Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Kingpins - DaveW's How To...........

Post Photobucket reboot from January 2011 continued....

I finished the main job today and all that's left now is the rebound gaiters - version two.
Just to recap on the closing stages:
Much happier doing this the second time. Instead of cable ties I used a screwdriver, just in case the rebound spring slipped.



Here it is half way up. Another reminder that the stub axle catches on the upper dust shield, so you must twiddle the stub to get it to telescope inside the cover. If the rebound spring compressses and there's no sign of the main spring compressing, that's what's happening, so take care.



And finally - the end product.......



One final note. About the nut dead centre in this photo. The stay bar is fastened with three bolts through the chassis.Two are vertical and not visible in this shot. Originally this one was fitted with the bolt head showing, and the nyloc nut inside. The shank of the bolt was pressed up against the wiring loom, which didn't make much sense, so I changed it round so the bolt head is inside. It probably wouldn't chafe if pressed against the loom, but you never know.



If this was the Scouts, I'd be sewing my kingpin badge on my shirt tonight.

2017 Note: So this completes an epic repost!!!
I now have 1175 images on the TM Image site. Phew!

Many thanks for the update Dave. An enjoyable read. Hoping not to need to do mine for a while (19,000 miles and not even mentioned on the MOT / Service yesterday)

Thank you so much for this update. I have the MULFAB Hard Chrome Kingpins ready to go and will get to this job soon.
There are a few of us "Downunder" who need to do the same so it will be a good learning exercise to go first.

Dave, your post will be invaluable.

I have R & R kingpins and bushes more times than I can count. I do this job the same way that Dave did, other than I have a few tools that Dave does not. One exception is I remove and install the main spring by hand. It is not hard (remember I am almost 88 years old, if it was hard I could not do this). I have installed the rebound, cutting it, and not cutting it. Ride height changes a bit (less than 1/2") is about all. I worry about using an adjustable reamer on Bronze. I also use this tool but have a Machinist finish the job with a Sunnen Hone.

Thanks Dave, this is the best presentation I have seen on how to do this job. Wish I could figure out how to copy it for others to see and use.

Thanks for the compliments Paul, OZ and Button.

It was a hard fought job, but I had previous experience of MG Midget and MGB kingpins. This was harder!

If I could find a local machinist I would be seriously tempted to have the stub axle line bored before fitting the new bushes.

I had this done when I installed the Devol Bushes into My +4-4Str. With Hard Chrome King Pins that I drilled grease galleys down to the stub axle reservoir (between the bushes) and an Alemite grease gun mounted to the steering shaft it has worked very well. Just a couple of twists of the Alemite Grease Gun and I am good to go. As I use Vesconite self lubricating bushes on the other two Morgans I use a home made reamer that looks pretty much like Yours. Vesconite cuts very easily with a Variable Reamer. My friend welded a pilot onto a Variable Reamer and made a cone shaped slider to center it. Cheap Variable Reamer, don't think I would use it on Bronze. But there is another Canadian that does use Bronze but has a Machinist line drill the stubaxle tube. He just takes the Bronze Bushing out of the box and uses Loctite to hold it in. He says it works quite well and easy to do.

I used to do his for My Friends but the Litigous US is no place to do such favors. I no long do this as I do not have Mechanics Liability Insurance.

As We are on the subject of Kingpins and bushes, I have a strong suspicion that Devol as well as Vesconite capture road grit and act like a file on King Pins. Hard Chrome are better than Stainless for this, but on a recent inspection I noticed damage to the thin chrome layer on both My Devol and Vesconite bushes. I washed the bushes out with carb cleaner, turned the KP 180 degrees and that is how it sits today. Both cars have a lot of miles on them, but I have lost track on just how many. I am using grease seals but not gaiters. I should use gaiters also.

Hi DaveW,

" Instead of cable ties I used a screwdriver, just in case the rebound spring slipped"

You can bolt the kingpin and the lug plate with the Nylstop at bottom end and use a screwdriver at the top of the kingpin. It seems more secure. I did it by this way.

Worn stainless kingpin with Devol bushes after 50 000km. Replaced by chromed kingping and bronze bushes.

I certainly considered doing that, but I've occasionally struggled to get the thread started in the top lube bolt. It can be a pig if the pin is slightly out of line and worse with spring pressure!

Thanks for the picture. I recently did a KP job for a Morgan Owner in Texas with Devol's and Stainless Pins. Looked the same as Your picture.