Kingpin on UAZ Patriot on bearings: characteristics

The UAZ Patriot's pivot pins on bearings, located in the front suspension, have an increased service life and improve the car's handling on the highway, as well as in off-road conditions. From the factory, a design with bronze bushings is used. The alteration is carried out by the owners at will during the next repair of the chassis.

The kingpin is the axis of rotation of the steered wheel of a car.

Item Specifications

The steel pivot pin on the UAZ Patriot is divided into 2 parts, which ensures installation of the drive shaft of the front wheels in the hinge. The fist is placed on a hinge, which has spherical recesses for installing bronze cups. A metal cover is attached to the rear of the rotary assembly housing. Inside the king pin there is a channel with an external grease fitting that pumps lubricant to the rubbing surfaces during maintenance of the unit. The cups have grooves through which the lubricant is evenly distributed.

The pin has a tapered section allowing the element to be centered using a split threaded bushing. A swing arm is attached to the bottom of the knuckle with 4 bolts. The controlled elements are connected by a rod that provides symmetrical deflection of the controlled wheels.

The ball pins are angled to reduce stress on the cup and ball head.

The kingpin is a steel rod of variable profile.

The modernized unit is distinguished by a tapered bearing, which is used instead of a cup. The outer ring of the support rests on a special stand, mounted or welded to the standard hole of the bridge hinge. It is necessary to install a pin in the inner ring, on the body of which a restrictive washer is provided (does not allow the pin to excessively enter the inner ring of the bearing).

Centering is carried out using a split threaded bushing; the pin is closed on top with a cover held in place by a nut.

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.

Pros and cons of kingpin on bearings

Product advantages:

Frequent adjustments or tightening are not required;
if over-tightened, the wheel easily deviates to the sides;
The kit includes parts for rebuilding the steering knuckle joint.

Read: how to tighten the king pin on a UAZ Patriot

The kit includes parts for rebuilding the hinge.

Disadvantages of the unit noted by car owners:

the installation procedure is more labor-intensive (compared to standard elements);
shock loads and vibrations destroy the rings and raceways of the tapered bearing;
if moisture gets in, the support rusts and fails;
in case of insufficient tension, accelerated wear of the rubbing surfaces occurs;
If the bearing fails, the fist may become jammed.

Which kingpins are better to put on the UAZ 469

The Russian UAZ 469 is famous for its endurance, reliability, and ability to overcome any obstacles. Much of the credit for this goes to the kingpins installed in the transmission. Which kingpins are better - this question depends on the driving style, the characteristics of the obstacles to be overcome, and the duration of the drive over rough terrain.

Judging by reviews from experienced car enthusiasts and professional off-road racers, the most durable kingpins are bushing and ball designs. There are many adherents and bearing units. Although, with constant use in mud and heavy dust, the bearings become clogged with sand and fail.

However, many car owners replace the kingpins on the UAZ 469 with bearing ones, if they previously had other outdated designs. The Vaxoil kingpin on the UAZ 469 has gained a good reputation among drivers. These devices rarely fail, their service life is long, and their reliability has been proven under heavy-duty conditions.

When is it necessary to replace the king pins on a UAZ Patriot?

During the operation of the car, gradual abrasion of the cups made of non-ferrous metal occurs. As the element deteriorates, the gap is compensated by tightening the ball pin and bushing; when critical wear is reached, the steering knuckle begins to jam.

The driver hears extraneous sounds from the front suspension and notices a deterioration in handling. The cause of the failure can only be determined after disassembling the rotary assembly.

Read about replacing UAZ Patriot king pins

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!

Signs of a part failure

Manifestations indicating damage to the ball pin or cups:

knocking noise when driving in a straight line or in turns;
fist jamming felt on the steering wheel;
pulling the car away from a straight path at a normal wheel alignment angle;
an increase in the turning radius due to the impossibility of rotating the wheels to the maximum angle (limited by a mechanical stop).

The car pulling away from a straight path is a sign of a faulty king pin.

The main reasons for the failure of the UAZ Patriot kingpin

Ball pin assemblies usually fail due to the destruction of the rim of one of the cups covering the ball. At some point, this rim may simply crack, and this happens either from a strong impact (resulting from hitting an uneven road) or from so-called metal fatigue. As soon as the rim of the cup is destroyed, play in the ball appears, which causes knocking and creaking in the pivot assembly. It is possible to understand that it is the kingpin that is faulty only by completely disassembling the front steering knuckle.

If you hear a continuous knocking sound in the front suspension, it means you need to replace the king pins on your UAZ.

Adjusting and pulling the king pin

Algorithm for adjusting a standard type unit:

Place the car on a horizontal platform or on a lift, securing the rear wheels with wheel chocks.
Remove the front wheels (when working in a garage, you will need to jack up the body and install safety stops under the sills).
Rock the steering knuckle to determine the play.
Using a 24 mm wrench or socket, unscrew the nut securing the upper pin.
Using a copper hammer, force the finger against the cup with several blows, striking the threaded tip.
Turn the split nut with a special wrench 15-20°, while simultaneously shaking the fist to determine the residual play.
Repeat the operation with the lower pin, and then replace the removed covers and parts (after filling the cavities of the pin with thick lubricant).
Check the ease of moving the fist to the sides while simultaneously rocking to check for the absence of gaps in the “finger-cup” pair.
If the adjustment procedure does not eliminate the backlash or jamming of the controlled unit is observed, then it is necessary to remove the pins and conduct a visual inspection of the parts (damaged elements must be replaced with original or upgraded parts).

Do-it-yourself replacement of UAZ 469 king pins

Replacing the kingpins on the UAZ 469 is carried out in the following sequence:

Drain the oil from the bridge. Place chocks under the wheels and hang the axle.
Remove the brake caliper along with the disc.
Unscrew the brake shield, remove the wire assembly with the bearing housing.
Remove the steering tip, unscrew the oil nipple from below.
Remove the king pin cover with the lubrication valve.
Unscrew the plug from the lower king pin.
Disassemble the king pin and soak it in kerosene.
Remove the kingpin from the reverse side in a similar sequence.
Thoroughly clean the removed parts from dust, dirt, corrosion and inspect them.
Lubricate the bushings and press them out.
Clean the spiral lubrication channels from chips and deposits.
Replace the semi-axial seals and lubricate the edges with oil.
After completing the operations, check the pins in the axle. Check the threaded connections on the CV joint. Adjust the axial movement of the fist.
Install the oiler and the kingpin cover in their original place.
Lubricate the drive journal. After the final check, insert the wire.
Install all components and parts in the reverse order. In order to replace the kingpins on a UAZ 469 with your own hands correctly, you must strictly adhere to the requirements of the instructions.

Replacing the kingpin on a UAZ Patriot - instructions

Instead of a standard assembly with cups, it is better to mount parts with tapered bearings that do not require frequent adjustment. Work is carried out in a garage box or on a lift. You will need a set of plumbing tools and the skills to independently maintain a car.

Required Tools

To perform repairs you need to prepare:

a set of wrenches or sockets;
wheel wrench;
flat blade screwdriver;
syringe for injecting lubricant;
mounting blade;
hammer.

To replace the kingpin, you need a set of wrenches.

Stages of repair work

Brief algorithm for performing the work:

Drive the car onto a lift or into a box and remove the front wheels (when performing repairs in a garage, install stops under the sills).
Unscrew the screws and remove the caliper, pads and brake discs. Carefully place the caliper on the suspension parts, avoiding twisting or breaking the rubber hose.
Unscrew the steering end fixing nut, having first removed the wire cotter pin. On some vehicles, it is necessary to disconnect the ABS system sensor plug (you must first disconnect the battery from the vehicle's on-board network).
Unscrew the nuts securing the ball pin covers, unscrew the jammed elements after preheating with a gas burner.
Remove the front wheel steering angle limiter plate.
Unscrew the mounting bolts, remove the steering knuckle from the axle housing and the drive shaft tip.
Place the assembly in a vice, and then unscrew the bolts securing the rear cover and the element used to limit the angle of deflection of the wheels (it is recommended to first measure the offset of the element).
Remove the additional parts and remove the joint from the knuckle.
Wipe the element from old grease and dirt, and then weld guide cups for tapered bearings to the body. It is recommended to carry out the work in a service center equipped with special equipment for marking the position of parts.
Press the bearings into the cups, and then reassemble the steering knuckles.
Adjust the tension of the bearings using a threaded bushing, checking the play and ease of deflection of the fist by hand.

Read about the front brake pads of the UAZ Patriot

Replacing kingpins without disassembling and removing units from the machine

The replacement method described above is not always possible, since many UAZ owners simply weld the mounting joint between the axle housing and the steering knuckle. In this case, replacing the kingpins is done on site without removing or completely disassembling the steering knuckle.

Changing the kingpins on site is a completely feasible task. It's better to do it on a lift. It is difficult to replace the lower kingpin from the inspection hole, because it is very low, and therefore inconvenient - difficult to change and adjust. In terms of technology, replacing a kingpin differs from the previously described method only in that all work is carried out under the machine in a limited space and insufficient lighting. The advantage will be that fewer operations will be required, since there is no need to remove the brake caliper, steering rod and the entire steering knuckle and hub assembly. Perhaps this will compensate you for the inconvenience and difficulties.

We recommend: Car wheel balancing

You can watch a video on how to replace the king pin indiscriminately:

Additional recommendations

When carrying out maintenance, check the condition of the hub seals. If damage or lubricant leakage is detected, parts must be replaced. Before installation, cardboard gaskets are lubricated with thick oil that does not allow moisture to penetrate into the internal cavities. It is recommended to remove the fender and fender liner mounting bracket installed in the front wheel arch, and then remove traces of rust and treat the metal with an anti-corrosion compound (the mounting point is not painted from the factory).

Share your experience of replacing and adjusting the kingpin on a UAZ Patriot! We are waiting for your comments!

Installation of kingpins depending on their type:

Installation of kingpins with a bronze insert. Bronze kingpins are theoretically strong even under severe suspension impacts. They are more durable than bearings, which is why they are installed for heavy off-road use. King pins with bronze inserts give good results on all UAZ vehicles. It is worth remembering that during the first two thousand kilometers, turning the steering wheel will be a little difficult. After running-in, when the castor angle increases, the installation is carried out correctly, and the lubrication is of high quality, you will exert less force on the UAZ steering wheel. When installing a kingpin with bronze liners on a UAZ, if possible, it is recommended to increase the caster angle so that the wheels can more easily return to their original position on their own without much effort on the part of the driver. The use of bronze kingpins on UAZ is considered the most inexpensive and at the same time reliable solution to the problem of low-quality kingpins. If any problems arise, it is necessary to promptly repair the king pins on the UAZ.
Installation of pins on bearings. Driving the UAZ is greatly facilitated by the pivot pins on bearings; they are also quite reliable. If constant operation of the UAZ on severe off-road conditions is not part of your plans, it would be most advisable to install a king pin on bearings. The procedure under consideration will cost significantly more than installing similar elements with bronze liners. In this case, it is imperative to install a steering damper. Without this element, the car will behave as if the front wheels need to be balanced.

Which UAZ-Patriot kingpin is better - plastic, bearing or Vaxoil? The story of one UAZ driver

UAZ Patriot is not the most advanced car, to put it mildly. In particular, there are many complaints about the plastic kingpins of the UAZ Patriot, with which you can drive about 20,000 km - at least such cases were registered on thematic forums. Of course, this is not the case. Yes, the AMO F-15 had an engine life of 5,000 km, so let’s get on horses and open inns. In general, today we have to find out which kingpins on the UAZ Patriot are the best, and whether they exist at all.

Let me start with the fact that the king pins themselves are not plastic – they have polymer inserts that wear out very quickly. But the owners say so - plastic kingpins.

Naturally, the patriot wears out the plastic kingpin once or twice. A car from the showroom is practically incompatible with such a word as handling. Even when there is smooth asphalt under the wheels of an SUV, you have to steer on the slightest bump, catching the car. Of course, it’s not just the plastic kingpin that the patriot presents to his owner as a terrible surprise. In addition to the fact that you need to install UAZ Patriot bearing pins, it is also better to buy a steering damper with a spring, and also do not forget to make the castor +5.

I am writing all this according to one owner. After these operations, the person could not believe that the Russian Prado could so confidently maintain the designated trajectory. The controls became very sensitive, but not excessively; a clear zero appeared on the steering wheel. Of course, the patriot is still far from any kind of passenger Toyota, but there is not even any reason to compare it with the factory version. The car almost instantly reacts to the steering wheel - but do not forget to make allowances for the tires. The wheel, despite the bumps, stays in one position, which is a huge plus.

Happiness lasted 35,000 km, and then the shimmy came. At first, such things began to happen only on winter off-road tires; this did not happen with winter tires and AT tires. The owner, who rarely drives MT tires, simply did not drive them, and the problem seemed to disappear. But temporarily. After 5000 km, the shimmy patriot fell ill and wore winter shoes. Almost the entire suspension was rebuilt by the owner, but all the stock silent blocks were replaced with polyurethane ones, new bearings were installed, even the shock absorbers had to be retired.

But the shimmy continued.

And then I had to buy a Vaxoil king pin for the UAZ Patriot, and also a Vaxoil 5+ shopki - they say it helps. What about the kingpin bearings on the UAZ Patriot, how did they fare? During disassembly, it turned out that they had received a mess - the bearing races turned out to be very worn out. The motorist made the replacement for Vaxoil himself.

Bang

Fortunately, there was no accident, but the car was drivable. Managed. No, it couldn’t be called steering – would you like an almost second-long reaction to the steering wheel? It could have been redone, but the owner had a 600-kilometer journey ahead of him the next day. Judging by the fact that he covered this distance, the trip could not be cancelled. Experienced people say that the UAZ kingpin of the Waxoil brand wears out after 1000-1500 km, but will this situation suit you?

While the waxoil pin is being ground in, the car remains dangerous!

Service, installation of bearings in old shops. The kingpin and fists are currently on the shelves in the garage. But the happiness did not last long - after about 10,000 km, the patriot visited shimmy again. And then our hero came up with the idea of sending Vaxoil spare parts to the manufacturer - after all, qualified personnel work there, and they are certainly capable of standard, let’s say, assembly. This service, by the way, is provided by the plant. Thank you that UAZ-Patriot can receive technical assistance from the factory workers.