Stepdown Kingpins

brumac
brumac Expert Adviser
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I am going thru the front suspension of my 54 Hornet Special that has 70,000 on the odometer, replacing the kingpins, upper and lower outer pivots and springs. The inners are nice and tight, no play is evident. I find that the manual says that there are pressure relief valves at the lower king pin cup and I find grease fittings on my car in place of the relief fittings. I believe that this area of the car has never been repaired or replaced. Can someone tell me what is correct, grease fitting or pressure relief? :)

Comments

  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    Originally there was a pressure relief valve fitted in the bottom of the stub axle. the idea being that when the pressure got up the point that is was able to spread through the bottom bushing the valve would give, and the grease would then come out the bottom. However this relief valve sometimes seems to allow the grease to get out with very little pressure on the gun, and a grease nipple or bung was fitted to allow the lubricant to spread up the bushing better. The king pin is hollow, so there is only need for the top grease nipple. Hope this explanation helps.
  • brumac
    brumac Expert Adviser
    Goeff,
    Thank you. I will inatall grease fittings on the lower to insure that the lower bushing gets it's due.

    Bruce
  • bob ward
    bob ward Senior Contributor
    The other reason a grease relief valve was fitted, was to stop bubba pushing out the plug at the bottom of the kingpin with too much grease and/or pressure.
  • brumac
    brumac Expert Adviser
    Thanks Bob, I'll be careful.
    Bruce
  • hornet53
    hornet53 Senior Contributor
    bob ward wrote:
    The other reason a grease relief valve was fitted, was to stop bubba pushing out the plug at the bottom of the kingpin with too much grease and/or pressure.

    I was recently checking out the suspension on my Hornet and found that "plug" missing. Where would I find new one? Am I stuck removing one off my parts car and installing it on the driver?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Those pressure release valves sometime pushed out if the valve wasnt working right. In the old days the grease guy would put a tire iron on the plug and pry up on the plug to prevent it from being pushed out until the valve would release. proboly not the best solution but it worked. Never had to replaced a king pin.
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