Kingpin eliminator...

[llong66]

Hello all!! With my engine rebuild about wrapped up, I am looking at some other things I need to do one of which is rebuild my front end. I was looking over stuff at ORD and saw they have a kingpin eliminator which uses poly bushings rather than the springs. Has anyone used these and if so what were your thoughts? My truck is pretty much a DD with some off road use. How do these handle on the road? I was also thinking of their bronze kingpin bushings rather than the nylon ones that are stock.
Thanks for any input/thoughts.

Greg

 

[Westech]

Just use the stock stuff. It takes 25 years for the springs to go bad. Just slam in new cups and springs and grease everything really heavy. Bam... 25 years to go.
I would only use the kit if running larger then 40" tires.

 

[Keith_J]

Yes, unless you go to larger wheels/tires, stock is perfectly fine. Why have spring loaded bushings? To prevent damage to the bushings. Why nylon bushings? To protect the upper pins. Think of the setup as an automatic circuit breaker which protects the rest of the circuit.

rolling element bearings in the upper would become brinneled or beat out, causing more wear. Spring loaded bushings tolerate abuse and reset when the upset condition is removed.

 

[llong66]

Thank you both very much! Westech, that makes perfect sense, Keith_J, thats a great analogy!