King pin removal

[ADchevys]

Trying to remove king pins on a 53 Chevy axle. I got both lock pins out and the dust caps off, shouldn't they press out?

[mr48chev]

BIG hammer and a drift just a tad smaller than the king pin. Have the axle supported solidly close to the end.

Usually once you get them started moving you can drive them out.

I have had them pressed out with a big hydraulic press before though.

I was thinking about using my balljoint press to push the ones out on the two axles I have out here that I need the king pins out of but haven't got around to it yet. That is kind of like a big super heavy duty C clamp setup.

[1project2many]

Yep... ball joint press should do it.

I have a king pin tool at work for larger trucks. It wouldn't fit the '57 so I used my ball joint press. I actually torqued the push bolt until the "C" of the press just started to bow then struck the head of the bolt with a medium shop hammer to get the pin to begin moving. After the pin was nearly out I ended up using the cutoff wheel to remove any trace of mushroom from the end of the pin.

[1-ton of fun]

We ended up buying a 20-ton shop press from harbor freight and it pressed them right out for us. It was useful for pressing out the bushings too
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[ADchevys]

Got them out with a big hammer. Thanks for the help.

[57chevyman]

i had a king pin so frozen on my 1992 international 4700 truck . the mechanic had to heat it with a torch in addition to using the press and whatever tools they were using

[mr48chev]

I haven't checked but you can probably "borrow" a ball joint press at Autozone. Just make sure that the pin on the press is smaller than the king pin and watch getting the threads caught up in the bushing.

I've got two axles out here that I need to take the spindles off so I can try it.

[dwcsr]

Most time the pin is frozen and needs heat and a press. You could spend 10 hours beating on a pin to save $50 in press work. We use a pin press like this one
http://public.snapon.com/R_RRD/Objec...ges/CG230A.jpg

I'd take the axle to the machine shop that's fitting the pins and have them press them out and check to see if you need over size pins.

[mr48chev]

You could wag the axle down to the machine shop and have the king pins pressed out a lot of times for the price of that tool. 495.00 puts it out of reach for most home hobby guys who may only do a set of king pins every three or four years if that. This is where it is more prudent $$ wise to just go have someone do the job you need done.

[xaircav]

Now that they are out consider Stainless Steel Brakes needle bearing king pins. Pricey but they can be installed without a press.

[mr48chev]

Nice if they fit in your budget. I'd make sure that I kept them well greased though.

[ADchevys]

I plan on sending the axle down to Sid and have it dropped 4 inches. I am going to have him Install the spindles.

[tmoble]

I went to SSBC, they only had pin kits for early fords and an Olds? Spendy stuff. They can have it, For that money I could replace a lot of kingpin bushings. Don't see any way for grease to get to the Torrington-type bearings that support the weight.