King pins

[CJ,s 67 F100]

Dropped my axles off at the machine shop this morning. I guess I misunderstood I was supposed to supply the king pins and bushings. I left the axles and went to Napa, bought the king pin & bushing set and took them to the machine shop. He said he was busy so it'll take 2 days he said. I didnt know the KP set cost that much. Oh well I have them out so I just have to bite the bullet.

[Kurt Combs]

Charles,

How much do kingpins cost? Sounds expensive from your post. I would expect the machine shop to be the expensive part.

Kurt

[CJ,s 67 F100]

I should have checked around before I purchased them.
Checked around as in asked everyone here for their advice and thoughts on past purchases. I have known I was going to do this for 6 months
This one just got past me somehow. Must be oldtimers kicking in or something.
Napa part# 262-1484 King pin/ bushing set $83.99 + $6.93tax = $90.92
This set fits a 73 F100. Thats the year of my disc brake spindles
The machine shop is only going to charge 20-25 each to install and cnc mill the bushings to fit.
At least I'll have a good job done on them.

[Kurt Combs]

CJ,

Pins are a little more than I would expect, and the machining is less. If you want to feel better about the price, just ask a front-end shop what they would charge to change them. I doubt that you would get away for anything close to what you are spending.

Kurt

[CJ,s 67 F100]

Kurt, You right, compared to a front end shop I came out light. My son had never pulled axles before so it was his turn. I think everybody needs to pull at least one set in their life

[CJ,s 67 F100]

Picked up my axles/ spindles with the new King pins installed this morning. About 4 hours to reinstall the axles with all the neihbors coming over to see, talk and gawk. Triple checked everything. Drove around about 15 min. on side streets then hit the freeway. It snuck up on me to 85-90 before I knew it. I was waiting for the little shake and it never came. Drove back home and checked everything again. Couldnt find anything wrong. I guess we did it right. Silly thing drives as good as my 06 now.

[dcbullet]

Awesome! I look forword to getting my front end rebuilt. It's a mess right now.

[trukcrazy]

Excellent job Charles. Any pictures? My first 67 drove like that, it was real easy to go way too fast. The ride quality is what sold me on these trucks to begin with once I first drove one. Another successful project.

[CJ,s 67 F100]

Trukcrazy, No pictures, I thought of it several times but I was greasy taking them out and never thought of it going back in. My apologies as I should have had the wife take some. I had the front end aligned months go and they used that laser machine and put mirrors on the rear axle, mirrors on the front axle and had 4 lazers shining at them which I had never heard of. All this info went into the computer and he didnt have to adjust it much. I think he only did the toe in 1/3 to 1/2 a turn on the adjuster. That just goes to show my tape measure did a pretty good job. When I took the drag link and tie rod ends off, I did it with out touching the adjusters. So it went back with what ever toe in it had before. I might have it rechecked later if the tires wear funny but at 70 it goes straight down the road. We also had a very small dull clink/pop sound that went away.

[Kurt Combs]

CJ,

Sounds like you did a good job and made a significant improvement in your truck, plus your son had a learning experience. I am glad to hear I am not the only one who feels that if it tracks straight and the tire are wearing evenly, leave the front-end alone. I set the toe-in on a 1981 Toyota Cressida with a tape measure and it was fine for years. I did it by looking at the front tires in relation to the back from behind. I kind of eyeballed it. I adjusted the toe in by measuring the front a back of the tires with a tape measure and adjusted accordingly. I would not have done this if I had expensive tires on the car as I wouldn't want to find out that I made an error by the wear pattern on a big investment.

Kurt

[71 LONG BED]

I should have checked around before I purchased them.
Checked around as in asked everyone here for their advice and thoughts on past purchases. I have known I was going to do this for 6 months
This one just got past me somehow. Must be oldtimers kicking in or something.
Napa part# 262-1484 King pin/ bushing set $83.99 + $6.93tax = $90.92
This set fits a 73 F100. Thats the year of my disc brake spindles
The machine shop is only going to charge 20-25 each to install and cnc mill the bushings to fit.
At least I'll have a good job done on them.

I paid $80 just to have a garage take the king pins out!! I needed the spindles for my disk brake conversion, not the beams. I have to find another place because he said it would be about the same price for him to put the new ones together. Now I know it could be a little less.

[CJ,s 67 F100]

71 Long Bed, I shopped around for the machine shop prices and finally asked my engine builder. He is the one who recommended the machine shop that did them for me. I thought the machine shop would be the high part, just like Kurt thought. The KP's being as high as they were was what never entered my mind. Oh well, it's done and done right.

[71 LONG BED]

Yes, there is something to be said about doing it right the first time. I guess it is what it is. I am going to pay $400 for drop beams, so $80 to install the king pins the right way isn't to bad. I definitely don't want to drive around in a death trap.