Author Topic: Dana 60 kingpin replacement. Is a 600 ft pound torque wrench really needed?  (Read 22488 times)

Offline fitz

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The front shocks were replaced 2 weeks ago when I did the 2" lift.
I

Offline pholliday1

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Concentrate on tie rod ends and drag link. Death wobble is a partial product of lack of preload on your steering knuckles. Kinda shouldn't need to shim new springs. When you have tie rod off check resistance of each steering knuckle separately. With the tire on and tire off the ground get a long pry bar and really check six to twelve play on steering knuckle each side. On a properly maintained 60 you only really need one steering stabilizer. If more stabilizers are needed then that's just covering up another problem. 
VETERAN AND LIFETIME NRA MEMBER. WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR?
1991 V3500 CREWCAB SRW 454TBI GMC
1991 v3500 crewcab SRW 454tbi 480le 6" lift
1990 V3500 crewcab Dana 60 FF 14b 5:38 ratio 40 inch 11" lift
1989 v3500 crewcab 454TBI 5" lift

Offline fitz

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  I had some time to  play around with it today (Napa will have the drag link in  Monday or Tuesday). I found a little play in the front wheel bearings. On one side (passengers) the spindal nuts were only hand tight.
  I was able to unscrew them by hand and go to Advanced Auto to get a spindle nut socket (of course the ones I have for a 10 bolt and 14 bolt FF don't fit)  I torqued the inner bolts to 50 ft pounds, backed them off 1/4 turn to line up the retainer plate, and then torqued the outer bolts to 70 ft pounds. I thought for sure this was gonna solve it. No such luck. I will Waite for the drag link.

Offline pholliday1

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Spindle nuts will contribute to vibration not necessarily DW (death wobble) also beware of changed caster as it relates to changing or modifying front spring hanger ( longer spring shackle the more it changes caster). Your going to have to buy a new tie rod as one side opposite the adjustable sleeve is generally not rebuild able
« Last Edit: August 05, 2014, 08:39:06 AM by pholliday1 »
VETERAN AND LIFETIME NRA MEMBER. WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR?
1991 V3500 CREWCAB SRW 454TBI GMC
1991 v3500 crewcab SRW 454tbi 480le 6" lift
1990 V3500 crewcab Dana 60 FF 14b 5:38 ratio 40 inch 11" lift
1989 v3500 crewcab 454TBI 5" lift

Offline Engineer

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pholliday-

Edit your post to say caster not camber.

Camber is fixed, and non-adjustable on a kingpin Dana60 axle.
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1/ZF6sp RC/LB
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L85E EC/SB
1997 Chevy Blazer 4x4
1994 Chevy K-2500 4x4 C6P 5.7/4L80E
1979 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10
1977 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10 454

Dad of an Eagle Scout, and a Life Scout

Offline fitz

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  Pholiday,  its funny that you mentioned the spring hangers. When I ordered my springs (tough country 2" hd's) I also bought the O.R.D. heavy duty shackles.  These shackles are 1/2" longer than my stock 1984 shackles. The new shackles are the same length as the 1988-1991 Blazer/suburban/1 ton shackles.
  My game plan now is to change the drag link and the tie rod. Hopefully that solves it, if not, should I put the stock shackles back in? I will have to drill out the shackle bolt holes from 7/16" to 1/2" . My new springs are already set up for the 1/2" bolts.
Thanks again.

Offline Engineer

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fitz-

Death wobble is the result of improper caster settings for your size of tire. If you look at any of the Ford SuperDuty boards, Dodge Ram boards, or Jeep boards there are guys who are constantly complaining about their SFA trucks. Many of those guys find that by playing with caster it fixes the wobbly bobbly of their trucks.

I don't know how much of their trial and error works, and what not, but.....

Years ago I had 8" Skyjacker front springs on my '77 with a Dana60 front axle. For steering correction I ran the Skyjacker dropped pitman arm, and the steering block. All I had was 1 stock steering stabilizer.

The Skyjacker springs had a caster shim that they came with as a correction for the front u-joint angle. I wasn't worried as much about u-joint angle as I was about the two bolts that hold the leaf spring to the axle housing on the passenger side. I was worried that by having the shim in place it would put too much of an angled load on the bolt head so I took out the shim that put the caster back to factory.

On my truck I ran 18.5/44-16.5 Gumbo Monster Mudders on 16.5x14" wheels and never once had any wobble issues.

After you get everything tightened up you may want to experiment with pulling the caster shims.
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1/ZF6sp RC/LB
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L85E EC/SB
1997 Chevy Blazer 4x4
1994 Chevy K-2500 4x4 C6P 5.7/4L80E
1979 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10
1977 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10 454

Dad of an Eagle Scout, and a Life Scout

Offline fitz

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My lift is only 2" so it doesn't have any caster shims on the spring pack.

Offline pholliday1

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Thanks Engineer! Big whoops I know better than that. I'm also running 8" skyjacker with but with a shim and a slightly longer shackle. Step one make sure tie rod/ drag link are tight. Step two like Engineer said try adjuster caster with shim or shackle lenthgs you'll get it.
VETERAN AND LIFETIME NRA MEMBER. WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR?
1991 V3500 CREWCAB SRW 454TBI GMC
1991 v3500 crewcab SRW 454tbi 480le 6" lift
1990 V3500 crewcab Dana 60 FF 14b 5:38 ratio 40 inch 11" lift
1989 v3500 crewcab 454TBI 5" lift

Offline fitz

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 I searched for awhile but couldn't find a torque spec for the drag link & tie rod studs & adjusting sleaves.
Any suggestions? Thanks

Offline pholliday1

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It's a little bit of a friction grip. Firm snug will be fine. As far as kingpins go the tighten the snot out of them they'll be fine. Haven't heard if one documented case of kings pins coming loose. It's pretty much a nonissue due to the lateral forces on them.
VETERAN AND LIFETIME NRA MEMBER. WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR?
1991 V3500 CREWCAB SRW 454TBI GMC
1991 v3500 crewcab SRW 454tbi 480le 6" lift
1990 V3500 crewcab Dana 60 FF 14b 5:38 ratio 40 inch 11" lift
1989 v3500 crewcab 454TBI 5" lift

Online bd

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I searched for awhile but couldn't find a torque spec for the drag link & tie rod studs & adjusting sleaves.
Any suggestions? Thanks

Tie rod and draglink ball studs = 70 lbs-ft
Adjusting sleeve bolts = 15 lbs-ft
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline fitz

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Here is a quick list of what I have done to try to cure the death wobble problem.
Replaced the kingpin springs & bushings with new Spicer parts.
Adjusted the front wheel bearings ( they had a little play in them).
Replaced the complete drag link  with new parts from Napa.
Rotated tires & tried another pair of front tires (trying to rule everything out).
So far the the DW is still here ( I have a pothole filled road 1/4 mile from home to test my progress on).
I just ordered the complete tie rod & steering stabilizer from Napa. I'm not expecting the steering stabilizer to work miracles, just figured I'll replace it while its out.
This weekend I'll install the tie rod & steering stabilizer, hopefully this solves it.  My next move, if needed, will be to replace the Off Road Design shackles with the stock ones.
Thanks to everyone who has given me advive

Offline pholliday1

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Have you checked the 6 to play in the bottom knuckle bearing?
VETERAN AND LIFETIME NRA MEMBER. WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR?
1991 V3500 CREWCAB SRW 454TBI GMC
1991 v3500 crewcab SRW 454tbi 480le 6" lift
1990 V3500 crewcab Dana 60 FF 14b 5:38 ratio 40 inch 11" lift
1989 v3500 crewcab 454TBI 5" lift

Offline fitz

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I will check that tonight when the tie rod is off.  When I put a pry bar under the tire should I get any play when I rock the tire in the 6-12 position.