2.5 rockwell front end wobble

[coolrides]

I'm having a problem with my steering axle (rockwell 2.5). the front end wobbles while driving down any road smooth or rough.
I jacked up the front of the truck and used a 6' pry bar to lift each tire looking for loose bearings what I found was a huge amount of play coming from the king pins. I bought the axle used and checked it out before installing it. the king pin bushings needed to be replaced and the king pins had a little wear (not enough to concern me at the time). after lees than 50 miles we are having all kinds of problems. did I miss something? was I supposed to shim the bushings? if the king pins are worn to the piont of needing to be replaced what can I do?
any help is appreciated.

 

[jwaller]

worn king pins means custom bushings to fit or a new housing. you should remove the tires and check the bushing play by hand and with a bar to see if that is where it's moving. if so and it's with new bushings then you have a big problem.

the bushings have no shims they are press fit into the adaptors and slide over the king pins when installing the knuckle or they can be done 1 at a time while it's all together.

 

[coolrides]

I'll pull the tires and check the play later this week, I'm pretty sure it's the king pins,
When we got the used front axle I checked the bushings and pins the pins showed about .002 wear I felt like we could changed the bushings and be OK. looks like I was wrong, I don't know where to buy a new housing (and can't really afford a housing right now anyway) so I think I'll have a set of bushings custom made for the front end.

 

[Evilone]

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce/30475-king-pin-questions.html

coolrides -

Check out the above link to a past question on kingpins and front axle problems. It may be of help to you.

 

[coolrides]

I disassembled the knuckles and found the king pins were worn well past the tolerance. I have a reconditioned axle housing on order with new bushings, wish I had paid closer attention to the king pins the first time.
(live and learn)
Thanks for the help.