My disc brake conversion problems

[mrtleavitt]

Ok, I'm in the middle of my disc brake conversion and I'm installing the king pins. I'm a little confused from the posted intructions on this site. I know that the bearing goes on the bottom of the spindle inbetween the I-beam. I have a shim and an o-ring type thing, where do these two things go? My brother thinks the o-ring goes on top of the spindle inbetween the I-beam but it also fits nicely on top of the bushing under the grease cap. The diagram only shows one extra shim or o-ring (I'm not sure what it's showing). Anybody know where these go? Thanks

I forgot to add that I can't get the bearing and the o-ring in together, meaning the bearing on the bottom and the o-ring on the top of the spindle, it's too tight! If that's where the o-ring goes, can I do without it or do I need it?

[basketcase0302]

This should help:
http://www.fordification.com/discbrakes01.htm

Jeff

[mrtleavitt]

No, that's what I was reffering to when I said, "I'm a little confused from the posted intructions on this site." Those instructions don't mention all the parts that I was given.

[390Nut]

The o-ring looking thing is a grease seal, much like what you'ld put in your front drums/hubs (only much smaller). It only goes in one way, like any other seal does, so look closely at it. It should have a flat surface on it, and an open surface on the other side. The open surface goes TOWARDS the grease, and it needs to be pressed in so it is flush with the surface of the spindle.

The "ring" you see in the diagram above is actually your seal, and goes under the TOP part of the spindle. The bearing acts as a seal on the bottom, so one is not needed down there.

I had to shim mine when I put it back together. I don't know where the shims are supposed to go, because I've never seen shims pictured in any diagrams in any literature, but three different shops (all of which pressed/reamed the bushings in the spindles for me) pretty much said the same thing. Place them on the top of the bearing, as it's installed. Which, by the way, the sealed side of the bearing goes UP.

Also, make SURE your spindle is snug and doesn't twist or move sideways before you put the locking pin back in place. It should turn smoothly, without any other movement (like checking your wheel bearings with the wheel/tire installed). Any movement will require shims to take up the slack.

[AlleyCat]

The shims go on top of the beam not on top of the bearing.Shim stock is soft compared to the beam or bearing.The combination of the weight and twisting motion will eventually destroy them.

[swissranger]

A bearing which is sealed by a lip seal ring AND which will be lubricated by a grease press, the lip of the seal has to go away from the grease. A grease press can apply very high pressure which can destroy the seal ring when the lip shows to the grease. Moreover in case of later relubricating, old grease is able to leave the bearing when the seal lip shows away from the grease.
In most cases it’s true that the seal lip has to show to the lubricant, but only if the housing or bearing which has to be sealed, will see no or just little pressure.

I found the following cutaway drawing from a P-Series Ford in the 1969 Shop Manual

Roman