Originally Posted by jefash

if you have an Eaton axle, the Spicer kingpin kit with yellow bushings do not have to be reamed, Meritor kingpin kits with yellow bushings DO have to be reamed, thats probably what's too tight, we have had customers come in with the kingpin mushroomed from the installer beating it into the spindle , the other guy talking about the "screw" in kingpins is most likely referring to Kaiser kits, we have learned that the best kits are the genuine kits

Arvin Meritor plastic bushings DO have to be reamed, it even says in their instructions in the box.

Originally Posted by walstib

In my best Emily Latella voice, "nevermind"

Newbie mistake, my bad...

oh, lord, i fell out of my chair.

Some shops do have the spindles sent out to machine shops to have the bushings installed. I can't speak for those shops. Are you missing something? Yes! Did you ask each shop in detail what work is actually being done for that price, or what parts are being installed? Maybe FTLNR is totally ripping you off, maybe TA is installing complete junk. Simply asking, "how much" isn't sufficient. Go back to FRTLNR and tell them you where quoted half that price and ask they why they are double. Go ask a third shop.

I installed Stemco-Kaiser K122E kit when I replaced king pings on my Eaton steer axle and I really liked it. Nylon bushings lasted several years and needed to be replaced. I was told that with Stemco Kaiser you have to grease more often because if it gets dry that spiral bushing may turn inside a spindle and ruin it. Here some info about that kit... http://www.benzspring.com/parts/kingpin/page2.html