Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing King Pin Bushes - removal

Now I am not contemplating any such thing, but was reading the 'Gomog' site yesterday where the recommendation when changing the kingpin bushes,(with diagrams), is hammering them out using a special tool or something of the same size.

Once in my distant youth I used a similar technique to remove the worn small end bush from the con rod on my first bike. With great difficulty, it eventually came out leaving a 3 degree bend in the rod just below the top.

Before I pressed in the new one I gritted my teeth, reversed the hammering process and it straightened (whoow!)with only a slight kink within the normal side float of the piston and all was well.

On relaying this story to a mechanic at the local dealership, he said ' oh, you should have cut a small slot in the old bush with a junior hacksaw blade and just pushed it out'.
Controversial or what?

Frank,
I'm not hugely experienced at this- I've done it four times: once on a Morgan, twice on MGs and once on a Morris Minor.

The first couple of times, I did the removal by using a piece of pipe which was just over the inside diameter of the bush as a drift and hammered it out. In the two latter cases, I took the unit off, got access to a small hydraulic press and pressed the old one out and the replacement back in

Needless to say, whichever method was used, because inserting the new bush caused the inside diameter to close down, I then had to use a reamer.

regards,
G

I've done 100's of king pin bushes, use a hydraulic press to get the old bushes out and the new ones in.

The holes in new bushes are under size by design, (they don't compress as they are inserted), they are ment to be reemed out once inserted into the stub axle so as to have the top and bottom bush alinged, taking into account any variation in the lenght of the stub axle tube.

Jim

Here are some pictures of the work
http://www.morgan-club.de/Portals/0/Dokumente/Morganpost/MP_82/auszug%20mp%2082/King%20Pin.pdf
Edi

Thanks for sharing Edi - very clear photos

Having the right tools is obviously essential.

It's just a pity that the 'Rubber or Other Gaiters are not fitted as standard? I know that Rubber ones eventually degrade and split but can be eventually replaced with Velcro Wrap Around ones like Dave's Bump Spring Gaiters' .

Jim,
I'm happy to defer to the pros. The explanation I was given originally ( and admittedly this was in respect of a very venerable MG) was that because the bush- for that car at least- was essentially phosfor- bronze with a white metal facing then because it was interference fit, there necessarily had to be a degree of compression of the inner diameter and, of course, had to be reemed


Typical amateur, me- knows just enough to be dangerous!
regards,
G

I wish I had learnt German at school now! Those 'fellas' have a really good magazine, it is a shame that Miscellany can't offer such comprehensive guides. (I prove to be corrected as a new boy).

Don't worry Keith, when mine come up for replacement there will be some pictures. But you'll need to be patient......

Dave

Incidently what is the lifespan of the kingpins and how do you know they need replacing.

Dave
Up to about 25k with regular greasing I'm told. You may recall that I was given an advisory at my MOT last June by a Dealer. You may also recall that my Roadster had replacement stub axles fitted to reduce bump steer, so the total mileage in June which from memory was about 6,600 - and the mileage on the new stubs was no more than 3,500. I'm still aghast at the advisory, but next June it will be tested by somebody I trust to give me a true diagnosis. I've got the tackle to do the job, so the dealer won't get near it on this occasion............in the event that it really does need doing. I'm greasing the pins every 500 miles I guess. Done them four or five times to date.
You'll know when you get an MOT advisory, then some play should be evident if you rock the wheel by holding it at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock. It's best with a helper pressing the brake pedal to take out any bearing slop. There's no play evident in mine..........