how to remove kingpin bearings?

[patrolla]

i've tried almost everything to remove the bearings from the kingpin: a bearing puller, levering with screw drivers and even trying to lever them off with a pick!
how the hell can i remove them? angle grinding is an absolute last resort because i don't want to stuff the kingpins themselves. any advice?

[blackmav]

Angle grinder for me.
I did one one the vise with levers but couldn't budge the other one so just cut it off.

[chunks]

Workshop press and suitable clamping tool under the inner race of the bearing.

[Northside 4x4]

Anything that you can wedge under the bearing race in a vice, and a hammer to punch it out.
That is if you dont have access to a press and proper tools.

Personally, A grinder would be easiest. Be slow and gentle with it, you wont have to cut it all the way in. go about 1/2 to 3/4 then just give it a few wacks with a chisel and it will split, causing no damage to the pin.

[andy86]

Try some heat on the bearing casing until it expands enough, then give a good hit with a hammer and punch!

[Lepa]

evertytime i've done it i was able to use a puller. maybe i was lucky!

[patrolla]

and let's just say you accidently grind a small bit of the kingpin, is that bad?

[Northside 4x4]

Depends on how small? And where abouts it is.

If its a little slither down where the race sits, just make sure any burs are filed dead flat and it wont give you any problems.

[SuperiorEngineering]

and let's just say you accidently grind a small bit of the kingpin, is that bad?

If you haven't gouged into it it wont matter the new bearing will still press fit onto the king pin.

Just grind the bearing in one place only, you will find if you grind it down to just above the king pin then put it on a vise you will break the bearing with a hammer and chisel ( wear safety glasses)
Mick

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[patrolla]

so is this too much? first pic shows extent and second pic shows depth (on upper right hand side). i've filed them down nice and smooth...

[SuperiorEngineering]

I would be ringing a wreckers if its not urgent to get the truck back together and get a replacement.
If you drive your truck easy you will probably never have a problem, but that one time you hit a big washout or stump it may break.
If you need the truck back together do that and just remove the kingpin later and replace it, its not going to fail on the road under normal use.
Mick

[patrolla]

thanks for all the advice. decided to get a new kingpin from the wreckers and for $20, is cheap peace of mind.

[Wozza244]

Did these myself today and thought i would just give my input here.
I pulled the King Pins out and then tore the bearing cage off the race, then welded a piece of square tube onto the race, put it in the vice and then tapped the king pin out of the race, easy as. One of them i didnt even cut the cage off, just welded straight to the race through it.

[Borris the Blade]

remove cage then lay a small weld along the race ... give it a wack and done
the heat from the small weld will be enough to release the inner race

[tehekho]

remove cage then lay a small weld along the race ... give it a wack and done
the heat from the small weld will be enough to release the inner race

I've employed this on wheel bearings too lately - Just run a bead around the race with the stick welder and lay the part down, 90% of the time the bearing jumps out as it's cooling...