Young Ed Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Well I tried to get the front end aligned on the plymouth today. Notice I said tried. The shop called right as I got dropped off back at home and said the front end is too loose to align. Apparently I need a couple tie rod ends and the king pins are way sloppy. Which I find odd because the king pins are new as of about 8K miles ago. Could they have been cheaply made to wear out that fast? Or could something have happened to them in the crash? I have driven about 250 miles since the accident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desoto1939 Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Did you install the King pins od did you have a front end specilaist install them? I would also have assumed that after they installed them you would have had to do a front end alignment. So assuming that that was done and the car was not pulling all over the road and not a very loose front end while driving I would think that the accident that you spoke of might be the culprit. From what i can determine all of the king pins that were manufactured for the mopar cars were the same for numerous years. This is my best guess. Rich desoto1939@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm's Coupe Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 How well can you trust the shop you took it to for the alignment? I was told I needed new ball joints on one side of my van when I only had about 25,000 miles on it. Told the shop to just put the tires on and balance them. Then went to another shop and they said the ball joint was OK. Now about 14 years later and about 50,000 miles in between, I still have the same ball joint on the van and you can ride a smooth road with no hands if you want. Some of these shops just like to add up extra charges to the bill to make more profit, when the car doesn't really need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Ed......sounds like time for a second and/or third opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Agreed of course I didn't trust the shop. However Dad and I checked them when we got the car back and they are worn. The last ones were installed by us but the reaming to fit was done by a very trusted machine shop. The same guy built both engines in my car and truck. New king pin set and 1 inner tie rod end are on order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm's Coupe Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Ed, if you're planning to drive the coupe to the POC meet, it's only about 1 1/2 month away. Time to get crackin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 I'm well aware that time is ticking. I'll be picking up the king pin kit and the one tie rod end today after work. Installation will hopefully be done end of saturday. Of course then it will need yet another trip for an alignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Remember Ed as a last resort you can trailer it there...no set of tires to eat up that way...of course it will not be as fun but allow you to show you WIP and such.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Tim I don't own a trailer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 I do and I have used it often..been to Don's house a few times loaded going both directions..lot to be said knowing you don't have to rely on a wrecker or transport company..surprised in that the amount of cars you and your father deal in there is not one in the stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Dad has a car dolly. I was more implying that my car WILL drive there. I do not plan to fail and drive modern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 you will get it I feel certian...as for me..if I never do another car show I will be just as happy...just don't have the interest anymore..love going to 'look-see'..care less about the showing...a crusie-in is about the best fun in my book and those I do enjoy..arrive and leave when you want..I got so busy hanging drywall I forgot the Saturday crusie... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 I agree Tim. For the most part the cruise ins are the only ones I go to. I do enjoy the POC nationals but more so as a chance to see another area of the country and see other plymouths. The judging is certainly not my reason for attending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 I drove 6 hours to the POC in Charlotte last year..I did not take an old car...I drove the Town and Country..went to meet the gang and see some of the cars that did show up..to me that was fun..no car to baby sit...and might I add in return Bill Willard and Mana drove the same distance just to eat a few brats (where the umlat when you need one) at my house last month and see the gang...Don and Lisa was about the same distance north of me also...Richie and Honey was a hop from Atlanta with the Hudson and Lou..he be local and always has a good appetite for food and kicking tires. yeah..the cars are nice..the people make the memories.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm's Coupe Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 I will probably stop by sometime at the meet in Oconomowoc too, as it stands right now. Not sure about driving the coupe out there though. Will probably be one of our every day cars. Even if I did drive the coupe though, it would be parked outside the show area. I would just be there as a spectator and to meet up with those on the forum, not to enter the show with the coupe. As Tim mentioned, that way I can come and go at will. Don't want to spend a whole day or weekend at a car show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Well after work today I pulled the drivers side apart thinking I'd get the spindles off and drop them at the machine shop after work tomorrow. Well that plan is out the window. My uprights that the spindle attaches to are worn out. When I pulled the pin out the king pin pretty much fell out. With the spindle removed you can put the pin in and feel it move back and forth in its bore. So that side for sure is shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knuckleharley Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Well I tried to get the front end aligned on the plymouth today. Notice I said tried. The shop called right as I got dropped off back at home and said the front end is too loose to align. Apparently I need a couple tie rod ends and the king pins are way sloppy. Which I find odd because the king pins are new as of about 8K miles ago. Could they have been cheaply made to wear out that fast? Or could something have happened to them in the crash? I have driven about 250 miles since the accident. You installed new bushings when you put the king pins in,right? New tie rod ends should be available at your local NAPA store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Yes new bushings were professionally installed. They are shot already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop138 Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Yes new bushings were professionally installed. They are shot already. It just seems odd that they would wear out that soon, something must have gone wrong somewhere. Let us know what you found.........good luck ...Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted May 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 I'm now thinking its got something to do with the uprights being worn out also. Those were probably worn out when the first king pin set was installed and went unnoticed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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