Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: Joe on June 23, 2003, 09:32:35

Title: suspension (king pins)
Post by: Joe on June 23, 2003, 09:32:35

I'm a bit disappointed that my front end (of my car!) is so worn. This is evidence of lack of care, and I just hope the engine was treated better.
There was about 1 inch of slop in the front tires due to worn tie rod ends. So I decided to just do it all.
After spraying two cans of gunk onto the crusted up parts, I drove to the car wash. There I jacked up the front and removed the front wheels. Then I spent ten minutes with the washing wand. The crud was so tough, I couldn't touch it.
At home, I started dismantling things. If you like hitting things with hammers and testing your arm strength to its limits, this is the right work.
I found the best way to clean the parts was to soak them in a bucket of water and Plumbers Friend. This is the product that is basic rather than acidic, and it will disolve the crud but leave the paint.
I'm putting in new control arm bushings, tie rods, drag link, idler arms, steering shock and king pins. One side is now almost assembled, but I find there is a lot of slop in the joint that contains the cammed bolt at the top of the king pin. I can move the bottom of the king pin a distance of about 1/4 inch from front to rear, with the lower control arm off. Is this normal, or should I put in an additional washer against the threaded tube in which sits the cammed bolt? I know the nut on the cammed bolt is as tight as possible, without stripping it. The slop just will not go away.
Any help is appreciated.
Joe

Title: Re: suspension (king pins)
Post by: ja17 on June 23, 2003, 20:52:54

Hello Joe,
The Upper link pin kit usually needs replaced with the kingpins. In most cases the lower trunion kit is required also. However if the upper link pin with bushing assembly and the kingpin are new, they are designed to have a little clearence for grease. In severe cases the a-arm itself will be worn.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

Title: Re: suspension (king pins)
Post by: Joe on June 24, 2003, 10:51:41

Yeah, Ohio Joe, I'm replacing it all. I decided to do this because of several reasons, so just bit the bullet for the parts.
Last night I moved to the right side. Do you have a slick way to bend the tabs off the upper control arm bolts using only one hand?
Thanks a lot!
Colorado Joe

Title: Re: suspension (king pins)
Post by: ja17 on June 24, 2003, 20:38:13

Hi Joe,
Sorry, I have no slick short cut. That front end work is just way too much heavy duty greasey, hard work!


Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio