Best way to check for correct fit (which is 0.002” clearance fit) is to do a drop test. Dry the pins should not hold in the bushes when you lift the stub axles they should fall through. Coated liberally with engine oil (20/50 or similar is fine) you should be able to lift the stubs and the pins should not fall out. That shows a 2 thou fit, many people have poo-poo’d this as none sense but I have demonstrated this to several people on here and it’s the way I was taught as an apprentice and my old foreman said he was never wrong ;-). Seriously if you can get that fit Hardchromes give a great sticktion free ride and will last a long time.
If you have to replace the kingpins in the future 75% of the cost/pain/struggle is labour. Rebuild it with new parts throughout, why cut corners on your pride and joy to save a few pounds??? Under £8 a bush? Come on let’s get real chaps ;-).
Your lower spring compressors work perfectly to reassemble the whole system, that’s all I used on the first few kingpin jobs I did before I had a top bolt compressor made, takes a little longer but so what. Just compress from the lower section and ease the pin into the dust tube, reach down and start the top oiler bolt as soon as it contacts and as you ease up the compression just make sure you don’t nip the dust tube, turning the stub a little from side to side normally centralises everything. And DONT try and pull the kingpins up into place until you can get at least 5 threads started by hand, the kingpin internal thread can strip. I have had 2 calls from owners who have done this!
BR
Colin
