379 King pin issues (pictures attached)

HOLY $hite, driver? In all my years, I NEVER heard of a king pin break. Cheap Asian crap, Stemco was an American brand for years, I suppose even they have to import the cheap crap. This is very unsettling, and a potential safety risk. I'd like to know, if they installed it broken or just a flaw in the material.

 

Could have been counterfeit Stemco pins. I got a set of counterfeit timken wheel bearings for my steer axle one time. They failed within 6 months. And yes they were installed properly.

 

How does a 1-1/4” diameter solid steel pin “break”? Never seen it. Something’s fishy here.

I am more questioning workmanship since you had to tighten the keepers, I can assure they were not installed correct. I would be more worried about permanent damage to the axle.

 

Not a heavy diesel mechanic by any means but not all steel is created equal.
If you use pot metal steel and machine it into a load bearing part it will break much much quicker than something machined from crucible steel.
Steel alloys can almost be as different from each other as they are from say aluminum.

 

I sure hope your not gonna let them put the same kit in it?

OEM Spicer kit is cheaper than the Kaiser Spiral quick kit anyhow. If thats what they put in.........

 

In 20 years of wrenching I only saw one kingpin break , and that was on an International garbage truck that was beat to death on gravel roads all day. I would have to go with a defective kingpin , probably broke at the notch causing the loose lock pin. As far as installation goes , how could you screw it up bad enough to break one?