Eccentric Upper Kingpin Bushings

[Moab4x4]

ARRRGGGGHHH!

I have a worn upper king pin bushing on my 92 W350 Dana 60. I got replacement plastic bushings at the local parts house. This looked to be an easy fix... . Now for the HELP!!!

The bushing I pulled out was eccentric with a slotted piece that fit into the 7/8" hex of the king pin. The king pin is nowhere near to the center of the steering knuckle.

Question 1: Has anyone seen or used this type of camber/caster correction? If so, was this a kit that replaced the king pin with one that installs at a slant, or am I just looking at it crooked? I would like to install the original centered bushings and don't know if I need to replace the king pin with an original as well, or do I still have the original pin and everything just looks odd because thats how it was sitting when I pulled the eccentric bushing out.

Issue #1 with the eccentric bushing. I have a serious problem with the eccentric bushing idea. Please somebody tell me I am wrong about this...

The original kingpin bushing has a bump on the exterior of the bushing to keep it from rotating in the steering knuckle. This puts the wear surface on the tapered hardened replaceable kingpin. If you lock the bushing to the kingpin like with the eccentric bushing with its locking bar, you now make the wear surface on the outside of the bushing and on the steering knuckle!! :-{}

I appear to have worn the steering knuckle some and the bushing some.



I would like to try going back to the original centered kingpin bushing and shim (. 005" or so) where I have worn away my steering knuckle. Since there should be no movement at that point it should work. If I can't do that, who makes this kit so I can order a replacement eccentric bushing. My parts guy has been here forever and has never seen one of these.



Any ideas folks ???? I am on my own here as the best front end shop in town won't touch it and has no ideas for me either.



TIA

Ken

 

[TKingsbury]

I haven't seen an eccentric myself, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. I think I'd go to a stock replacement bushing. If you tilt the top of the knuckle, it will make the bearing in the bottom ride cock-eyed in the race, and that can't be good. Just replace the bushing and shim it if necessary. I would take the knuckle off and check the lower bearing though, just to be sure it's good. I would think the screw-in tapered cone should be stock, you wouldn't want to have adjustment in two places.

Travis. .

 

[Philip]

I haven't seen a eccentric upper pin eather. Mine is straight pins. Are you sure your just aren't worn badly. I replaced my upper pins a couple of years ago. Both of my pins were worn on on the side closest to the engine compartment.



Replace the spring in the upper kingpins also. Mine was 3/8" shorter the a new spring was.

 

[Blue Ox1]

I replaced my lower king pin with a camber correction I thought all they made was the correction kit for the bottom . I just centered my the the lower king pin in the slot and had it aligned afterwards. worked out allright

Joe

 

[jeeppuller]

I have this style in my front axle, they were in there when I bought the axle so I'm not sure where they came from. This style would be alot easier to install but I'm not sure who makes it. Check with an alignment shop, you'll need an alignment now anyway.

 

[Moab4x4]

Final Verdict

Here is what I found out. If you have these eccentric bushings on the top, you will wear out your steering knuckle. The cast material is rubbing on the bushing and it will wear faster than the original king pin did. The seal will not seat evenly either. If you have this type of bushing, grease it frequently and IMHO, replace it as soon as possible with the original style. If you still need camber correction, use the lower adjustable kingpin kit from Moog or similar. Or better yet, use shims, they don't move.

I got mine replaced soon enough that the wear on the knuckle was taken up by the expansion of the replacement kingpin bushing. New kingpins and bushings were < $60 and a few hours. The camber was correct after the change, so I have no idea why the eccentrics were there in the first place.

I'll try to attach a pic of the eccentric as seen installed and disassembled. There is the new centered bushing in the second pic.