Pre Mot Checks

[214si]

can anyone tell me how to check for play in the kingpins etc on the front axle and if so how to shim them so i can get her through mot until wether progresses

booked in for 8am monday morning, dont twant her to fail but i think its summin like a king pin that will make her fail

[Luke]

you can really only shim for lift in kingpins not side to side play

jack the van up on the front beam with the wheel off the ground put a bar under the wheel and try to lift it there should be very little movement, if you shim it it's perfectly safe as all you are doing is shimming it to prevent wear on the kingpin not to compenste for it

if however you get the wheel and rock it top to btm - in and out as you face it, and theres play thats worn kingpins or bushes and they need replacing

[Muttley]

You would have to remove the kingpin to shim it and that can be a pig of a job! so you might as well replace the lot whilst you are at it

[Luke]

you can make a horseshoe shaped shim with tabs on, and fit it in without removing the kingpin, i've done this before and it lasted years obviously it needs to be on the non load part - if it was fitted in the wrong bit it would get ripped out 1st corner

[214si]

kewl this is my first dealings with this kinda set up, whats the non load bit,

also what other stuff is needed to be checked? ive checked all the usual stuff but what other linkages and bushes are prone to wear??

isnt in and out movement of the wheel a wheel bearing?

[Luke]

i cant think off hand how it is i'll have to look at a pic to familiarise myself
the wheel bearing can be adjusted - correctly done you'll still have a small about of play but you should be able to tell its on the wheel and not on the kingpin - if you know what i mean

there might be some measurments for the backlash in the bearings, if you wanted to set it up properly but i just do them by hand (bodger )

[Muttley]

The non load part would be at the top of the kingpin between the hub and the axle. How much play is there? It is possible for the bearing at the bottom to collapse and give you heavy steering and so should be replaced.

[214si]

the steering is nice and light and to be honest i havent even checked the kingpins etc, im gonna check them tomoz and make a decision from here, i dont want it to fail its m.o.t on something like this, would piss me off!

[Luke]

one more thing whack some grease in

[214si]

im assuming you mean in the nipples etc (oo er)

what about the steering box?

[Luke]

someone can correct me if im wrong but i dont think you will fail on the steering box unless it's really bad ive had vans go through that had a fair bit of play and they never got knocked for it

[Muttley]

With a steering box you can have 75mm freeplay at the rim of the steering wheel. Hold a pen close to the wheel and then move the wheel lightly to the extent of the free play if you have moved less than 75mm then all is well

[214si]

cheers fo that

went round it today, tightened the steering box up, greased the kingpins, checked balljoints

there was play in wheel bearing that i tightend up, and very slight play in one ball joint and i mean slight, but my dads a mechanic of 40 years and e said it wasnt excessive, but what he classes as not excessive and what MOT man says are 2 diffrent things

so he advise me to put it through the MOT and just wait and see, other than that he thinks ive done a great job!

Roll on 8am Monday

[MinorMatt]

if you have moved less than 75mm then all is well

And if you have more... adjust the box - or fit a smaller steering wheel!

[214si]

adjusted the box a bit already?