King Pin Thrust Washers

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 17 Jan 2010, 1:28 am

#757988

Hiya all,

Need some help in figuring out how/where to get some new thrust washers for my Link pin spindles?

The KP and LP's are nice and tight but the vertical movement on the KP is 0.3-0.4mm so I need thicker thrust washers making up. Now VW no longer make them so where to get them or get them made? I don't think they are just plain mild steel. They are at least hardened or maybe made from a higher carbon content steel.

Can anyone help in figuring out how to get these thrust washers? It's the only thing I need to put me spindles back together 😉

Cheers,
Mike

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 17 Jan 2010, 8:43 am

#758003

Hi, not long after you do the king pins you will get a bit of wear on the thrust washers,i do not think that .3 is much more than what is required for the grease clearence, to tight and the grease won't get to were it is needed but the manual states that there should be no clearence on the thrust and that the steel washers are available in .05mm incriments with the sizes between 3.56mm to 4.3mm, fat chance of find any of those, i have machined thrust washers for machines in the industy were i work from silver steel and heat treated them myself with good resaults

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 17 Jan 2010, 1:24 pm

#758045

vwo60 wrote:Hi, not long after you do the king pins you will get a bit of wear on the thrust washers,i do not think that .3 is much more than what is required for the grease clearence, to tight and the grease won't get to were it is needed but the manual states that there should be no clearence on the thrust and that the steel washers are available in .05mm incriments with the sizes between 3.56mm to 4.3mm, fat chance of find any of those, i have machined thrust washers for machines in the industy were i work from silver steel and heat treated them myself with good resaults

Yea, they aren't available anymore. I did wonder about the grease but I'm going from the maintenance manual too. I think this is why they used a fibre washer too on the top of the spindle knuckle to stop metal to metal contact as the grease will get pressed out fairly easily.

Any chance I could get you to make me a couple up if I give you the dimensions?

Cheers,
Mike

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 17 Jan 2010, 9:20 pm

#758136

Hi Psimitar,
i could machine them if you found the material, you simply heat the steel cherry red and quench it in oil after they are made, i do not have any material at home, you could try a specialist steel stockest

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 17 Jan 2010, 10:55 pm

#758157

vwo60 wrote:Hi Psimitar,
i could machine them if you found the material, you simply heat the steel cherry red and quench it in oil after they are made, i do not have any material at home, you could try a specialist steel stockest

Hmm, well I have access to a lathe and know how to use one so shall see what I can do from my end. If I have no luck then is it ok if I give you a bell?

Cheers,
Mike

madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍