Kingpin problems

[Anonymous]

Nope, this isn't for either of my bikes but I need some help. I've got an 87 Ford E-150 that needs one of the king pins fixed due to being sloppy and I was wondering what kind of "special" equipment I will need to do it. I think all I need is some kind of a reemer and a spring compressor.

Oh yeah, is it normal for these vans to break their front coil springs? I busted one but I can't think of what could have done it.

Thanks, Steve

[Anonymous]

that ford shouldent have a king pin setup, that was like early 70`s style suspensions. you have ball joints..jack the van high off the ground and place jack stand on frame, place your floorjack under the lower control arm and just put a little pressure on it with the jack, disconnect the tie rod and the brake caliper and remove the rotor, undo both ball joint nuts and get the hammer out and beat the hell out of it cause its a ford 8O hammer on a pickle fork tool to seperate ball joints and remove the spindle...its helps if you have a ball joint press if not you will be hammering alot to remove the joint......to get the spring out just lower the jack until the spring has no pressure and remove it but be carefull....also check your radius arm bushings, they wear out and if its to late they wear out the radius arm....oh yeah, i never saw a broken spring yet on a ford.

[silverhorse47]

Steve...if you do have ball joints...the joint is a taper fit with a slight oval to it. The oval is in line with the rod that it attaches to. If you put a jack or a lever on the threaded end of the ball joint and put a bit of pressure on it, then hit the end of the ball joint...(the part that is perpendicular to the threaded end) with a hammer sharply and hard, it will pop right off.
it helps to have a second person hold the lever (2x4) out from under the truck, as if you are on the ground you have to scrooch around to get the hammer in there.

S.

[Anonymous]

I wish I had the van here to confirm that it did use ball joints to hold the front wheels on but I don't think it does. It is a double "I" beam set up with no castor/camber settings. A couple years ago I had to take it to a transport shop to have them re-bend the beams for a wheel alignment.

I do own a pickle fork and I do plan on hitting it against my van a lot regardless! I think it'll be the last Ford I'll ever buy, my dads Dodge van is actually better than my van.

Steve

[Anonymous]

it does have caster/camber adjustment...look where the upper ball joint is, you can turn the whatever they call it a little to adjust that....my teacher had a 76 ford i think it was, i belive thats one of the last years for king pins.

[silverhorse47]

Be sure and give the whatever you call it a few whacks with the pickle fork, too, Steve!

:-)

S.

[Anonymous]

Yep, Ursula is in for it the next time I'm in Sudbury. :twisted:

[Anonymous]

king pin problem

Steve, I spent about 5 yrs with ford and you are correct in thinking that it has kingpins as long as you have the double i beam you have pins they were used into the late 80's almost 90's and you will need two things an acetylene torch, a heavy hammer and a heavy drift preferably an old king pin as i made in the shop i was at. it is either that or a shop with a press those are you're only choices.

Tim