest to take it to a machine shop and have it checked.
Most large automotive machine shops can sleeve axle eyes if need be.
The king pin should fit the axle with a tap fit. There should be NO taper, out of round or bell mouth in the hole.
Then there are several different instruments you can measure the wear with.
Since you asked the basic question I will assume you have nothing to measure with so it would probably be easiest to take it to a machine shop and have it checked.
Most large automotive machine shops can sleeve axle eyes if need be.
The king pin should fit the axle with a tap fit. There should be NO taper, out of round or bell mouth in the hole.
dave in australia
Well-known member
I've measured many in the pursuit of one that didn,t need some sort of repair. The most common fault I found with the king pin hole was hour glassing. I think this is what Pete was calling bell mouthing, which would be a difference in terminology between the US and Aust. Hour glassing happens when the king pin uses the lock pin as a pivot, and rocks slightly. This gets worse over time and use. I've repaired these by boring out the hole and sleeving to original size, with a hone to final finish. If you don't have the equipment, take it to a machine shop. The final size should be around .810, but measure the pin your going to fit. There is a difference between pins, and one to two thou can make a big difference. I have new ones that vary between .809 and .812. The tighter the better, to the point where you use a hot-air gun to fit the pin.
Other things to look at in the axle is twist along the length, as well as bends at the ends. To check for twist, fit four pins in the four holes and lay the axle sideways. All four pins should be parallel, and also look along the four pins. The two pins at each end should also be parallel to each other when viewed front on. With the axle sitting with the pins vertical, the both the king pin and radius rod pins should be 7 degrees from vertical.
Other things to look at in the axle is twist along the length, as well as bends at the ends. To check for twist, fit four pins in the four holes and lay the axle sideways. All four pins should be parallel, and also look along the four pins. The two pins at each end should also be parallel to each other when viewed front on. With the axle sitting with the pins vertical, the both the king pin and radius rod pins should be 7 degrees from vertical.
Kevin in NJ
Well-known member
Depending on the area you live in it would be more economical to find a better axle then try to fix the ends.
Before you spend money on the axle read my blurb on the Axle and how to check it. It is important that any car that is driven to not have a an axle that has been heated to get the perches out. The axle will be too weak and will go out of alignment sooner rather then later.
My take on fixing an axle is that you are likely to be able to find a good axle for less money then it would cost to fix a bad axle. This is dependent on how resourceful you are, but there are lots of axles out there for under $50. I doubt you can pay someone to fix the ends for less.
Before you spend money on the axle read my blurb on the Axle and how to check it. It is important that any car that is driven to not have a an axle that has been heated to get the perches out. The axle will be too weak and will go out of alignment sooner rather then later.
My take on fixing an axle is that you are likely to be able to find a good axle for less money then it would cost to fix a bad axle. This is dependent on how resourceful you are, but there are lots of axles out there for under $50. I doubt you can pay someone to fix the ends for less.