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Independent Front Suspension - Getting Pinned

Improving An Early IFS with SSBC's Royal Kingpins
February, 2009
By Damon Lee
Independent Front Suspension
Independent Front Suspension
The Royal King Pin Kit comes... 
   
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Independent Front Suspension
The Royal King Pin Kit comes with virtually everything needed for installation, including kingpins, needle bearings, thrust bearings, shims, grease fittings, and a bearing installation tool.
Independent Front Suspension
With the spindle removed from... 
   
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Independent Front Suspension
With the spindle removed from the car, we got a better look at the original brass kingpin bushings...
Independent Front Suspension
...Jason used an appropriate-sized... 
   
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Independent Front Suspension
...Jason used an appropriate-sized socket to drive out the old bushings. Once out, he made sure to thoroughly clean the spindles and check the bores for burrs or gouges.
Independent Front Suspension
Here you can see one of the... 
   
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Independent Front Suspension
Here you can see one of the old brass bushings, and the new needle bearings that will replace it. The needle bearings minimize kingpin wear and can provide smoother, easier steering.
Independent Front Suspension
Jason drove in the new needle... 
   
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Independent Front Suspension
Jason drove in the new needle bearings using the supplied tool. For this application, the bearings were driven into the upper spindle boss first...
Independent Front Suspension
...A small gap was left between... 
   
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Independent Front Suspension
...A small gap was left between the two bearings, and the specified 1/16-inch gap was left between the upper bearing and the top edge of the spindle boss.
Independent Front Suspension
At that point, the spindle... 
   
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Independent Front Suspension
At that point, the spindle was put back on the upright, the new thrust washer placed on the lower spindle boss, and the kingpin slid up into place. The kingpin's lock pin notch is offset to one side, so Jason made sure to orient the kingpin so it would line up with the lock pin hole on the upright.
Independent Front Suspension
After checking the spindle... 
   
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Independent Front Suspension
After checking the spindle for up-and-down movement and shimming the thrust bearings as needed, Jason drove in the new lock pin, securing the kingpin in place.
Independent Front Suspension
Next, the needle bearings... 
   
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Independent Front Suspension
Next, the needle bearings had to be driven into the lower spindle boss. Again, the upper bearing was driven in flush with the boss, and the lower bearing was driven in until there was a 1/16-inch gap between the bearing and spindle edge.
Independent Front Suspension
After rotating the spindle... 
   
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Independent Front Suspension
After rotating the spindle a few times to make sure it turned freely and didn't have any excessive free play, Jason finished things off by installing the rubber end seals, stainless end caps, and grease fittings...
Independent Front Suspension
...Then it was time to break... 
   
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Independent Front Suspension
...Then it was time to break out the lube gun, pump some grease into the kingpins, and reinstall the car's brakes and wheels so we could enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation
11470 Main Rd., Dept. CRM
Clarence
NY  14031

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