Driving on a knackered kingpin bearing

Hey guys

Looking some advice, what risks are involved in driving on an assumed knackered kingpin bearing. My swivels has been leaking diff oil for the last few weeks. I've been meaning to change them with a friend but scheduling just hasn't allowed for it.

Issue is I've got a trip planned next week, about 1000 miles all in from Scotland down to the south coast of England and back. I am just curious if there is a risk of catastrophic failure or damage to other components. Journey will be 99% motorway sat at 60-65mph.

Currently my vehicles symptoms are leaking swivels, and a very slight intermittent resistance in steering turning lock to lock. It did have a mild wobble at 45mph but that had all but entirely disappeared since I changed my wheels and tyres (alloys with 205/70r15 Bridgestone duallers to stock steels with 205/75r15 GG AT3s)

Thanks
CAE

I picked my Jim up about 3 months ago with 4 brand new tyres, i found the nearside front caliper partially seized and as i took the wheel off i noticed play in the kingpin bearings, i put this job on the back burner while sorting more pressing jobs.
Since then after about a 1000 miles i have noticed the n/s/f tyre has scrubbed to the outer edge, i am putting this down to a knackered king pin bearing.

I think my main worry if you have no death wobble is the axle oil dripping enough to get on the brake discs.

Kirkynut

My main worry is... you’re asking on an open public forum whether it’s worth the risk of driving a thousand mile round trip in a known ‘defective’ vehicle...?!

Errr... NO!

Agree with Dave get it fixed first for your own peace of mind too.

S200KYS wrote: My main worry is... you’re asking on an open public forum whether it’s worth the risk of driving a thousand mile round trip in a known ‘defective’ vehicle...?!

Errr... NO!

Lol! Absolutely!

Kirkynut