I received my Front End rebuild kit for my 53 Belair from Kanter the other day and I’m having a heck of a time getting my old king pin out. I have the front end tore down with the upright/spindle in a vise. I followed the shop manual and removed the locking pin, caps, clips and retainers. The spindle rotates freely and I was able to remove the top bearing easily but the king pin and lower bearing won’t budge up or down? It took a long time to drive out the caps from each end using the hammer/punch routine but they finally did come out, everything I read says the king pin should come out easily at this point but after a lot of pounding all I have is sore arms!

Do I just need a bigger hammer or am I missing something here?

Thanks, Tommy C.

I believe you are going to have to break out the torches, or are you able to put it in a press? one of those 2 methods should work

Thanks for the reply, I tried the torch technique tonight with no luck. I've got a shop owner friend with a press, looks like I'll have to go that route...

Thanks again...TC

Not wanting to give up so easy, I took the torch to it again...Gentlemen, the king pin has left the spindle!!

Thanks again for the help, hopefully the other side will be just as much fun...TC

Have you got any pics of your 53. Just curious as I've also got a 53 but with no motor or 'box yet. Hopefully I'll have the bucks this weekend to go and buy one. Check out mine in my gallery.

Hi Neophyte,
I have pics posted at
Tommy C's 53 Belair

I love your SD project, they are getting pretty popular of here in the states. I'm quite a ways off from hitting the road but getting closer everyday! ...Good Luck

Thanks. Yours seems to have been in quite nice condition with not too much work to be done. My 53 will be my wife's even if she doesn't have her driver's license yet. So, she gets to choose the color scheme. For now the interior will be left as is. I want to send it in the next two or three weeks for sandblasting.