axle king pin Hellp please

[natenate]

My sl failed its mot! Fella said I near side and of side axle king pin has to much play. Fella said I might get away with greasing them. Any ideas??

[Larry & Norma]

As the man said try greasing it. Use a high pressure hand gun with LM grease. There are 7 grease nipples each side if I remember correctly.
Unfortunately its the cost of another MOT. New king pin kits are available, they have to be reamered i think so labour will be expensive if you are not doing it yourself!

[Naj ✝︎]

Sometimes, the play can be adjusted out with shims.
This was done for me a few years ago.

naj

[stickandrudderman]

End float (up and down) can sometimes be adjusted with shims, but worn bushes I'm afraid will mean stripping & rebuilding.
Packing with grease is only paliative.
We do our own in house and I've been thinking of offering re-built king pin assemblies on an exchange basis.
This would greatly reduce the vehicle downtime but I guess most Pagoda owners are not in a hurry anyway!

[DavidBrough]

Does anyone know if you can purchase the shims separately from MB

[Naj ✝︎]

Yes, they are ranging in thickness from 1.7mm to 2.7mm

Try to stay away from the 2.1mm Costs about 10 times as much as some of the others which are between £2.00 and £3.50

Part #s are 136 332 xx 52

naj

[DavidBrough]

Thanks Naj.

[ja17]

Hello David,

The shims are used to adjust the up and down play of the king pin assembly. Some up and down play is premissable (See BBB or Tech Data Booklet). Play from wear is usually movement in or out, at the top of the king pin (worn upper link pin, worn king pin or worn upper threaded bushing). Lower wear causing in or out movement at the bottom is usually caused by lower trunion, worn  threaded trunion bolt or worn king pin. A little wear on all items can contribute to a pretty sloppy front end. Keep your suspension greased !

The bronze king pin bushings seldom wear,  but are normally replaced whent he king pins are changed. these are pressed into place then reamed to correct size.

A quick grease job immediately before inspection could temporarily tighten up a marginal suspension.

[DavidBrough]

Thanks Joe, that does help to clarify what to look for. I've stripped my front suspension completely and it looked OK when fully greased. I was going to check the king pin end float with no grease during assembly and the other parts when fully greased, is that correct or is it best to check everything with no/little grease first?

[ja17]

Hello David,

Hello David, frequent grease lubrication of the suspension will prevent or slow down wear.  In your case, lubrication after wear has occured, is only a temporary fix. The grease temporarily fills areas of too much clearance (wear).  Checking the front end again after a day or two of driving will reveal the areas of wear again.

[tel76]

Hello David,
It is best to check the end float in your king pins with no grease present (dry) and make any adjustment required before greasing them.

[DavidBrough]

Thanks Eric, I though that might be the case.