Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing New Kigpins needed?Help /advice please.

I too do not like to grease My King Pins while on the road.

Well I just must be different. As well, I am half a world away from Colin. I do use Hard Chrome King Pins. However: I buy it in 22' lengths (cut to KP lengths)at a local "Tube Supply". But the Chrome Rod I buy has been "Induction Hardened" under the thin coat of chrome. This hardening makes a better base for the chrome I am told. It also makes the chrome surface too hard to drill even with a cobalt drill. I know I tried. However I do not use a bronze bush. I have sourced a product called "Vesconite HiLube". It is used for bushes in the mining industry of South Africa. I have a Metal Lathe so fabricating this is easy for Me. I do not sell this setup as I do not carry "Product Liability". In the US one must be insured to even breathe it seems. After the initial greasing I drove My +8 for 2 years without greasing. I then took the stub axle off and had a look. Little wear and still plenty of grease. I have used this setup for about 10 years and a bit over 50,000 miles with no problems. Recently inspected them and there was some wear on the chrome. Worn thru the chrome in the high wear area. Turned KP's 180 degrees and re installed. I did use grease seals top and bottom. Wear was on bottom as usual. I am a bit suspicious that plastic bushes pick up grit and hold it. Regular greasing would help flush the grit out. Of course grease seals would keep grit in. Not a perfect solution.

The other system I am using on My +4-4Str is an earlier attempt at not greasing while on the road. Still hard chrome KP's but not induction hardened. I drilled a 3/16" grease galley down to the stub axle. Then drilled a 1/8" hole across to let the grease out. Connected this to a "Alemite" grease gun mounted under the dash next to the steering column. I now can sit in the drivers seat and pump grease into the stub axle by twisting the handle of the grease gun. This system has been in place for about 14 years and works well. BTW: I used Devol bushes with no issues.


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I looked at the Vesconite Hi Lube material due to the fact that when I was still working I was in the high end engineering plastics business. The Vesconite appeared to be a good product but for me I think the PEEK FC30 grade of engineering plastics would have been even better due to its inherent strength and dry lubrication properties which is neither affected by hydrocarbons or moisture. Also its easy to machine, unfortunately its expensive stuff.

Sourcing Vesconite can be a challenge. Some of My friends in Australia can get it but at a horrible price. I found a Mfg Rep in California and get it fairly inexpensive. However; I buy Vesconite in at least $500 lots to make it worth His while. I then share this with a couple of friends. From a practical stand point, if I lived near Peter Mulberry I would use His products. Really not worth the limited benefit to make these up myself. But unlike the UK the nearest Morgan Dealer is a 1,000 miles away. The only Morgan Parts Supplier (Morgan Spares) is a minimum of 3 days Post. As our Morgans are old, it is often Mel Rutter who is a help.

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PEEK is a very impressive material and I have used it quite a bit. I just think as a plain bearing on steel it’s dry coefficient of fiction is not that low. Also it is so stiff that you would probably still need to ream rather than press/shrink to size which might be interesting. My Devol’s are wearing incredibly well. My only possible issue with the material is perhaps the hygroscopic swelling. When the time comes I’ve been pondering on replacing them with plain bog standard unfilled PTFE.
Has anybody any experience of PTFE bushes on hard chromed pins?

I have used and am using Devol bushes on hard chrome pins since they were first offered. I bought a set from John Worrall and I believe Bill Beck was contacted to insure I use the clearance that He had instructed MMC to use. I recently took the suspension apart and inspected the bushes and kingpins. The bushes seemed ok but the chrome was wearing thru in the high wear areas. I flipped the KP 180 degrees and put it back together with fresh grease. This was the same situation I found the Vesconite bushes and chrome KP's in. I think I have mentioned that I am suspicious that the plastic bush is picking up and holding grit which wears the KP. I use grease seals. But think I will go back to gaiters.

I see no reason to not try other products. Cost is not the problem. Easy availability is.

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Also in the past I have very careful about worn bushes. Several old time Morgan Owners who do drive their Morgans a lot tell Me that they do not pay much attention to them. Just grease once in a while and for sure before a long trip and quit worrying about them. When the bottom gets too sloppy, just swap it with the top bush which does not wear as quickly. Should get an easy 50,000 miles out of a set of bushes/king pins. Something to think about.

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OK: One more and I will shut up. A Lady friend of mine purchased a new +8 in 2000. Last Year and 50,000 miles I put new bushes and KP's in. She never greased or used the oiler (actually I don't think this model had an oiler). Just depended on the mechanic who took care of Her +8. Actually because I had it apart I put in the new bushes/KP's. But really She had many miles left.

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No keep going
What sort of mileage are you getting with Devol/hard chrome? You don’t happen to remember the nominal O/D of the Devols by any chance? I know they are over size but not by how much. It shouldn’t be too hard to incorporate a lip seal or o-ring.

I’m sure you are right about the grit issue imbedding in the soft plastic. Also when the harder surface of a plain bearing breaks down it can imbed in the softer material and further accelerate the wear.

I don't think PTFE (Teflon) would be a good choice on the wear side.

Wear resistance
Due to its softness, Its wear resistance depends upon the severity of the abrasiveness and the speed and loads, but if any of these are high then PTFE rod’s wear resistance may be compromised. The wear resistance of other materials and Plastics can be considerably improved by using PTFE as filler.

As well as Peek maybe have a look here at oilon and Delrin
http://www.directplastics.co.uk/oilon-rod/