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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Setting Up Kingpins

Is there any black magic to this? Having finally found somebody in South London who (i) has the reamers (yes, both sizes!), and (ii) can do them quickly (24 hours), I now find that pressing in the bushes and reaming them is ALL they do.

I've got new top trunnions, thrust washers, kingpins, and a few shims, and the reamed stub-axles are waiting for me to pick them up.

Will it be easy? What tips would you offer?
Nick

When you say that they have both sizes, do you mean for drum-braked and disk-braked cars, or top and bottom?
Dave O'Neill 2

Ho ho, Dave. The former.
Nick

Pressing the bushes out/in and reaming is the difficult bit. The rest is a piece of cake.

There is an article here about rebuilding front suspension...

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub/MascNew/TechTips/Suspension.html
Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks Dave. So, just get them nice and snug, then.
Nick

Finally getting round to this and - golly! - don't you have to be prepared!

Given an original stub-axle, a new kingpin from China, a new top trunnion from somewhere else in China, and a thrust washer from Taiwan, it's not surprising that things don't go quite according to plan.

Where do you get the big shim that sits on top of the thrust washer, if the assembly ain't tight even with no shims in? Nobody round here can help me. Motor factors can get out their box of copper washers, but they're ever so thick (the washers).

I've hunted through my shed, and finally found something that'll do it - just one - so that's one side done. I've got my fingers crossed for the other side.

By the way - I would add one little tip to the article Dave suggested:- when you're shimming the pin to get it just nice and snug, leave out the bottom cork sealing washer. If it's a bit thicker than it should be (as mine is), it can give just the resistance you're looking for, and you'll think you're home and dry when you're not.

Put it in afterwards.
Nick

This thread was discussed between 08/09/2009 and 17/09/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.