Landing Gear Trunnion Pins

Landing gear trunnion pins serve as structural pivots that transfer torsional and shear loads from the gear assembly to the airframe. They operate under complex multi-axial loading conditions during landing, braking, and taxiing.

Material Specification

AISI 4340 Alloy Steel (AMS 6414), 300M Steel (AMS 6419), or Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5, AMS 4928)

Diameter(s) & Length

Ø50mm–150mm (±0.01mm), Length – 200mm–800mm (±0.1mm) (Stepped diameters available)

Head/Retaining Feature Design

Flanged Head (NAS/AN Spec), Grooved for C-Clips (DIN 471), Threaded Ends (UNJF-3A)

Bearing Surface Finish

Ground to Ra ≤ 0.4 µm, Hard Chrome Plated (0.02–0.05mm) or DLC Coated

Hardness

Core – 28–32 HRC, Surface – 55–60 HRC (Case-hardened/Carburized)

Product Description

To ensure reliable performance, these landing gear trunnion pins require high precision in diameter tolerances, straightness, and roundness. Any deviation can lead to stress concentrations, misalignment, and instability in surrounding structures. Proper engineering of trunnion pins is essential to maintain load path integrity and prevent deformation in adjacent assemblies.

Shear/Bending Strength

Shear – 800–1,500 MPa, Bending – 1,000–1,800 MPa (Validated per ASTM E8)

Fatigue Life

10⁷ Cycles @ 30% UTS (HCF), 10⁴ Cycles @ 70% UTS (LCF) (Per ASTM E466)

Dimensional Tolerances

Diameter – ±0.005mm, Straightness – ≤0.02mm/m, Threads – UNJF-3A/AS8879

NDT Requirements

Magnetic Particle (MT), Ultrasonic (UT), X-ray (RT for welds)

Certification Standards

FAA FAR 25.571, MIL-P-5066, AMS 2750 (Heat Treat), NASM 1312-7 (Fasteners)

Technical Advantages

Aerospace-grade materials such as 4340M, 300M, and HY-TUF are selected for their ultra-high strength-to-weight ratios and fatigue resistance under load reversal conditions. These alloys undergo vacuum heat treatment cycles, including double tempering and cryogenic stabilization, to achieve uniform microstructures and suppress retained austenite. Shot peening is applied to critical surfaces to induce compressive residual stresses, delaying crack initiation under high-cycle fatigue scenarios. Grain boundary segregation and hydrogen embrittlement are controlled through post-heat treatment bake-out and vacuum degassing. 

Precision fit between the landing gear trunnion pins and housing bores directly governs the stability of the gear pivot during operation. Interference and transition fit profiles are calculated based on thermal expansion coefficients, loading vectors, and lubrication regimes. Pins are manufactured to match H7/h6 or JS5 tolerance zones, depending on the bushing material and expected deflection behavior. Surface roughness profiles (Ra ≤ 0.2 µm) are maintained to reduce friction-induced micro-abrasion and to allow for hydrodynamic lubrication film formation. The fit ensures predictable load distribution across the bushing length and prevents bushing ovalization or pin fretting. 

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Industry Applications

Main Gear Load Transfer in Commercial Aircraft

Used in commercial aircraft main landing gear to transfer radial and axial loads into the shock strut during landing impact cycles. 

Nose Gear Pivot Functionality in Jetliners

Supports pivot rotation in nose landing gear assemblies, enabling controlled retraction-extension while maintaining structural alignment under dynamic taxi conditions. 

High-Impact Load Bearing in Military Aircraft

Installed in military fighter jets to endure high-impact vertical loads and arresting forces during carrier-based or rough field operations. 

Cyclic Articulation Support in Regional Aircraft

Applied in regional aircraft gear systems to accommodate cyclic shear forces and ensure correct articulation under short-haul landing frequencies. 

Torsional Stress Handling in Cargo Aircraft

Utilized in cargo aircraft to manage asymmetric landing forces and torsional stress induced by uneven payload distribution during runway contact. 

Smooth Retraction Alignment in Business Jets

Integrated in business jets to maintain low-friction articulation between landing gear bogies and the primary structure under repeated retraction cycles. 

 

Landing Gear Trunnion Pins

Surface Engineering for Tribological and Corrosion Resistance

Coating and surface modification strategies are selected based on expected exposure to hydraulic fluids, salt-laden environments, and particulate contaminants. Hard chrome plating, nitriding, and low-temperature ion implantation are applied to enhance surface hardness and wear resistance. Corrosion-resistant overlays such as IVD aluminum or cadmium, conforming to MIL-DTL-83488 and AMS-QQ-P-416, are used where galvanic compatibility with the airframe or bushing material is a concern. 

Design of the bearing land length and undercut geometry accounts for axial thrust loads and edge-loading avoidance. Controlled fillet radii and chamfers reduce the likelihood of stress risers at geometric transitions. Where misalignment is unavoidable due to manufacturing tolerances or thermal expansion, spherical bearing interfaces and self-aligning geometries are incorporated. 

Landing Gear Trunnion Pins

Having Doubts? Our FAQ

Check all our Frequently Asked Question

How does Frigate ensure dimensional stability of trunnion pins during machining?

Frigate uses CNC turning and cylindrical grinding with in-process gauging to control tight diameter and roundness tolerances. All critical surfaces are finished within 0.005 mm tolerance to prevent assembly misfit. Thermal compensation is applied during machining to account for material expansion. Final verification is done using CMM under controlled environmental conditions. 

What inspection methods does Frigate use for defect detection in trunnion pins?

Frigate performs magnetic particle inspection (MPI) for surface cracks and ultrasonic testing (UT) for internal discontinuities. All inspections follow ASTM E1444 and AMS-STD-2154 standards. Pin geometry is verified using 3D scanning and GD&T-based validation. Each pin includes full traceability through serial number tagging and inspection reports. 

How does Frigate prevent premature fatigue failure in landing gear trunnion pins?

Fatigue performance is enhanced through vacuum heat treatment and double tempering to achieve homogeneous microstructure. Shot peening is used to induce compressive stress on fillets and bearing surfaces. Fillet radii are CNC-controlled to eliminate sharp transitions. These steps delay crack initiation under repeated load cycles. 

 

Can Frigate produce landing gear trunnion pins for legacy aircraft with unavailable OEM drawings?

Yes, Frigate uses reverse engineering with laser scanning and 3D modeling to recreate legacy pin geometry. Material analysis is done via spectroscopy and hardness profiling. A stress model is developed to ensure the pin matches original load path behavior. Final pins are validated with fit and function checks. 

What corrosion protection systems are applied by Frigate on landing gear trunnion pins?

Frigate offers IVD aluminum, cadmium plating, or low-temperature nitriding based on the service environment. Coatings conform to MIL-DTL-83488 and AMS specifications. Salt spray resistance and adhesion strength are tested per ASTM B117. Coating selection is optimized for bushing material compatibility and expected operational exposure. 

 

 

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LOCATIONS

Global Sales Office

818, Preakness lane, Coppell, Texas, USA – 75019

Registered Office

10-A, First Floor, V.V Complex, Prakash Nagar, Thiruverumbur, Trichy-620013, Tamil Nadu, India.

Operations Office

9/1, Poonthottam Nagar, Ramanandha Nagar, Saravanampatti, Coimbatore-641035, Tamil Nadu, India. ㅤ

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