

With the kingpin removed the steering knuckle and spindle comes out easily. So you can use it as a drift while driving in the new bushing. Center: Old kingpin keeps old bushing located exactly on top of new one Use a little two-stage epoxy cement on their upper surfaces to make sure theyĭon’t turn in the steering knuckle in service. (To be sure you’re on the safe side eye protection is always a good idea during any project.) Don’t use a hardened drift because-as they said in your high school shop class- bashing two hardened steel surfaces together can cause bits of shrapnel to go careening into your eyes and face, necessitating a humiliating trip to the nurse’s office.

Remove the nut holding it in, and then tap it out using a hammer and soft metal drift. Next take out the horizontal pin holding the kingpin in place on the axle. Take them out and set the brake assembly aside in such a way that you don’t put any strain on the hydraulic hose feeding the wheel cylinder. There are four large bolts holding it on. Now remove the entire front brake assembly, backing plate and all. The inner bearing and its seal usually come off with the wheel, but if it stays behind, pull it off of the spindle and then wipe away any excess grease. Just grab the tire firmly and pull it off of the spindle. Pull off the washer holding in the outer wheel bearing, and then pull out the bearing and its inner race. Pull out their cotter keys and remove these nuts. Under them you will find large, preloaded castellated nuts that hold the wheel bearings in place. Pull out the cotter pin and take off the main wheel nut. Spread newspaper or plastic tarps on the floor around and under the front wheels, and then pop off the wheel covers. Put your truck up on sturdy jack stands in front, and block the wheels in back. CA 92879 While you are waiting for the parts to arrive, take the front steering apart and have everything ready for the installation. Order a kingpin and bushing kit by email or phone from a source such as Brothers Truck Parts. The parts are readily available, and you will be pleased with how well your truck handles once its steering system is nice and tight. The task is actually pretty simple, and can be done at home using hand tools. The problem is you need to replace your truck’s kingpins and bushings. If you are interested in reading further, the book is available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble for around $23 and covers Chevrolet pickups built from 1955- 1960.
#Replacing king pins how to#
What’s going on? Answer:Īs it turns out, I wrote a chapter on this problem for my book: “Classic Chevy Truck Handbook HP 1534: How to Rod, Rebuild, Restore, Repair and Upgrade Classic Chevy Trucks.” What follows is that chapter in condensed form. The steering box seems OK, and the shock absorbers work normally. It seems to smooth out somewhat when I go beyond that speed, but when I slow back down it shakes again.Īll I’ve been able to do is try to control it while driving. My all-original 1956 Chevrolet Cameo pickup starts shaking and wobbling and the steering wheel jerks around at about 40 miles per hour, and if I hit the brakes it gets worse.
