Front end rebuild

[David H.]

I am readying parts for rebuilding my front end and did not find any NOS king pin kits anywhere. I settled for NAPA and they ordered a Precision set that looks pretty good. Anyone had any experience with this Precision replacement part? Good or Bad?
I thought I had a set from Moog but it was backordered for at least two weeks and not knowing if I would ever see it I settled for the NAPA set.
Any insight into the rebuild would be welcomed!
I used my buddies sandblaster on the parts yesterday and they look brand new! Can't wait to get them painted and back together.

[Richard T.]

Re: Front end rebuild

I've used many differant brands of king pins over the years, everything from GM , MOOG, Standard etc. They all worked fine and looked so siilar that they may have been made by one vendor and branded for differant companies. I wouldn't worry about using NAPA at all. Rich

[John F.]

Re: Front end rebuild

My front-end kit was from Paragon and I am very satisfied.

John F

[David H.]

Re: Front end rebuild

I put the NAPA rebuild kit together with the spindals today. No real issues but didn't need the shims. It went together very tight. Hope that is a good thing.

[Richard T.]

Re: Front end rebuild

I've never done a C-1 king pin job that didn't need the shims. My 62 uses both of them. When you took it apart were there any shims installed?
If you don't get a shimmy it's probably ok Rich

[David H.]

Re: Front end rebuild

No shims were found in disassembly of the old ones.
Putting the new ones together required help from a pursuader with a ball peened head. Then the use of a brass drift punch. I had a little trouble with one of the lock bolts also but managed to get it secured. The grease went in ok and they both seem to turn ok although quite tight. No shims necessary. The caps that plug both ends are not the best design I have seen. After tapping them in place none of them seem very tight. Is lock tight an acceptable insurance plan on these?

[Ed T.]

Re: Front end rebuild

Since we are talking about king-pins here... How does one keep the top and bottom dust covers (forgot the real name) in place when you grease? My bottom one wants to pop off with grease pressure, and I only use a hand grease gun...Ed

[Tom P.]

Re: Front end rebuild

I guess no one ever saves this stuff, or searches, so I'll throw it up again.
http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/sh...hp?tid/218134/

Yes, I know the following has the cap lock on----------------for a reason!
THE KINGPINS/BUSHINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FLOATING! EARLY REPLACEMENT BUSHINGS, AS WELL AS BUSHINGS FROM GM WERE FLOATING (that means the bushings are a slip fit in the spindle bores, NOT tight)!!!!! BUT THE REPLACEMENT BUSHINGS THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING LATELY ARE TOO TIGHT TO FIT THE SPINDLE BORES AND ORIGINAL BUSHINGS FROM GM ARE LONG DISCONTINUED. Anyone remember Dale Pearman's conflict with a Chevy service dept about what they did to his 62 when he had them install new kingpins/bushings?
Soooooooooo, what I have been doing to produce a slip fit for replacement bushings is honing the spindle bores, using a wheel cylinder hone in an AIR DRILL (I'd love to see some fool do this with an elec drill ) in water. It is illustrated in the above link.
I really don't know too much about rebuilding these old frontends, since I only have about 45+yrs experience doing it.

Oh ya, regarding the dust covers (not the plugs which are secured by snap rings). They ONLY go on the top. AND, they have NEVER fit very tight. When you install the dust cover, just lightly tap it in place until it is fully seated and quit! That's about the best you can do.

[David H.]

Re: Front end rebuild

Just to clarify a bit, the NAPA kit worked great. The bushings were a slip fit and could be moved around easily. The king pin, lock bolts and bearing were extremely tight and did not require the shims to be used. I took this as a good thing although was somewhat tentitive when assembling it. Is there such a thing as having it too tight as long as it moves left to right?

[Tom P.]

Re: Front end rebuild

When you put one of these kingpin/bushing spindles together, then grasp the spindle with one hand and move it back and forth (I DON'T CARE WHAT THE MANUAL SAYS!!!), it should be slightly-moderately stiff. Thus, the thrust bearing is preloaded. Once thoroughly greased, then driven 50-100mi, the spindle will be noticeably loosened up. Just right!
BUT, if after assembly (bearing installed) the spindle moves easily side-to-side (by hand), then it is too loose. Pull out the king pin, remove the bearing (bearing goes on bottom) and insert one shim at the top (this is where half of an old kingpin comes in handy to keep the shim in place) and install the bearing. The bearing should be tight enough that it requires light tapping with a mallet (don't use a steel hammer to drive in the bearing) to get it in, then shove up the kingpin which will shove out the old 1/2 kingpin from the top.
By the way, the joint of the upper/lower halves of the bearing faces down.

[Mike T.]

Re: Front end rebuild

Does anyone know if any of the front suspension parts like the dust covers or snap rings are available individually or do you have to order the whole kit?
Mike T.

[John F.]

Re: Front end rebuild

Tom's wqy is the best to date. I handed my old time mechanic, who has done a lot in the past, Tom's step-bystep w/pics. He loved it. He had to hone just a touch. Thanks Tom!
John F

[Tom P.]

Re: Front end rebuild

Does anyone know if any of the front suspension parts like the dust covers or snap rings are available individually or do you have to order the whole kit?
Mike T.

Mike,
I
HAVE NOT found the dust cover or plugs available seperately. Consequently, over the years, I have saved many plugs and dust covers------------just in case---------------and it has been good that I did because I have re-used some from time to time, especially the dust covers.
The snap rings seem to be a common size (they seem to be the same size as the snap rings on some U-joints). Anyway, I have several used snap rings if you need a couple. Let me know.

[Mike T.]

Re: Front end rebuild

Tom, thanks for the headsup on the snaprings possibly being similar to the ones used in U-joints. Over the years I've kept some old ones from U-joints I replaced 'just in case' so I'll give them a try.
Mike T.