OK here goes...... I am working on a friends 1/2 ton Chevy pickup. It has disk brakes on the stock spindles. He purchased a Speedway Chevy truck dropped axle, #(910-4754) and 1/2 ton kingpin set #(910-32130). The stock spindles don't even come close to fitting the dropped axle! Has anyone installed one of these axles before? The old spindle had a roller bushing, the new kingpin set gives you a solid bushing! Can I machine down the axle and reuse the roller bushing? Or does someone know of a thin roller bushing that will fit?
From speedways website: Notes Due to differences in OEM manufacturing, kingpin bearings measuring ½” thick will NOT work with this axle. If you have this size bearing, you will also need to order our Kingpin Kit 910-32130. The thrust bearing in this kit measures .225" thick. Also included is a .315" spacer (if needed). Normal shims and a shim kit are also included.
Again. SID'S! Make no mistake. Stock axle dropped, straightened, king pin bores 'standardized' (restored to original bores) Reasonable price, excellent fit. If GM wanted these trucks lower, this would be how they would have done it.
I called Speedway and found out that the bronze washers and wimpy tin cups are the thrust bearings. You have to ***emble them to make the bearing. Plan on using them and seeing how they hold up!
Personally I wouldn't stick one of those Speedway axles on a home made trailer let alone my truck. I know there is a wait if you send your axle in and want your axle back rather than doing an exchange or just paying the core charge but the axle is a work of art when you get it back rather than a piece of square tubing welded to some ends that may be a bit suspect.
From Sid's website; IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ! Click here to make sure you have a Safe Scrub Line Clearance. ALL AXLES ARE STRAIGHTENED, KINGPINS RESIZED (if needed), KINGPINS BOSS SET TO FACTORY INCLINATION, DROPPED, SANDBLASTED, AND MAGNA FLUXED (to check for cracks) Mine even came back painted.
The Jalopy Journal
