View Full Version : Need help fast. 37-41 ford spindle question
fordnutz
10-25-2003, 04:10 PM
Sold a pair of spindles to a friend of mine and he had them chemically stripped, magnafluxed and chromed for his deuce roadster he has had since the late forties. He went to install them on his chromed axle and the spindle bolt is way too loose in it with new bushings. What can he do short of replacing the spindles? Is there an easy fix? He wants to get the front end together and this is holding him up.
Unkl Ian
10-25-2003, 04:17 PM
What is a spindle bolt?Do you mean king pin?
36-3window
10-25-2003, 04:20 PM
how could new kingpins be loose in the spindle if the spindle has new bushings intalled and properly reamed? are the king pins loose in the spindles or axle ?
Loose side to side? or top to bottom? I had a problem a few years back when the plater "polished" a little too much on some cast parts and they wouldn't seal after. Did he test fit them first?
fordnutz
10-25-2003, 07:21 PM
I just reread his email and he says the holes in the spindles are too large for the bushings. It isn't a king pin problem, it is a bushing and spindle problem. Is there different size bushing, larger that can be purchased. I pulled the spindles off an axle and they had bushings in them then. Could the holes be elongated and can anything be done about it?
Fatchuk
10-25-2003, 08:34 PM
Fordnutz.......your friend should be able to take them to any machine shop and have them rebushed..just make sure you take the king pins with you so the machinist can fit them ....I have this done quite often for lots of things I need custom bushed, by a little machinist up the road that has a shop in his garage.....fatchuk
Unkl Ian
10-25-2003, 08:51 PM
I'm guessing the stock bushings got removed for Chroming,or Magnafluxing,and no one mentioned it.The bushings are a press fit in the spindles,the king pins should be a sliding fit in the bushings.New bushings typically need to be honed,after they are pressed into the spindles,to get the exact size.
fordnutz
10-26-2003, 01:17 AM
Does anyone make an oversize bushing for the 37-41 spindle. He says the bushings are too small and he can't find any that are oversize. I understand how they work and have done some myself. Just never run across his problem before.
36-3window
10-26-2003, 01:31 AM
i just can't beleive that the holes in the spindle where the bushings get pressed in are oversized....how could that happen? who would do that? somethings not right.
chop32
10-26-2003, 02:23 AM
Is it possible that these spindles might have been bored out in the past for a different diameter kingpin? Some aftermarket axles use the '37 thru '48 Ford kingpin (.813" diameter) while others use a '49 thru '54 Chevy kingpin (.867 diameter).
enjenjo
10-26-2003, 02:31 AM
you can buy bushings in varius sizes from http://www.mcmaster.com/ And have them turned to press into your spindles. I have done this in the past when adapting spindles to a different axle. For that matter any machine shop can make bushings from bronze bar stock, just costs more that way because of the hand labor.
fordnutz
10-26-2003, 12:21 PM
We have a couple of old machine shops in town here so I am going to check tomorrow and see if they have anything they have in stock for the problem.
Digger_Dave
10-26-2003, 06:57 PM
[ QUOTE ]
I'm guessing the stock bushings got removed for Chroming,or Magnafluxing,and no one mentioned it.
[/ QUOTE ]
If the bushings were NOT removed before chroming, it's possible the chrome shop was using an acid etch solution to remove any traces of grease and oil; and the etch process "ate away" part of the bushings. (increasing it's inside diameter) Acid and bronze bushings don't get along very well.
I would go for a new set of king pins and bushings and have them fitted.
If stock bushings don't fit (loose) the spindle, then custom ones might be needed.
Is it possible that the spindles are Lincoln?? Lincoln spindles have larger O.D. bushings and king pins. They look like Ford spindles that have had the arms bent down for a dropped axle.
modernbeat
10-26-2003, 08:43 PM
If they are Lincolns, then he'll have to bend the axle to bring it back into alignment. The Lincolns have require more camber in the axle.
My best guess is that the spindles were opened up for Chevy kingpins and stock Chevy bushings. Check the ID of the axle they came off of for verification.
Digger_Dave
10-27-2003, 01:44 PM
[ QUOTE ]
My best guess is that the spindles were opened up for Chevy kingpins and stock Chevy bushings. Check the ID of the axle they came off of for verification.
[/ QUOTE ]
If modern is right; the pin dia. will be about 0.869" +/- and the outside of the bushing dia. will be about; 1.055 +/-. (in the spindles)
Then the pin hole in the OLD axle would be about 0.865 +/-.
(Edit to correct size.)
If the pin hole (NEW axle) is smaller; then a good machine shop can open them out.
BUT he will now need a set of Chev king pins and bushings. (which would mean a lot of special fitting)
One side note: some Chev king pin sets (c/w bushings) allowed the bushings to "float" (meaning the bushings were NOT a press fit in the spindles) and had grease groves on both the inside and outside of the bushings. (have a set in front of me)
If the axle he is putting these spindles on is a Ford with stock kingpin, (0.8125 +/-) and the spindles (kingpin bushing holes) HAVE been made over sized; then I would suggest the spindles be brought back to Ford pin size. (custom or oversized bushings)
IMHO this would be a far simpler route.
Digger, agree with all above but the axle hole size would be close to the kingpin size rather than the bush od size.
Mart.
Digger_Dave
10-27-2003, 04:12 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Digger, agree with all above but the axle hole size would be close to the kingpin size rather than the bush od size.
Mart.
[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks for pointing my error out. Corrected it above.
Shouldn't do measurements before breakfast!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Just a thought. How about having the spindles sleeved back to standard so stock bushings can be used now and later?? Would like to know how this all turns out!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Digger_Dave
10-28-2003, 12:38 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Just a thought. How about having the spindles sleeved back to standard so stock bushings can be used now and later?? Would like to know how this all turns out!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Andy, good idea. Would be "tricky" (wall of sleve would be very thin) but a good machine shop should be able to handle the job.
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