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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Swivel pin bushings

I'm fitting a new swivel pin and it appears to fit well with the old bushings. Do I need to have the new bushings reamed in or can the old ones be re-used?

The new fulcrom pin fit in the A-arm well, and there is no play once I install the key pin. I'm not going to have the A-arm re-bushed.

I plan on replaceing the bushings with prothane.

'72 RWA midget
Phil Burke

Any thoughts on not replacing the bushings when useing a new kingpin?
The fit "feels" good
Phil Burke

Phil, You can often get by very well without changing the kingpin bushings. Just depends on how bad things were. As to the fulcrum pin fit, be sure that it feels good when the kingpin is perpendicular, the way it is on the car. Usually the threaded bush is what wears first.

Peter
Peter Caldwell

Phil,

If the new kingpin is a good fit then you should be good to go with the old bushes. I made the mistake when changing a set of kingpins of replacing the bushes, as they came with the kit, and having them reamed with the special reamer and regretted it as the new bushes were a poorer fit than the previous used bushes. The previous ones I had done myself with standard reamers near dead on size of the king pin diameters. In both cases the major problem in the wear was rusting of the kingpin rather than wear of the bushes but the 2nd set having more play from the outset didn't help matters at all as they lasted about 1/3 the time before remedial action was required.
David Billington

I've got it all dry-fit and the kingpin bushings are ok.
The lower fulcrom pin is snug in tha A-arm, however there is some play at the kingpin/fulcrum pin joint. I do not have the small cut pin driven home as it's a very snug fit. I believe the small pin will tighten everything up.
Is the small pin intended to hold all the movement? It seem that the pin is bevel cut with this in mind, bit snugging it up with such a small nut???
Thanks, Phil
Phil Burke

the tiny nut is just to stop it working loose and falling out; don't overtighten it - it's very easy to strip the thread - BTDT.
David Smith

This thread was discussed between 22/12/2010 and 23/12/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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