Model A front end question

[kris-kincaid]

I got a few questions on this front suspension I got. I was told it is a Model A setup, can anybody confirm that? I've been trying to disassemble it, namely remove the spindles.

Here's a link to a bunch of photos: Model 'A' Front End

My question is, how do the king pins come out? I assume this odd looking bolt needs to come out, but it won't budge and I don't want to break it. I got the crown nut off easily, but this won't even move. Every other nut and bolt came right off but these. Anything else need to come out to remove these?

Another question; are these spindles any good? I'd like to put some Granada disks on it, but I don't want to waste time if these are iffy quality. I'd like to use as much of this setup as possible. I'm going for the old time look on this car.

I'm sure I'll have more questions, but this will help. Thanks. :lol:

 

[jjsticks]

I had a set of king pins on an old truck and they had to be pressed out.not easy job.not sure about the pins on the model A i'm new to this fun.jj

 

[donsrods]

That long nut you are referring to has to come off, and then you drive the threaded end through the hole in the axle. That releases the kingpin to come upward and out of the bore. Heat is your friend, and I don't mean a berzomatic torch, use an Oxy/Acetaline setup and heat the nut and pins nice and hot. Spray with penetrating oil a lot, and use a brass punch to tap on the threaded end.

Don't use the model a spindles, use some 37-48 spindles, they bolt right on. They are stronger and more brake options are available. You are probably going to have to heat the perches on the wishbone to axle also. 80 years of rust will really hold on tight sometimes.

Don

 

[kris-kincaid]

Thanks for the info. I figured it would need a little heat, but wanted to make sure before I started breaking thinks. I did get the nuts off the wishbone mounts, but like you said, the "bolt" wont even budge. I plan to split the wishbone and use it, so I've been extra gentle with it

I guess the spindles will have to be made into bookends or doorstops.

This is a great forum!

 

[Youngster]

thread those nuts back on finger tight then back them off one turn. soak them in penitrating oil and hit thame with a hammer. wait a couple of hours and do it again. this will start to loosen the rust. usually takes a couple days but they will come loose.

dose any one know about using wax and heat to remove these kinds of parts?

Ron

 

[Youngster]

oh...what to do with those spindles? you can use one of them and a hub to make a wheel painting fixture. work like a charm especially if your painting 16" Budd or Kelsey wires.

Ron

 

[kris-kincaid]

I'm with you on the oiling, I've got the whole assembly flipped over and have been spraying some penetrating oil on the wishbone bolts everytime I walk past it and giving it a few wacks with the mallet.

I planned to start on the chassis today, but my steel didn't show up. Maybe tomorrow. So far this has been fun and relaxing.

 

[Youngster]

i have also removed the spring, cut the 'bone, tacked the bone to the spring perch and used the bone as a lever to loosen the spring perch in the axle. once you've got it loose cut the tack and remove the perch pin.

Ron

 

[Keeper]

Whacking things with a hammer is always relaxing :welcome:

I am in the same boat with the axle. Just taking my time tearing it apart!

 

[Ted Brown]

That long stop nut is how you get that taperd pin out, it is supposed to be very tight as that is what locks the king pin in place, just back it off a thread or so, hit it with a big hammer, then back it off a bit more, drive it out somemore, then you should be fine, there is nothing bad quality about model A spindles, much better steel than todays $h!t... :welcome: PS, don't force it, get a bigger hammer...

 

[Youngster]

structurally there is nothing wrong with the A spindle. the thing is the '37 to '48 spindles have a great deal more options as far as brakes go, both with stock components and in aftermarket. you will be money ahead to use the later spindles.

Ron

 

[kris-kincaid]

I've made some progress on it, but the wishbone and king pins are still stuck in place. Tomorrow I'm going to take it to a friends place and use his torches and press. I'm really trying to be intelligent about disassembling this. If I break anything, it's going to totally wreck the vision I have in my head on what this car will look like.

I appreciate everybodies input. This is one of the most helpful forums I've ever participated with. Thanks! :lol:

 

[donsrods]

Just have patience and take it slow. Penetrating oil like PB Blaster and heat will eventually free it all up. I'm impatient so I heat everything. :hide::lol:

Don

 

[Ted Brown]

Don't forget to let it cool,before trying to get them out, that way they can shrink, as heating makes them tighter... the king pin lock pin will come out as discribed earlier, IF you have not messed up the threads on that pin, you also need to keep a big nut on the spring perch to protect the threads there also, other wise you just make things tighter.. Carb cleaner frees things up real good also, over night... Good Luck, as this can drive you nuts... RUST.. :hide:

 

[GAB]

Here is what you are dealing with. The lock pin has a tapered "key" that engages the groove in the king pin. That pushes the kingpin against the wall of the axle hole and eliminates any clearance. In theory, you should just have to give the threaded end of the lock pin a tap to unseat the taper and the pin slides out. In reality, the pins rust in the hole and they have to be "persuaded" with a BFH. :hide:

 

[Ted Brown]

Geroge, You are sooo good at telling and showing how it is done, wish I could get the hang of the pic thing, but it seems that the pics need to be very small, even less than 640.. I will get it one Day, maybe.. :hide: I really forgot to mention that the long stop nut usually has a lock washer, if they take that off and reinstall the nut leaving it about 1/8" out, then take Georges BFH and give it a WACK! IT WILL come loose... hehe

 

[rooster57]

Ted you need to change the resolution on your camera. from fine to say corse i dont know the termonology on your camera. If you have photoshop you can change the size of any photo, i have a folder in my pictures that i seperate my photos into two groupes postable photos and then regular photos. My wife is the expert and this is what she told me. So if this is wrong its HER fault because its not possible for me to be wrong!!! Ha Ha

 

[Ted Brown]

I do make them much smaller, as they are 10MP when I take them, I usually resize/resample them for sending to most anywhere, and keep them big for printing... I guess I need to make them even smaller... Darn keys... can't seem to hit just the one's I WANT!! hehe

 

[rooster57]

My wife got her mom one of these and she likes it.
BigKeys LX

 

[Rick]

I do make them much smaller, as they are 10MP when I take them, I usually resize/resample them for sending to most anywhere, and keep them big for printing... I guess I need to make them even smaller... Darn keys... can't seem to hit just the one's I WANT!! hehe

Check your email Ted i sent you Image resizer for Windows.