Kingpin play and preload

[timtheenchanteruk]

Just playing the game of find the deathwobble. on the home straight now...

Just wanted to check my method of checking for play in the kingpin, and if you can check the preload with the seals in place, cos mine dont leak, and if it aint broke....

I checked the kingpin thus...

Took wheel off, and moved it as tho checking a wheel bearing, but looking for movement of the swivel relative to the ball also up/down with a lever under the cup.
Found none, which tbh I expected cos they were only done a couple of years ago, and only covered 8K since.

if this, and me preload is fine, only leaves the damper (which I suspect it might be anyway, but funds are tight, and the other stuff is free to check over )

 

[the_wolf]

To check play in the swivel have someone stand on the brake or jam them on and then check for any movement. What was your preload set at?

 

[timtheenchanteruk]

not checked it yet, needed to know if I have to take the seals off to do it, I didnt do them last time, it was the last owner, just before I bought it.
He told me (and by the quality of the other work he did on the fender, I have no reason to doubt him) they were set to the top end, so allow for them wearing, cos "it will only go down" in his words (and logical reasoning )

 

[gse1986]

not checked it yet, needed to know if I have to take the seals off to do it

To set the preload the seals do have to be taken off, however you can use trial and error removing and adding shims to see if you can get the play to go - you need to be able to spot the play first though

I found it was easier to spot the play with the wheel on (more leverage about the swivel), was a little time consuming but saved having to take seal off and get more one shot, since this was for MOT. When changing seals etc anyway, it's worth measuring preload properly

 

[the_wolf]

You dont have to take the seal off. The preload is calculated by LR with the seal off but with the seal fitted and accounting for wear it should be roughly between 6 and 7kg. Too low and you need to remove shims, too high either add shims or look at rebuilding the swivel. My passenger side swivel is about 14kg so desperately in need of a rebuild

 

[timtheenchanteruk]

You dont have to take the seal off. The preload is calculated by LR with the seal off but with the seal fitted and accounting for wear it should be roughly between 6 and 7kg. Too low and you need to remove shims, too high either add shims or look at rebuilding the swivel. My passenger side swivel is about 14kg so desperately in need of a rebuild

magic, this is what I was looking for (and answers my question about adding/removing )

Ill have another look this eve for any play, and might even check the preload too, wont take long.
Like I said, I'm 95% certain its just the steering damper, but want to make sure changing it wont just mask other, more concerning, stuff.

Wobble must be too low preload, otherwise it would be like extra damping??

 

[the_wolf]

Checking the preload takes only a few minutes, most time is spent taking the track rod ends and drag link off but if yours are newish then it shouldn't be too difficult

 

[the_wolf]

Meant to ask, what's the death wobble like? When does it happen? I had one, I checked everything and even replaced all bushes. Turned out that the wheels needed balanced, very badly. I'd had this done when it first started but the place that did it were cowboys. Got it done properly and it practically disappeared. Have a look for my thread on my problems and see if yours are similar, could save you a lot of hassle lol

 

[greyhair]

Checking the preload takes only a few minutes, most time is spent taking the track rod ends and drag link off but if yours are newish then it shouldn't be too difficult

Yep its a nice easy job
although mine is on the bench at the moment with all new parts
first one was about 30 mins messing to check the preload
second one was mins

 

[timtheenchanteruk]

Meant to ask, what's the death wobble like? When does it happen? I had one, I checked everything and even replaced all bushes. Turned out that the wheels needed balanced, very badly. I'd had this done when it first started but the place that did it were cowboys. Got it done properly and it practically disappeared. Have a look for my thread on my problems and see if yours are similar, could save you a lot of hassle lol

Its not bad, but its there, if your travelling at say over 30mph , and hit a rough patch, or a bump, the wheels wriggling around, it does settle itself after a couple of seconds, or you can fight it back to normal.
didnt used to do it, and cant see any balance weights off, which would be easy cos they have been painted since they were last balanced.

the paint isn't the cause either, as they have been painted long before it started with the wobble.