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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / 1937 King Pins

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Posted By Discussion Topic: 1937 King Pins -- page: 1 2     mzahorik 08-05-2020 @ 2:51 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 My 37 has a pretty good clink when the front tires go over a bump. I raised the tires and pried on the wheel. There doesn't seem to clearance side to side on the king pin, but there is about 0.100" on the up and down. Am I testing this correctly? Thanks Mike TomO 08-06-2020 @ 7:53 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7250 Joined: Oct 2009 0.1" vertical movement seems excessive. The bearing for the spindle may be incorrect or damaged. The way that I test the king pin is to grab the wheel at the top and bottom and try to move the top and bottom in and out. There should be no play. If there is, check to make sure it is the king pin bushings and not the wheel bearing. Tom mzahorik 08-06-2020 @ 9:19 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 Thanks for replying. I did lift the car so there was no load on the spindle, tightened the wheel bearings and tried to wobble the wheel back and forth, up and down. I'm not as strong as I used to be and didn't find any wobble like that. I also tried to move the spindle with a large pry bar and I didn't feel anything. I re checked the up and down movement and one side is just under 0.100" and the other is over. I never seen a clearance like this. I wonder if the spindle is worn or maybe the last guy didn't install any shims with the bearings? There is quite a loud clink when the front wheels go over a bump. I would like to find it and repair it, thanks, Mike This message was edited by mzahorik on 8-6-20 @ 9:21 AM mzahorik 08-06-2020 @ 9:49 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 I've got to take that back. My dial gauge was not stable. When I moved the tire up, the spindle does move up, but the spot I picked for sitting the dail gauge on was not flat and the magnets would not hold it. So the up/down of the spindle is much closer to 0.020". My mistake. I also noticed that both of my axle bumpers are gone, bolts and all. I measured the vertical distance from the frame mounting hole to the top of the axle, it is about 4 1/4". Is that typical? Mike mzahorik 08-06-2020 @ 12:41 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 I still think that my front end is rather loose. What are the general wear points that should be looked at. I have replaced the front spring and shackles. What about the wish bone, what should I look at there? Mike mzahorik 08-06-2020 @ 4:51 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 Well..... my son came over and I had him wiggle the wheels while I looked and felt the hardware. The kingpins are worn. It is hard to look for small movement while wiggling. Besides he is only 50 and a lot stronger then I. So, the pins are coming out. I see Speedway has new pins for $40. Has anyone used these? If they work for hot rods they should work for an old man and his car. Mike TomO 08-07-2020 @ 9:50 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7250 Joined: Oct 2009 Mike, I have never used the Speedway king pin kit as original Ford kits were still available from some of the vendors that specialize in our cars. It has been 10 years since I looked, but places like South side Obsolete in MN and Third Generation may still have the Ford kits. You will have to have the bushings reamed to fit the pin, after the bushings are pressed into the spindle. You might start checking around for a suspension shop that services truck to see if they can do the press and ream for you. I searched RearCounter.com and they came up with one seller in KS. Tom mzahorik 08-07-2020 @ 12:26 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 Today, I have taken the passenger side apart. The pin and bushings are not that bad. I added about 0.014" extra shims between the pin bearing and axle. This tightened up the up and down motion a lot. I installed the hub with the wheel bearings. This way I have a better grip on the hub to wiggle the spindle. I can still feel a little slop. In order to determine whether this is the kingpin or wheel bearing I'm feeling, I tightened up the wheel bearing so it will not rotate. It's really hard to tell. One other thing, seems that the slop is gone is the wheel is turned all the way, one way or other. I figure that by turning the spindle, the kingpin is touching an un-worn part of the bushings. Before I purchase a new kingpin set, I want to inspect the other side. Try adding another shim and see how bad that side is. I have dealt with Midwest early Ford in Ohio, maybe I'll call them and see what they have. What is a good way to detect worn wheel bearings. Mine are smooth, not pitted, they seem to fit nicely in their cages and rotate nicely. Thanks Mike trjford8 08-08-2020 @ 8:38 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4214 Joined: Oct 2009 Your clunking noise could be that the rubber bushing on the wishbone ball is gone, they can make a lot of nose when worn out or missing. Did you check the king pin bearings for wear when you added the shims? Also when you replaced the front spring did you put a new pad on the top of the spring where it engages the front crossmember? Are U bolts nice and tight that hold the spring? Sorry to ask so many questions, but there can be many possibilities to the noise you hear. I doubt you have a wheel bearing problem. This message was edited by trjford8 on 8-8-20 @ 8:39 AM mzahorik 08-08-2020 @ 2:30 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 No problem with questions. They make me think a little. 1. Have not looked at the wishbone ball yet. 2. Waiting for new kingpin set, that should elminiate that. 3. Yup there is a pad under the spring. 4. U bolts are tight and have cotter pins. Today, I removed the shock absorber links and found that the shocks swing in the breeze. I saw that Apple Hydraulics rebuld these shocks. Has anyone used these guys? Are there others? Thanks for the help, Mike.

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