FatDSoto Posted July 14, 2009 Report Posted July 14, 2009 I bought a king pin rebuild kit for my '41 DeSoto Business Coupe. The kit had bushings with it. The stock set up has a Torrington NB-15 needle bearing in the top on both sides and a bushing in the bottom of the spindle knuckle (my name for it). It seems no one has a kit with the bearings, only bushings. The problem is that the bearing OD is larger and the bushings are to small. My machimist is going to make bushings to fit but I would have liked to put replacement bearings back in. Does anybody have a source for the bearings or for a kit with the bearings in it? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 14, 2009 Report Posted July 14, 2009 do you have a Bearings and Drive retail store near you? In the past and for whatever need it was I found a reference to these by size... Quote
mpn23748 Posted July 15, 2009 Report Posted July 15, 2009 I bought mine on Ebay, my 54 Desoto is the same setup Quote
RHDSP15C Posted July 15, 2009 Report Posted July 15, 2009 That needle bearing is an odd size as you have found. Torrington stopped making it over 40 years ago. I got lucky after buying several sets I found one incomplete but it had the two needle bearings. Keep watching ebay. Quote
PatS.... Posted July 15, 2009 Report Posted July 15, 2009 I just had a machine shop install the bushings in place of the bearings and fit the kingpin to the bushing. It hasn't been on the road yet so I don't know how they'll hold up as compared to the bearings but it won't be getting the miles a daily driver would. Quote
FatDSoto Posted July 15, 2009 Author Report Posted July 15, 2009 Thanks for the answers. I guess since I probably won't put more than 5K in miles on it per year, the bushings will last my lifetime. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.