having had to replace said pins in our 2cv cars we found that the actual pin doesnt wear
only the bushes do
also the threaded plug at the bottom is perfectly ok to use again, as is the top cap if its the origional one, the ones you buy are crap more like a milk bottle top
the shims can wear and thats an mot faliure, no big deal though to re shim the up down

The pins do wear, especially if greasing's been neglected.

oooo,h no they dont!
i beg to differ
its the crappy bushes that ware

cheapest option i've found is doing mates a favour.. got a pair for a few hours work.. or when your dad packs up to move.. got another pair then too!

Lifted from the "kingpin tools" thread. Behold ... one badly worn kingpin.

They do. Ive done 2 now. Both worn.

well perhaps i,m wrong but the pins we have collected are all perfect
my brother bought a set of new bushes fom ebay, and we re-used the origional pin no probs at all
went thro the mot on tuesday

Met your brothervtoday andy!!

did he buy the rear window hinge part from u james?
i know he went somewhere to pick it up today

As above, the pins are made of hardened steel, just like the bushes, so they're no harder and they most definitely do wear! Not usually as quickly as the bushes though, and you're right about reusing some of the other bits. I've reused several of the bottom plugs, usually when the replacement has had a different sized slot cut in the bottom, meaning the 'proper' tool couldn't be used. I wouldn't have said the two thick plain washers were 'shims' as such - they provide a bearing surface for the grooved (bronze?) thrust washer to run on. I do tend to mix and match them and the dust cover with the old ones though, to give the correct vertical play.