Front end suspension repair to my 39 DeSoto

[desoto1939]

The 39 Desoto has now come back home from being in the shop.

Issue was that I was getting a severe pulling to the left when applying the brakes.  The steering wheel would pull right out of my hands and lock up the left front tire.

I pull both front drums and no evidence of brake fluid or grease on the brake lining, proper clearance of the shoes and arced properly.

The mechanic that is very knowledgeable suggested that we replace the front cylinders and I had a set of NOS. Put on new return springs that i had.

Road test still pulling, Cleaner out the brake block to see if any junk in the line. Also then tested for applied pressure and release press at each cylinder applied read at 500 and release went right back to 0 on both wheels so that meant to blockage in the lines. Also replaced all three brake hoses

He then pull the drums again took off each shoe and cut down the lining made skim cut on all front shoes.  This solved the issue. He feels that there might have been something in the lining that might have hardened the lining to cause it to pull.  That issue was corrected.  When having major brake issue I did not want to fool around trying to solve the issue.

 

During my inspection he discovered that the lower outer bushing on the passenger side had to much play. Found the correct lower outer bushing parts on Ebay. When taking the old right side bushing out he discovered that the setting pin wedge was missing or maybe never installed. The pin is a tapered pin and is used to keep the inner shaft from moving. I have owned the car for 35 years and these might have been the original factory installed bushings.

When doing the driver side he had to remove the kingpin which came out real easy. Asked if I had an shims and i took hie three sets of king pin kits that I had Tolf him to replace the KPs on both side since he had one side out. 

All four tierod end are good also the upper and lower control arm bushings are good no movement.

He installed a new emergency brake cable and adjusted the brake band at the back of the trans.  Also lubed the entire car and also the yoke for the clutch and brake pedals.

 

He had the car you 20 days but worked on the car when he had time.

 

Of special note he showed me the two races that are part of the kingpin assembly and stated that he packed the race with grease to make sure the ball bearings in each race would be full of grease. He has see where other mechanics just install the race and then grease the entire king pin assembly via the zerk fitting. But he has found that the grease was not getting into the ball bearing for the race.

So if you are getting your King Pins replaced remind your mechanic and or even yourself to pack each race for each king pin to ensure that grease is inside he race opening.

 

refer to the attached pictures of the race from my old king pin setup. The red pointer is showing where the ball bearings are located in the race.

 

Also if you pull your front tires look in the area of the lower outer control bushing to verify that the metal wedge is installed to prevent the movement of the inner shaft.

 

 

Rich hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com 

 

 

 

 

 

[andyd]

Rich, good info............I've always prepacked those kingpin bearings prior to installation.....just a good procedure rather than relying on grease to make its way there.......interesting that skimming the shoes corrected the issue.........regards from Oz.......andyd 

[desoto1939]

Andyd:  When ever I gain more info about my car after fixing something I like to pass along that information to other owners.  The name of the game is pass it forward. Here is the reason why.  In 1976 I bicycled across the entire USA from Williamsburg Virginia to San Francisco. It took us 60 days with 30 pounds of gear on the bike.

 

One day it was in early June and a real cold wet rainy day. Pulled into a small town just before going into Kentucky. Stop at the local gas station and general store looking to see if they had any motels in the area, they said No but the one person told us to go up the hill and his dad's barn was available.

 

Later on the father came over and welcomed us and said stay as long as you need to.  He had a sign on his roof that was spinning in the wind, Have BULL will Travel. Being a city kid asked what he did and he stated artificial insemination on cows.  We all had a good laugh.

 

The next morning he woke up and told us to over to his house and his wife had a farmers breakfast prepared for us.

 

When we walked into the home the wife greeted us with open arms and said welcome. The table was about 4 ft long and was filled with a farmers breakfast. After eating the husband gave us all paper bags and then said go make some lunch to take with you. After making a lunch I mentioned to the other guys to get out their wallets and its time to pay for our meal. The farmer then informed us to NOT leave any funds he did not want anything for the meal.  His only stipulation was that each one of us will be required to pass along this favor or some other favor to someone else or a group of people.

 

I stayed in touch with this gentleman for 5 years. I still remember his and his wifes kindness even after almost 50 years of meeting these special people.

 

I do not know if this would happen in todays world but people extended their open arms and welcomed us all the way across the USA. It was a great country then and still is but times have changed.

 

remember you only reap what you Sow, and any farmer will fully understand the meaning of my statement.

 

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com 

 

[Conn47D24]

Good news, nice to have a local shop to help.  I'll bet it rides nice.