Kingpins discontinued for my Dana 60????!!!

[Mr Pops]

So I tried buying kingpins for my Squarebody Crewcab 4x4 with a Dana 60. The truck is a 1990 Chev V3500.

I dropped by my local family owned parts supplier and was told that they didn't carry them. So I went to Napa who told me the same thing. So I call a GM dealer who called it a "socket" and said it was discontinued. So I called Partsource who also didn't carry them.

So I went to NAPAONLINE.COM and only found a kingpin BUSHING kit, https://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/R...+50014+2014047

I've never done kingpins before, is it common to only need the bushing?

Am I asking for the wrong thing? Are these considered to be ball joints?

[TheWhiteElephant]

No, they're certainly called kingpins. However, some do mistakenly call them ball joints.

[TheWhiteElephant]

Do you have part numbers? I tried Rockauto.com and they have the same bushing kit. It is under "steering" as opposed to "suspension".

[b454rat]

Go to Fleet Pride, that is where I got all my 60 stuff....

[Mr Pops]

Originally Posted by TheWhiteElephant

No, they're certainly called kingpins. However, some do mistakenly call them ball joints.

Ok thanks.

[Mr Pops]

Originally Posted by TheWhiteElephant

Do you have part numbers? I tried Rockauto.com and they have the same bushing kit. It is under "steering" as opposed to "suspension".

Ok cool. So I checked out the site. Now I'm wondering if it's the knuckle bearing or the bushing or both that I need, or if there's still something missing. It's kinda hard to tell without a pic of the part. Maybe I can find a diagram somewhere.

[Mr Pops]

Originally Posted by b454rat

Go to Fleet Pride, that is where I got all my 60 stuff....

I clicked on kingpin in the index, and it gave me parts for a tractor trailer 5th wheel.. haha

[TheWhiteElephant]

Here are a few links, hopefully they help...

http://compare.ebay.com/like/2304918...=sbar&_lwgsi=y

http://www.riversidegear.com/dana-60...odge-ford.html

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...pin/index.html

[TheWhiteElephant]

Originally Posted by Mr Pops

Ok cool. So I checked out the site. Now I'm wondering if it's the knuckle bearing or the bushing or both that I need, or if there's still something missing. It's kinda hard to tell without a pic of the part. Maybe I can find a diagram somewhere.

Looky here...

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...pin/index.html

[Mr Pops]

Edit: so I guess there where pics of the bearing. I'm guessing there's more to that to fix the major amount of play that I have in both the upper and lower kingpins..
Oh, and I forgot to get a part number from any of the parts guys today.

[Mr Pops]

SWEET Awesome links! Thanks, that will help alot. Do I have to pull the axle to get them out???

[TheWhiteElephant]

I've never done a Dana 60, but yes, you will need access to them with the axles removed, but I wouldn't sweat that. It will give you an opportunity to replace the inner axle seals, which you had BETTER do at the same time.

Now is a good time to go through all the seals and bearings.

[Mr Pops]

Originally Posted by TheWhiteElephant

I've never done a Dana 60, but yes, you will need access to them with the axles removed, but I wouldn't sweat that. It will give you an opportunity to replace the inner axle seals, which you had BETTER do at the same time.

Now is a good time to go through all the seals and bearings.

Gotta love a snowball project!! haha Thanks for the advise. I'll do it all while I have it apart.

[STOCKISH]

OK man, i just did mine, check it out. It is VERY common only to need the bushing in the top and not the whole Kingpin. You do not have to remove the axles, or even the brakes to do the top. Just take the 4 bolts out of the cap and remove the white bushing. SUPER simple. I did replace the Kingpin while I had mine apart because, well, i figured might as well. You will need a big ass 7/8 allen wrench to remove the kingpin itself. i have one you can borrow if you pay shipping. But theyre not too expensive. I used the 7/8 allen wrench and a jack handle cheater bar. The bottom has a bearing, not a kingpin. You can remove the lower cap, replace the bearing and reinstall. You dont NEED to replace the race unless its rough, pitted, etc... but again, I figured might as well.

I got my kingpin rebuild kits from Off Road Design.

[Mr Pops]

Originally Posted by 1972SuperCheyenne

OK man, i just did mine, check it out. It is VERY common only to need the bushing in the top and not the whole Kingpin. You do not have to remove the axles, or even the brakes to do the top. Just take the 4 bolts out of the cap and remove the white bushing. SUPER simple. I did replace the Kingpin while I had mine apart because, well, i figured might as well. You will need a big ass 7/8 allen wrench to remove the kingpin itself. i have one you can borrow if you pay shipping. But theyre not too expensive. I used the 7/8 allen wrench and a jack handle cheater bar. The bottom has a bearing, not a kingpin. You can remove the lower cap, replace the bearing and reinstall. You dont NEED to replace the race unless its rough, pitted, etc... but again, I figured might as well.

I got my kingpin rebuild kits from Off Road Design.

Very good info, thank you very much! I'll see if I can find a 7/8 allen locally, but thanks for the offer.

[my4by2]

Try these: http://www.wfoconcepts.com/pr/Dana-6...3164/3172/3435

They're from WFO Concepts - the shop building my truck. Should work for ya!

[Mr Pops]

Originally Posted by my4by2

Try these: http://www.wfoconcepts.com/pr/Dana-6...3164/3172/3435

They're from WFO Concepts - the shop building my truck. Should work for ya!

Cool thanks! I'll use them if I can't find any locally.. Still going to dig around town a little more.

[STOCKISH]

I was looking at my recepits last night, I actually got mine from WFO as well. Same brand and all.

[Dunenutt]

Originally Posted by Mr Pops

Very good info, thank you very much! I'll see if I can find a 7/8 allen locally, but thanks for the offer.

More often than not, you are going to need a torch to heat up the C that it threads into. They can be REALLY stuck in there!

[Mr Pops]

Originally Posted by Dunenutt

More often than not, you are going to need a torch to heat up the C that it threads into. They can be REALLY stuck in there!

I'll keep that in mind. I went back to the GM dealer since they said they had the lower bearing, but not the kingpin. So I go there and they say, yup, it's $172 for just the lower bearing, and oh nevermind, it's discontinued too.. So I go back to Partsource who also said they only had the lower bearing but not the kingpin when I talked to them on the phone, and when I got there, I was watching the computer as the guy looked up the part and saw a listing for the kingpin also! So it supposedly came in last night, I'm going to pick them up later today and see if it's the right stuff.

[Mr. 250r]

The dealerships around here have no clue what kingpins are and really don't know much of anything lol unless you get exact part #'s they are useless as for the rebuild ill eventually be getting mine from here https://www.4wdfactory.com/store/cat...in-Front-Parts if you go to the rebuild kit they also offer the allen key to take the kingpins out of a socket but you'll need one heck of an impact to get it out

[STOCKISH]

I used a 2 foot long allen wrench and a 6 foot cheater pipe! No torch needed here. I've done tons of them. Just crazy strong I guess! LOL!

[Mr Pops]

Ok, me and my little bro ripped it all apart and found that the lower bearing was fine. The reason there was so much play in the lower bearing was because the kingpin bushing had enough play to let the spindle drop when I jacked up the axle to check for play. When you let it off the jack, the weight goes back on the lower bearing and it sits where it's supposed to, and the play is at the top in the kingpin bushing.

The kingpin bushing was in about five pieces, but the kingpin was totally fine with no scoring on it. My axle seal was fine, as were my U-joints, so we just replaced the plastic kingpin bushing, cleaned up the lower bearing and replaced the axle/hub bearing while we were in there. Thanks again for all your help guys!

[joe231]

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[Mr Pops]

Originally Posted by joe231

Posted via Mobile Device

Sorry, my hands were too dirty for the camera! lol.. The links that were given have lots of pics..