05-12-2021, 09:27 AM
Colin, unless I have missed it, no one has mentioned the fit of the kingpin in the hole in the axle beam and if the beam itself at this zone is sound. This hole sometimes has been worn owing to the cotter which locates the kingpin in the axle coming loose. Also people have bored out the hole in the beam and fitted a thin bush to bring the hole to standard size. This is a bad idea as it leaves only a small amount of material on the outer edge of the beam and quite quickly the axle will crack between the bush hole and the outer edge of the beam. Obviously this could be very dangerous. If the beam hole is worn, it can be brought back to standard and the outer edge of the beam strengthened with weld. One of A7 Friends "cherished suppliers" is very good at this. Another point is you cannot remove the cotter until you have taken out the kingpin as the cotter has a half moon shape rather than the more conventional taper.