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Topic: King Pins (Read 723 times) previous topic - next topic

King Pins

Brake guy said king pins seem a little loose,What that involve, Any pictures?
Art
1997 Prevost 40'
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Re: King Pins

Reply #1 –
This is what I used in my Peterbilt. No reaming to size is needed. This type holds way more grease in it and last a long time. I have about 800,000 miles on this set in my Pete,and have a little play starting,so I'll be replacing them again in the near future. There is s video showing the installation somewhere.
Qwik Kit™ King Pin Kit | STEMCO

STEMCO Kaiser Qwik Kit Training - YouTube
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: King Pins

Reply #2 –
Quote from: prevostart –
Brake guy said king pins seem a little loose,What that involve, Any pictures?

Are you having handling problems?  King pins are known for long, long service, seems unlikely they'd be worn out.  They've all got some play....
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: King Pins

Reply #3 –
Assume this is a Meritor axle.  If so, you can go to their website and download the shop manual for your axle.

There will be tolerance specs in it for king pin wear-- no need to guess or speculate. Replacing king pins and king pin bushings is not something most owners can do.  And, unless they were not greased, unlikely they would be worn out of spec.

Be aware that there IS an easy to do adjustment that can cause king pin play.  It will also be in the manual. King pin draw keys.  They are wedge shaped screws hold the king pins firmly in the steering knuckle.  They can easily be cleaned (the nut that holds them in place) and re-torqued.  As I recall on the front axle on the 1993 U240, draw key torque is 500 INCH- pounds (45 ft-lbs). So no big job to do. Just need to front wheels off the ground, clean the nut and torque them on the draw key. There are two on each side-- one on the front side of the knuckle, one on the back side of the knuckle.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: King Pins

Reply #4 –
King pins aren't rocket science however they are a lot of slugging and can become an extreme amount of work if they don't go textbook.  If the adjustment doesn't work you will great a great variation in estimates. Some mechanics remove all of the parts from the spindle to make it easier to handle others wrestle it all off as an assembly to save the time.  The big issue is that very rarely do the king pins fall out of the axle when you undo everything and remove the wedges.  On a normal truck most people drive the kingpin down with a sledge but on a motorhome that isn't an option.  You will have to push the kingpin up through the assembly using a jack and the weight of the bus.  This will also require lots of heat and patience.  If the pin still wont budge then comes the real fun you cut the bearing out from between the spindle and the axle then cut the pin and push the spindle up and cut the pin above the axle.  This leads to the use of ingenuity, mechanics who do a lot of pins usually have some sort of a home made press that is essentially a huge ball joint press or remove the axle and put it in a very large hydraulic press usually at a large machine shop.  Some times you need to relieve the pressure by drilling or cutting a hole down the center of the pin. You also need to be careful that with all that heat and pressure you don't bend the axle.  If you end up replacing the kingpins take your time and find yourself a mechanic you trust who gives you answers that aren't too good to be true because they are honest.
Toby a 94 u280
Cummins 8.3
6 speed Allison
Exhaust brake


Adopted by Derek and Annabelle

Re: King Pins

Reply #5 –
Art where it me I would find a reputable truck spring and alignment shop and have them check/replace them as needed. They are a job to replace as someone said they can be a big problem. I ran a vehicle shop for a large construction company, the one thing that was outsourced was big truck steering and spring work just way to heavy to wrestle for no more than they charge to do it.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: King Pins

Reply #6 –
Just read up on king pins,remember to grease them with weight off the wheel.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: King Pins

Reply #7 –
Quote from: John44 –
Just read up on king pins,remember to grease them with weight off the wheel.

Depends on make and model.  Some are greased with weight off wheels, others specify with wheels on the ground.

As you suggest, do what YOUR axle maker recommends.

This from a Meritor Manual:
Maintenance Manual 2
Front Non-Drive Steer Axles
All Meritor Conventional, Easy Steer Plus™ and MFS
Series

King Pins
Axles with Conventional Wheel Ends
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface. Block the wheels to prevent
the vehicle from moving. Set the parking brake.
2. Verify that the tires touch the ground. Do not raise the vehicle.
The full weight of the vehicle must be on the axle assembly.
Figure 9.5.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: King Pins

Reply #8 –
Thanks'
Art
1997 Prevost 40'
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Re: King Pins

Reply #9 –
Add biocide as well when you fill
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)
 

Re: King Pins

Reply #10 –
Read up more on the kingpins,the "easy steer"ones that have the grease zirk on the top and bottom caps you can grease with
the weight on the wheels,the style that has the 2 zirks on the "side"has to have the weight off the wheels.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.