Doing the front brakes on my Chevy and found the front end is just shot to*****! Kingpins are totaly worn out, center steering pivot is wobbling around like a drunk****** etc, etc...Anyone here rebuilt one of these? I've been checking out Kanters kit prices and I'm hoping a local machine shop can ream the kingpin bushings for me, just wondering if any HAMBers have tackled this and have any tips. Also was a bit concerned about setting the caster and camber angles once the thing is done, any tools for doing this at home? Oh yeah and has anyone converted their car to tapered front wheel bearings? I know there are kits out there but I'm wondering if it is cheaper to get the parts from a bearing house any tips??? Thanks!
George I guess I'll be buying you pizza one of these days! It will be awhile before I tear the front apart as I'm going to collect all the needed stuff first but I will be bugging you about that reamer! If I get one of those tapered bearing kits we can try it on your Olds too.
I've done a 49 & a 51. The kingpin & bushing sets for these Chevys come ready to install, NO reaming is necessary. Also, It's kind of hard to explain but after pulling the bushings off the upper pivot pin I mark the pivot pin with a punch & right next to it on the upper control arm. Then transfer the punch mark to the same position on the new pivot pin. Line the marks back up when you put it back together & your alignment will be real close. Hope this helps. Billy
get a nice cheater pipe and a HELLUVA vise if you plan to change the inner control arm shaft bushings! broke two vises when i did my 50 pontiac
Thanks for the tips! I think I'm just going to rebuild the king pins and the center steering arm right now as the front end bushings seem ok. I just want to get this thing semi driveable! I know the manual says the king pin bushings come ready to install with no reaming but I figured that the aftermarket kits out there today would probably need reaming.
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