Needle bearings for King Pins, top or bottom?

I am rebuilding the front end on my '40 Plymouth with all NOS parts i have collected. When I opened up the box of McQuay-Norris KA-94 king pin set, there is new pins and thrust bearings, and two bushings and two sets of Torrington needle bearings. So does the needle bearing go upper, or lower? Anyone know?

These are all wrapped up good and dated January 26, 1946. 67 years yesterday! I searched the threads and saw where most don't think they're worth the price, but for $40 bucks I think I did OK. And I wouldn't expect failure with Torrington bearings.
Thanks!

 

Nobody else run into this? One bushing and one bearing per side.

 

Call customer service!

 

What does your shop manual say?

 

We don't need no stinking Customer Service or shop manual here. Draw yourself a little sketch, front view, of the axle and steering knuckle. Remember, the weight of the car is pushing DOWN on the axle, the weight is then transferred out to the wheels through the knuckle. The bearings therefore would be on the LOWER side, and the bushings and shims on the top where there is no weight.

 

That would be my answer as well, bottom for the bearings.

 

How about looking at the old parts as you're taking it apart? I took one of those apart once, but was unable to find a replacement set of pins with the bearing in them... pretty sure the bearings go on top and if you check, I *think* the OD of the bearing is larger than the bushing so they can only go one way... maybe... it's been a while.

 

Doing a 56 dodge power wagon at the moment and although it is apples and oranges the bushings went up top and the bearing went on the bottom.

 

its the lower, the bearing is sandwiched in between the top surface on the bottom of the spindle, and the bottom face of your axle.

 

get another set and use them both places---more is better

 

Maybe this will help,from my de soto 1941 shop manual.

 

You mean a 4x4 ? If so,don't they have tapered roller bearings top and bottom like every other front drive axle with closed knuckles?

 

For what it is worth, caged needle bearings were designed to be used on rotating shaft
applications. They do not do well where the shaft just oscillates a small ammount.
This is why most cars use bushings. They last longer.

 

For parts made in 1946?

My 1942 Motors Manual shows bushings top and bottom. I think this set is some kind of upgrade, as it is indeed for a 1940 Plymouth

The old parts is bushings, top and bottom.

 

Thanks J Hansen! This is what I was looking for, it clearly shows the needle bearing on top. Both of my books only showed these cars with bushings. And I have seen King Pin sets sold both ways.
Thanks to everyone else for all the help getting this old Mayflower back on the road!

 

Well, once again the ol' shop manual comes through. So sorry for the bad info I gave you. I was thinking along the lines of my Chevy axle (shown in the picture - check out part #17). There's quite a bit of difference between your axle and the Chevy axle. I should know better than try to answer Mopar questions with a Stovebolt mentality!

Anyway, glad you got the straight skinny!

 

OT...but FYI...benn a truck parts dude for years...& I now see the aftermarket IS using top & bottom Torrington (needle ) bearings. Wunner why it took us so long?

 

Tapered on bottom, bronze bushing at top. I think bearings top and bottom would be better but this was the factory set up. If it was mine I would have went all tapered bearing.

 

I'd think you were kidding if I saw a smilie icon. Just where do you think he'd get the extra space to slip in another thrust bearing on the top? They aren't paper thin.

 

Not sure where your info was wrong? The diagram shows the bearing on the bottom from what I can see.

 

The 3 pictures that j hansen posted (post #11) shows the needle bearings the OP was asking about at the top of the kingpin. The picture I posted does indeed show the load carrying bearing on the bottom, but that is for a Chevy truck axle.

But, I still don't quite get it, what carrys the load on that Mopar setup?

Anyone?

 

There is a load carrying bearing on the bottom of the kingpin. I had just never seen a set of kingpins that came with a Torrington needle bearing. But I will put them in next weekend, per j hansens picture. Thanks again everyone, and j for the pictures!

 

There seems to be two ways to make this ,bushing+bushing or bearing upper+bushing lower.Do not know why,and no help from Part List or Shop Manual.Maybe a MoPar thing.

 

Now this set-up looks nearly identicle to the Chevy set-up I posted earlier. Call-out #4 is the bearing I thought the OP was asking about and since it carries the weight of the vehicle, goes under the axle. The only difference is that on a Chevy you shim the top as needed for minimum gap.

 

For what it is worth, caged needle bearings were designed to be used on rotating shaft
applications. They do not do well where the shaft just oscillates a small ammount.
This is why most cars use bushings. They last longer.
I paid outrageous money for the Royal kingpin bearings, greased them frequently and learned that the rollers dont roll, they skid and go flat. JUNK

 

Thanks for the new pictures, J hansen! Plate 4 is what I took out, but this new set I bought has the needle bearings. Thanks manyolcars for noting what you experienced, but I have this kingpin set, and if they fit, they're going in, with the Torrington needle bearings on top, like the earlier picture. I'm hoping these 1946 Torrington bearings are good steel, and will hold up. I only drive this coupe a couple thousand miles a year, I'll see how long they hold up.