Importance

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Abstract

A steering kingpin and knuckle assembly provided with wear take-up by forming the kingpin end portions with a frusto-conical peripheral surface, and providing a bearing bushing having a corresponding frusto-conical internal bearing surface mounted in each steering knuckle yoke bore and pivotally supporting the knuckle relative to the kingpin. Alternatively, the kingpin end portions and the internal surface of the bushing, preferably split bushing, are cylindrical and the bushing external surface is frusto-conical and disposed in a frusto-conical bore in the knuckle yoke. The bushing is pre-loaded in a direction causing engagement of the kingpin end and bushing bearing surfaces, being spring-biased or, in the alternative, by an end cap closing the yoke bore and having an annular position projecting within the bore. Shims are added between the end cap annular projecting portion and the bushing end face, or shims are removed from under the end cap mounting flange, for displacing the tapered bushing in a direction causing engagement of the bearing surfaces, and thus compensating for wear tending to increase the clearance between the bearing surfaces.

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First Claim