When to replace kingpins?

[73 cheySuper]

I just tore down the '89 K30 Dana 60 and found the upper kingpins to be slightly tarnished, or a bit of very light pitting on both sides, the area facing the center of the truck. Never driven this, it's from a parts rig. I can run my finger across the pass. side and it's undetectable, the other side is a bit rough, but still only affecting maybe 25% of the pin. I've got 2 opinions on this, and both say it's probably a non issue. I don't want to take it apart again, so would like other opinions. Do I leave it alone, and reassemble, do I replace just the upper pin and that's it? Do I replace the upper pin and the nylon bushing? ... which appears fine. The lower pin looks perfect, and the bearing feals fine, but I haven't removed it.

 

[Vbb199]

Id replace just the kingpin, but a bushing set too really isn't all that expensive, if you shop around on 4x4 aftermarket sellers

 

[nvrenuf]

What do you do with the truck? Is it a daily driver or a toy?

Personally, unless it was my wife's daily hauling kids, if it feels minimal I'd probably polish it up with some emory cloth, put a new bushing & spring in it and run it.

 

[73 cheySuper]

Here's pictures, as it's tough to address without them.......

 

[Moodyalaskan]

Don't want to take it apart again-If in doubt swap it out.

Never worry about it again.

 

[Trucksareforwork]

I faced the same question only a month or so ago. I decided to leave them. I mainly looked at the 600 ft lb torque standard and the amount of damage (one of mine was slightly grooved) and figured (also based on some advice here) as a part time use truck it would be ok w new bushings.

Mine:

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[nvrenuf]

The surface in the one pic looks fairly rough but it’s not heavily grooved, etc. If it was a toy / weekend warrior type truck I’d run it. If it’s a daily driver I’d fix it.

 

[bucket]

Here's pictures, as it's tough to address without them.......

Looks like water damage to me.

I'd leave the pins. Just replace the bushings and springs like @nvrenuf said.

 

[bucket]

Worst case, bushing life will be slightly shorter than with new pins, but bushings are easy to replace.

 

[nvrenuf]

Worst case, bushing life will be slightly shorter than with new pins, but bushings are easy to replace.

Exactly! WAY EASIER than 600ftlbs. lol