After skating titanium’s in many sizes, I don’t think a $20 price hike is worth it. Forged hollows are only $10 more than standards and that makes sense.
Yeah. I'm kinda feeling the same way. And msrp just went up to $84 for Ti. $54 for hollow cast or forged?
But if you can find Ti on sale for under $60, factor in $6-7 for better bushings, it's not that bad compared to (full price) hollows. At least that's what I tell myself.
For removing a kingpin it should help to let the baseplate sit in hot water for a minute. Boiling or near boiling. That'll expand the hole and make it easier to get kingpin in/out. Be careful though, hot aluminum is softer and weaker.
A big C-clamp could work but you might need a small wedge to get everything to line up.