Author Topic: King Pin Replacement  (Read 4802 times)

ddodson1

  • Guest
King Pin Replacement
« on: March 25, 2016, 18:31:18 »
I recently had my service shop quote $5,000 to replace the king pins on my 1965 230SL.  This seems very excessive to me. 

What is the experience of others for this job?

mait

  • Full Member
  • Junior Level
  • *
  • Canada, MB, East St Paul
  • Posts: 16
Re: King Pin Replacement
« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2016, 19:36:32 »
Sounds excessive to me too. My MB flat rate manual reads:
  Oper. No 33-30  King pin bushing and/ or steering knuckle support. Install new ( one). 1.1 hrs.
  That 's not including parts of course.

Just out of interest: This manual has a series of comptational tables in the back that let the service manager or whoever tell the customer the exact labor cost - hourly rates begin at$3.00 increasing at 0.25 iincrements. The final table calculates labor @ $8.50 per hour.

Try that one at your local dealer!!

Good luck in finding someone to do the work at a reasonable rate.

Mait
m8 - 63 230sl

Benz Dr.

  • Vendor
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Canada, ON, Port Lambton
  • Posts: 7219
  • Benz Dr.
Re: King Pin Replacement
« Reply #2 on: March 25, 2016, 20:16:03 »
You can't do that job in 1.1 hours. Maybe when the car was new but not today.

 You will need to replace the bushings and those will need to be honed at a machine shop after installation. I would replace the upper and lower pivots as well because they're likely to be worn out. Remove the upper pivot and after you remove the tie rod end along with the brake line the whole hub assembly will slide off of the king pin. Remove the lower pivot (I cut them off with a torch ) or remove the lower pivot screw with an impact gun. The BBB has assembly instructions. You will need a front end alignment afterwards.
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

stickandrudderman

  • Vendor
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • United Kingdom, England, Richmond
  • Posts: 2914
    • http://www.colinferns.com
Re: King Pin Replacement
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2016, 23:39:50 »
1.1 hrs is just to renew the bushing with the stub axle removed and on the bench.

lurtch

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, CA, Santa Rosa
  • Posts: 374
  • " ICON 66 "
Re: King Pin Replacement
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2016, 00:38:17 »
This is the invoice for that job, done on my car last May here in California.

I hope this is helpful - -

Larry in CA
Larry Hemstreet  in  N. Cal.

1966  230SL  (restored) Met. Anthracite w/ Maroon leather
1981  300TD-T (Concours condition, 86K, GETRAG 5sp.)
1982  300TD-T (parted out)
1986  560SEC (totaled)
1991  300TE (gifted)
1998  E320 (sold)
2004  E320 wagon (gifted)
2008  CLK550 Cabriolet

ddodson1

  • Guest
Re: King Pin Replacement
« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2016, 14:16:16 »
Thanks all!   Sounds like I need to find a different shop.  Thanks for sharing the invoice, Larry.  You had more work done than I need and was still less than half their quote. 

I've already done the brakes, tie rods and shocks.

erickmarciano

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Canada, Quebec, montreal
  • Posts: 544
Re: King Pin Replacement
« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2016, 18:33:51 »
Larry it looks like he charged you labour for the things that needed to come off anyways like drums pads bearings ,links....
1994 E500 W124
1971 280sl
1989 Porsche 930 coupe
1988 e30 m3
2001 ducati mh900
2006 ps1000
1962 Vespa GS160

Benz Dr.

  • Vendor
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Canada, ON, Port Lambton
  • Posts: 7219
  • Benz Dr.
Re: King Pin Replacement
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2016, 19:39:22 »
You pretty much need to pull everything apart and go through all of those parts so you can see what needs to be replaced. This all takes time and if you can do it yourself you can save on the labor bill. Removing and installing the king pin bushings is best left up to a machine shop while everything else is possible in a typical shop at home. 
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC