Technical Super Bell Axle Kingpin Bore Issue

I saw this right after you posted it.
IMHO… send it back for refund or replace

 

Just reading the reply seems off to me.
Unless they “drop” the axle and then machine the holes?

 

They make the axles and then the drill the holes that’s exactly what his reply said. If the OP doesn’t want it they’ll take it back and give him another one back.

 

how centered are the king pin bores looking from the other side ?

 

That’s how I read it as well. If that’s the case, looks like very poor
QC before (at a minimum) sending it for chrome.

 

Yep - why would anyone proceed to chrome plating it?

 

Were I denied hand selecting from several supposedly higher end & priced axles in search for one that met my approval you can rest ***ured I would ask to see some other offerings or simply take a walk...

 

Issue is (I’m guessing) the OP ordered online.

 

No way in hell would I accept that, why would they even bother to plate it, lipstick on a pig! obviously you ordered chrome, so the axel was intended to be seen, there is no way that will not look weird and wonky
Accepting obviously substandard parts does not incentivize manufacturers to produce quality

 

A forging can be pressed back in to shape if it twists or bends during the forging process. Their manufacturer should be making such corrections to the parts prior to machining.

You won't find forged Ford axles like that.

Send it back for a refund.

 

I used a Super Bell Chrome Tube Axle (cast ends) when I built a deuce roadster back in 1984. I drove it a while then sold it and it went thru several owners. A few years ago I got an e-mail from a guy in I think Oregon that he had the roadster and while turning a corner he hit a pot hole and the end broke off the axle thru the kingpin lock hole causing the front tire & wheel to swing back bending the 4 bar and damaging the front cowl panel. I contacted P&J's who immediately shipped a new chrome tube axle and 4 bars N/C. I'm not demeaning P&J's axles, I've sold 100's of them under customer ch***is with no problems.

 

I have not hear of to much bad things about P&J's ,
If Jerry still there talk with Him if that's
Not the person you talked to .
In less this coming a Regular issue ,
On this particular axle was not inspected after Stamping & boring dressing chroming polishing..
Should've never made it past to next step after cooled from Forged /pressing.
Back in s**** to be melted back down.
This is why I asked if straight From
S-B , if not maybe a fake .

 

I bought one about 8 months ago straight from them, although it's not chromed, it also has offset kingpin holes. Not near to the extent of the OP's but enough I was surprised to see it that far off.

It's not enough to cause me any safety concerns and I did consider sending it back but figured I'd probably end of with something similar or even worse. I had read about others having similar problems on other websites...

...

 

With all the comments here about this problem, It would appear to me that the jigs the forging company is using are worn out. The axles would go thru various stations each one fitting in a jig as they go. No tape measures are used. The last one should be the most accurate.

 

I wonder how many times that axle has been shipped out and returned.

 

I agree, worn tooling...


...

 

I did return it and just received another one. The kingpin bores are much better, but not perfectly centered. Your axle pictured above looks better than the new Super Bell! Thanks for sharing.

 

No pics of the replacement axle??

Chris

 

First two are drivers side and second two are p***enger side. Not perfect but better than the first axle.

 

Done!

 

Better shot of the underside of the p***enger side. This was the opposite end of the bore of the other axle was the most off center. Definitely seems to be a tooling issue

 

That's about what mine looks like !

I say tooling also...

....

 

That new one is better, at least. That first one really looked like ****.