King pin eye faces on stub and beam axles.

[Robert Leigh]

I'm bracing myself for howls of protest from those as know better, but I cleaned mine up quite nicely with a household tap seat cutter from Wickes. It even miraculously came with the right screw thread to bolt directly on the end of an old kingpin, which thus formed the pilot and kept it square.  Perfect, no; but a heck of a lot better than it was before and for barely a fiver.

The question of washers occasionally vexes me too, I too have heard they should be hardened but suspect many aren't. This is a part of the car which ought to be regularly inspected anyhow, and vertical slop is a definite no-no. I wouldn't advocate any soft material.

The tap seat cutter is an excellent idea, but do remember that it is only made for cutting brass; don't expect it to last forever on steel!
Robert Leigh