How to change the kingpin on a loaf

The kingpin is a rod that forms a hinged connection between the steering knuckle and the ball joint of the steering knuckle of the front axle of all-wheel drive UAZ vehicles. Kingpins are part of a mechanism that allows the steered wheels to deflect without losing the flow of torque.

UAZ pivots perform the following functions:

act as axes around which the steering knuckle can swing;
act as connecting components that combine the steering knuckle and ball joint into a single system;
take on the role of a load-bearing component that provides rigidity to the pivot assembly, as well as receiving moments of force from the steering knuckle and transmitting them to the bridge beam while the vehicle is moving.

Symptoms of a problem

Symptoms of a breakdown do not appear immediately. So, the motorist will notice uneven tire wear.

Raise the front axle.
Check the wheel play without removing it in the radial and axial direction.
When worn out, the UAZ kingpin is replaced with a new one.

They also check the distance between the beam and the fist. The gap should not exceed 0.2 millimeters.

Preparing for painting

The surface of the machine must be prepared. It must be smooth, sanded for painting, clean, and free of grease.

If necessary, you need to putty all the uneven areas, sand them and prime them. Coloring them will not hide them, but will only emphasize them.

Soil can also be used from spray cans. It is applied in 2-3 layers. This is a one-component primer (without a hardener) and takes quite a long time to dry. After the solvent evaporates, a fairly thin layer remains, so it is not able to fill large scratches. The part for such a primer is prepared with abrasive P180 - P220. When applying several layers, drying time between them is required for about 10 minutes. The dried primer and old coating are prepared with P600-P800 sanding paper. All adjacent elements of the machine that are not subject to painting are covered with camouflage materials.

How to replace kingpins with your own hands?

First, drain the oil from the bridge. If it is black, it cannot be reused. Next, we remove the wheel bolts and jack up the car. Having hung the bridge, we begin to dismantle the caliper and brake shield - they will interfere with us when replacing the kingpins on the UAZ.

Next, screw an M10 bolt into the kingpin. Then we pull out the cap and remove the element in this way. If dismantling with a bolt does not work, a steel plate will be required. We fix it above the kingpin and make an M10 hole. We screw our bolt of the appropriate diameter through it. Place several nuts under the plate and tighten them.

When replacing the UAZ kingpin, it is important to completely clean the old bushing of grease. A new one is being laid in its place. Litol-24 is used as such. Next, a new king pin is installed. It is hammered through a wooden die. The king pin is not pressed in completely - it is important to eliminate the slightest distortion. Otherwise, it will go tight and with a characteristic sound. If this happens, the kingpin is pulled out and pressed in again. All other elements are assembled in reverse order.

Varieties suitable for Patriot

For an SUV, there are three main types of kingpin joints:

The factory version is a spherical support with plastic liners. The manufacturer produces UAZ with lightweight and cheap components, guaranteeing the reliability of the suspension under moderate operating conditions. Requires periodic adjustment of the gaps; repairs are made as the liners wear out.
Reinforced hinges with bronze liners are a modification for those who like to “wiggle” on potholes and gullies. They are produced in the form of a repair kit by small manufacturers of automobile spare parts (Vaxoil, Niagara, Avtogidraulika, Factor, Sollers, IP Kuznetsov, etc.), and are intended for heavy road loads. Experienced jeepers are immediately eager to change plastic to bronze so that there are no problems with king pins on country trips.
The bearing pivot unit is a recent variety that is gaining increasing popularity among UAZ owners. It does not require constant adjustment, and with high-quality components and proper replacement, they are quite durable. The disadvantages are the complexity of installation and the impossibility of field repair.

Replacement of kingpins on a Patriot is carried out in case of play in the front suspension or as a preventive measure before a difficult trip. One of the results of installing a bearing mechanism is a noticeable improvement in the controllability of the machine. Altai manufacturer Vaxoil offers a king pin with a specified caster angle of +5 or +8, which also makes driving easier.

The main stages of replacing king pins on a UAZ Patriot

Let's consider only individual operations related specifically to replacing the pivot assembly with your own hands. The remaining preliminary procedures are quite clear and do not require careful analysis.

it is necessary to unscrew the tie rod fastenings to the steering knuckle and release the axle shaft from the hub;
unscrew the bolts securing the king pins using a special nozzle

Unscrew the fastening nut

unscrew the fastening nut. This special key is usually included in the delivery of new Vaxoil kingpins or sold separately;

the rotary mechanism ball seal is removed and the fist and ball joint are pulled out; old grease is cleaned out, used gaskets are replaced with new ones, threaded connections and fastening hardware are inspected. Worn nuts and bolts should be replaced as necessary to ensure their reliable performance in the future; Replacing a plastic liner with a bronze one is simple - the old one is removed, the new one is installed in its place; when installing the bearing pin, the old spherical cups are cut off, the surface of the stock is cleaned, and new bushings are fixed by welding, which must be perfectly aligned to avoid distortions;

Additional recommendations

The installed kingpins on bronze liners require subsequent adjustment after 500 km of gentle running-in due to natural shrinkage. The manufacturer Vaxoil-service gives its kit a three-year guarantee or 100 thousand kilometers with high-quality installation. Other manufacturers make similar commitments.

Bearing units are less demanding in terms of subsequent maintenance. The reliability of their operation is verified during the first thousand kilometers.

UAZ Patriot is a car that requires constant attention from the owner. Be careful and courteous with your iron friend!

Adjusting the UAZ king pins

A mandatory step after replacement is adjusting the steering. Otherwise, problems may arise with tire burning and the car pulling to the side. The adjustment is done using spacers. Start with the top kingpin. For the bronze element, 4 spacers, each 0.5 mm thick, are used. For roller bearings - 5 with the same thickness. Next, we tighten the mechanism and go for a test drive. It is unacceptable for the wheel to heat up. If this is the case, the kingpin will need to be loosened by reducing the number of shims.

How to determine the country of manufacture by VIN code?

Many car owners do not know that a car’s VN code can reveal many interesting things, including the country of origin of the vehicle.

Below we will consider two options.

For Skoda Felicia. To determine the country of origin of the car, you need to look at the 11th character of the code:

The assembly line in Mladá Boleslav is 0-4.
Kvasins - 5.
Vrchlabi - 7-8.
Kvassins - 9.
Ukraine - V.
Russia (Kaluga) - K.
Mlada Boleslav - N.
Poznan (Poland) - X.

Next comes the vehicle serial number (six digits).

See below for a complete description of the VIN code.

For Skoda Octavia the situation is as follows. From the first group, consisting of three characters, you can determine the manufacturer's code.

So, T - Europe, M - Czech Republic and B - Skoda Auto.

Next, as in the previous case, we are interested in the 11th character of the VIN code. Here the situation is as follows:

Mlada Boleslav - from 0 to 4.
Kvasins - 5.
Verkhlabie -7, and since 1999 - 8.
Sarajevo - 9 (since 2002).
Poznan - X.

Next comes the car's serial number.

See the full decoding of the Skoda Octavia VIN code below.

For example, let's decipher the VIN code TMBBK41Z2BB151503.

Which ones to choose?

In addition to the factory carbon fiber ones (which owners do not recommend installing in any way), there are several types of king pins:

Bearing.
On a bronze bushing.

The first type has a complex design. Such UAZ kingpins combine the lower half with a tapered bearing and thrust ring, as well as a cage.

Bronze elements are highly resistant to shock loads - such bushings are an order of magnitude stronger than bearing bushings. But the steering will be tighter. The cost is almost identical to the previous ones - 1.5 thousand rubles per set. These are excellent kingpins for UAZ “Loaf”, “Hunter” and 469. True, like the previous ones, they require regular lubrication and inspection. We will describe this procedure in detail below.

Identification data of the VAZ-2107 car

The vehicle's registration data is indicated on the summary plate (1), which is attached to the bottom shelf of the air supply box.
The plate shows the model and number of the car body, engine model, weight data, number for spare parts, design options and configurations. Next to the plate is the vehicle identification number - VIN (2). Rating plate:

1 - number for spare parts; 2 — manufacturing plant; 3 — mark of conformity and vehicle type approval number; 4 — identification number; 5 — engine model; 6 — permissible load on the front axle; 7 — permissible load on the rear axle; 8 — version and equipment; 9 — permissible maximum vehicle weight; 10 - maximum permissible weight with trailer

About syringing

This is the name for the procedure for lubrication of mechanism bushings. It is produced through grease nipples using a specialized syringe. A waterproof lubricant (for example, Litol-24) is placed inside the latter.

How often should the pins be injected? This procedure is performed every 20 thousand kilometers or once a year. This simple preventative measure will extend the life of the bushings and ensure easier steering rotation. This is noticeable already from the first meters of the road.

Replacing UAZ Bukhanka king pins with bearings

Separately, it is worth saying a little about the installation of kingpins on bearings.

There are important points here:

The bearings must be exactly and evenly aligned with the axis. I think it’s clear what will happen if the axes don’t match.
You need to be careful when welding so that the bearing race seat is not damaged. At a minimum you will have to cook with heat.
An important nuance is the tension. A system that has a tapered clamping sleeve works better when it has an elastic liner; but the bearing is rigid, and you need to tighten it with all your might.

What to do if the factory king pin is broken

In order to understand how to change the king pins on a UAZ, you need to find out the purpose of the trips.

Off-road travel

If you plan to travel on difficult and bumpy roads. Where there will be a lot of dirt and stones, it would be better to install a durable king pin with bronze inserts. There is a small nuance when installing such a kingpin for the first couple of thousand kilometers.

The steering wheel will turn hard and tight, you will have to get used to it. However, with proper installation of the unit and high-quality lubrication, the steering wheel will then turn easier.

City trips

When driving around the city, the best option would be to equip your car with a kingpin on bearings. Additionally, a steering damper is installed, so this work will be more expensive. Otherwise, without a steering damper, the front wheels will feel unbalanced.

When driving around town on relatively flat roads, the pins on bearings have a long service life. And you won't need to replace these parts in the near future.

But for hard off-road use, changing the king pins will be a pressing issue for you. You can replace the pins yourself or go to a machine service station.

Replacement of new UAZ Bukhanka king pins

Let's say a few words about the new type of king pins. In general, reviews from car enthusiasts are negative: the material is fragile, poorly made, difficult to replace without damaging anything; and they serve less than the “classics”.

Poorly cut threads are also noted. Perhaps you should listen to the opinions of experienced motorists and prefer the classics until new products are improved.

The frequency of replacing kingpins directly depends on the conditions in which the UAZ “Bukhanka” is operated. With constant driving on severe off-road conditions, repair of this part of the car will naturally be needed earlier than with moderate use.

Required Tools

Before starting repair work, the car is thoroughly washed to remove dirt, because... the ingress of dust and small debris into moving mechanisms or lubricant will lead to rapid wear of the installed parts.

To tighten the kingpins on a UAZ Patriot you will need the following tools:

standard set of special linings;
set of open-end wrenches;
heads of different diameters;
hammer;
jack – 2 pcs;
torque wrench;
a wrench with an attachment for adjusting the pivot units.

A set of keys.

A special key can be found in repair kits for kingpins and bearings. If it is not there, you will have to buy it separately. A kingpin wrench is similar to a splined pad with lugs that fit into slots on a lug nut. To ensure accurate tightening, use a torque wrench.

Algorithm for replacing the king pin on a UAZ “Bukhanka”

The front axle of the car should be hung on jacks ; jacks are more often used. Additionally, something strong is substituted so that if the jack breaks, the car does not fall.
The transmission oil needs to be drained from the axle.
Next, remove the brake shield , brake caliper, steering tip and turn out the oil nipple.

Direct removal of the king pin . You need to screw a bolt with a diameter of M10 into it and try to pull it by prying it by the head. If this does not work, you should firmly fix the steel sheet above the pin and make an M10 hole in it through which the bolt will be screwed. A pair of nuts are attached to the bolt under the plate, through which the kingpin will successfully rise to it.

Then you can get the washer without any problems, but you need to tinker with the bushing. You can get it out with a sharpened nail, carefully sliding it from the side of the lock under the sleeve. Oscillatory movements must be done in a circle until it becomes possible to grab the bushing with pliers. After removal, the bushing is washed with gasoline, and then a new lubricant, usually lithol, is applied.

The new kingpin is carefully hammered into place with a hammer, preferably through a wooden board, avoiding the part being distorted.
The remaining parts are installed in their places.

How to remove old hinges: step-by-step guide

Before carrying out repair work, the vehicle should be placed on a hydraulic lift or in a garage equipped with an inspection pit. It is permissible to repair a machine installed on a level surface. In this case, wheel chocks are placed under the rear wheels. To complete the work, you will need a standard set of plumbing tools, as well as a set of new parts. If the owner intends to use bearing modification kingpins, the parts are replaced as a set, on the left and right sides of the car.

There are 3 repair methods:

without removing the hub from the car;
with removal of the steering knuckle, but without disassembling the hub;
with complete disassembly of parts, for example when replacing CV joint components or installing new oil seals.

What tools will we need?

To complete the work you will need the following tools:

set of open-end wrenches for hexagonal nuts and bolts;
set of socket heads with handle and dynamometer;
puller for parts, factory or homemade;
syringe for filling parts with lubricant;
hammer;
additional supports used to hold the car on a jack.

Removing ball joints

Work algorithm:

Unscrew the grease nipple or protective bolt installed in the lubricant supply channel. Then remove the 4 nuts connecting the bipod and the steering knuckle.
Using light blows with a mallet or hammer, move the bipod from its seat and remove the 4 cone washers.
Remove the bipod and remove the spacers that allow you to adjust the relative position of the parts.
Using a puller, remove the outer part of the pivot element from the seat. It is possible to remove the part using 2 mounting blades, which are inserted under a pre-screwed bolt with washers. Mounts rest against supports - rods or socket wrench heads of the same diameter.
To remove the lower part of the assembly, you need to get to the steering knuckle from below, for example from the inspection hole. To remove the part, a self-made screw puller is used, which acts on its body, squeezing it out of the mounting hole.
Clean the surface of the steering knuckle from dirt and old grease, and then install new parts.

Dismantling other types of hinges

Sequence of actions when removing standard type pivot units:

Raise the car on a jack, placing safety stands under the threshold. Unscrew the front wheel fasteners and remove the disk and tire from the hub.
Clean the surface of the steering knuckle from dirt using a metal brush, lubricate rusted threaded connections with special WD40 fluid.
Unscrew the nut holding the upper end of the king pin.
Remove the bipod, which is secured with 4 nuts. When removing, keep the gaskets and cone washers.
Install the wood or soft metal spacer and then apply a few blows with a hammer. Manipulation will loosen the tightening of the clamping threaded bushing.
Unscrew the bushing using a special wrench, and then remove the pin from the socket.
Similarly, remove the lower cover of the steering knuckle, which will allow you to remove the base of the kingpin with a replaceable support.

The hub along with the axle shaft should be removed from the bridge stocking, and then the ball pins should be pulled out of the mounting holes. To remove the steering knuckle, you need to remove the steering angle limiter. Then replace the bushings with plastic or bronze elements, while simultaneously installing a new CV joint oil seal. The advantage of the technique is the ability to clean the unit from dirt and rust, although replacement takes longer and requires the use of additional tools.

Steering adjustment

This is mandatory, otherwise problems with driving the car will inevitably occur and premature wear of the tires on the front wheels is possible.

The steering is adjustable with shims. For a standard kingpin, 4 pieces are suitable, and for a roller pin – 5 pieces of 0.5 mm each. After the test ride, you need to touch the wheel and kingpin. When the wheel heats up, a couple of spacers should be removed, but if the kingpin is hot, then add it.

The quality of UAZ control depends on the condition of the pivot. If it malfunctions, you will feel impacts on the steering wheel, so you should replace it in time. It is quite possible to carry out this repair with your own hands, however, if you have the opportunity to contact a specialist, you should not neglect this.

Don't make mistakes

The maximum effect from such painting can be obtained only if the intensity and scale of each detail of the picture are correctly selected, the nature of which is determined depending on the specific machine. Do-it-yourself spray painting of a car (VAZ, for example) will not look the same as on a BMW or any other foreign car. There is simply no universal solution here. You need to independently design a drawing that can highlight the character of the car and the owner. But this does not mean that in the absence of universal solutions one should forget about the rules. There are a certain number of nuances that everyone should know.

It is mandatory to use colors with shades of green, sand or brown. In any other case, the concept will be violated and the car will lose its warlike appearance.

Painting a car yourself with a khaki spray can means stains. The dimensions and contours of each of them are set manually, always taking into account the features of the body parts on which they will be applied. The uniqueness of the car will also increase - it will look very impressive if every spot is original.