I ordered a new kingpin kit from speedway motors the other day and it arrived while i was out of town. Today I had the time to work on the car and well after getting apart and cleaned and the bushing in, I found the kingpin itself wont go in the bushing. The instructions state that the bushing is to be hand pressed into spindle which I did with no problem. It also states that the busing is manufactured to final size for pin and require no reaming. Well the pin will not go into the bushing at all. These are floating bushings so if I was to tap them in it will push the bushing out. What is wrong? Did they send me the wrong bushing for the pins? I even tried the bushing out of the out of the spindle and no go. I need help because the car has to be done before Thursday. The part # is 910-32123 and it is for a '49-'54 Chevy car axle.
Does the kingpin fit the axle? Should give you an idea if the bushing bores are undersize or the kingpin is oversize. Put the same Speedway set in a couple of weeks ago and had to lightly sand the edges of the inner bore on one of the bushings; seemed to be a slight burr on edges. Everything else fit OK tho.
Have you got a micrometer or caliper that you can measure and compare the new kingpin with the old kingpin to make sure that they are the same diameter. I'd do as Rich B mentioned and check the bushings for burrs or damage from pushing them in. If you can measure the bushing an king pin and compare and do see that the inside of the bushings are actually smaller (which isn't a bad thing) take the spindles and king pins to an automotive machine shop and have them "hone" the bushings on their rod/pin hone. Most automotive machine shops will have a Sunnen hone or comparable hone for that purpose and it is a simple task that they might be able to do while you wait.
Fords need honing but 49-54 Chevy do not, generally. I have installed them a bunch of times and once the bushings are pushed into place the kingpins will slide right in. I suspect there is some manufacturing issue and would call Speedway. Have them pull one off the shelf and hand test it for you, they will do that, and it is how they will know if they have a problem with more on the shelf. Don
The king pin fits the upright snug like it is supposed to. I don't see or feel any burs on the bushing. I checked the old king pin and it wont go into new bushing either.
Then your bushings are not honed to the correct ID size. Call Speedway and talk to customer service. Don