34 axle spindle shim help

helping my frien put this droped axle on his 34 pickup got one side on looks good but the p*** side has a 1/8 gap? what should i shim this with? should i put the shims top or bottom? were can i get shims? thanks billy

 

Are you saying you have a 1/8 gap at the kingpin? Never ever saw one with that kind of gap. Most times a very thin shim are possibly two shims will make it tight. Is this new parts?

 

By looking at the picture the bottom of the top king pin boss has been cut or ground away. Probably from over use through time. A failed top bearing will let these parts ride together. You might either find a machinist who can part you off a big spacer or find a better spindle.


Good luck,

Tim

 

The lock pin needs to be put in so the king pin will be located correctly, then check your gaps.

 

I mic'd the axle the p*** side is about 1/8 off the spindle gap is the same on both spindles. The axle is a drop my frind got frome someone back east that sells droped axle's. I just want to get this back together.

 

Would bronze SHIMS be ok?

 

I never realized the earlier spindles didn't use a thrust bearing underneath, like the 37-48 spindles, but I have never used anything but the later ones.

If you can get enough shims from kingpin sets you should be able to take up that gap with no problems. You should mention it to the guy who sold him the dropped axle, that one is a little worn away on the top, it looks like.

Don

 

What year are those spindles ? It has 40 juice on it.

 

I agree with harv.

As far as the spindles go, hard to tell from that picture. Could be 32-4, 35-6, or 42-8. If there are no modifications to spindle or backing plate where they bolt together, probably 42-8.

Edit:
After thinking about the spindles for a few seconds, I'd say they are earlier since the thrust bearing is up top. I don't mess with the later spindles much, so I can't say for sure.

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The gap will be the same no matter what position the king pin is in.

Get your hands on a washer that's big enough, and thick enough. Personally I'd rather have one piece of 1/8th inch metal in there, than fifteen paper thin shims.

 

Something else I just noticed, do you have enough clearance between the top of the steering arm and the bottom of the axle in the area I encirlced in red ? Looks like it is very close, but it could be camera angle. There has to be enough room for it to clear throughout it's turn.

Don

 

Hellmet that looks to be a 35/6 Ford p***enger car spindle you cant use them with dropped axles because the steering arms hits the axle drop.

Answer to question the space is for the lower bearing grease seal and cap see attached picture

 

Thanks **** i do have that little seal. Just put that in at the bottom?

 

Billy, once you get the kingpin lock in, you should find the gap above axle is minimal, and the gap under the axle has opened up where the felt goes. I used one shim on mine between the top of the axle and the spindle if I remember correctly.

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