Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing kingpins

I think I know the answer already but seek better wisdom than mine.

I'm part way through cleaning up and rebuilding my front suspension. I can detect no king pin ware as yet but I'm wondering if I could fit the hardened king pins without changing the bushes? I can see the mildest beginnings of corrosion on what I assume are standard kingpins currently fitted.

All going well so far - very messy though. I do have a confession though. Following the info on 'goMog' I wasn't happy about bashing the compressed top spring to get it out and using a jack to get it back in so I have made a pair of dedicated small spring compressors instead. I know this is frowned upon but I prefer the controlled release of stored energy that this offers. They use the same threaded rod as the device for the bottom spring removal. And I've made clawed ends specifically to fit over the spring coil.

The top bushes don't wear much, so you could get away with not changing them.

Put the new kingpins in dry, and see what you think, but while its all stripped down, I would change the bushes.

As Dave said, the simple answer is try it.

Assuming they are bronze bushes which they should be on your car.

Make sure there is no harsh dirt embedded in the bushes and give them a good clean with degreasing fluid then try the king pins for fit.

If there is more than a few thou of clearance especially in the bottom bushes then change them but if all feels relatively "tight" they should be ok.

However, if you've got no detectable wear, I would have to ask when they were last done in mileage terms because that suggests they have been done recently (again in mileage terms) and that will give you a clue as to the answer as well.

Yes I've reassembled them on the bench, dry and I can't feel any wear. I guess I could check with a dial gauge to be sure.

If I could get away with just changing the king pins then that might be an option for this year but otherwise I'll change the lot next year.

Paper work may tell me when they were last done, good idea.

Cheers - I'm off to paint my springs now............

Best way to check for correct fit (which is 0.002” clearance fit) is to do a drop test. Dry the pins should not hold in the bushes when you lift the stub axles they should fall through. Coated liberally with engine oil (20/50 or similar is fine) you should be able to lift the stubs and the pins should not fall out. That shows a 2 thou fit, many people have poo-poo’d this as none sense but I have demonstrated this to several people on here and it’s the way I was taught as an apprentice and my old foreman said he was never wrong ;-). Seriously if you can get that fit Hardchromes give a great sticktion free ride and will last a long time.

If you have to replace the kingpins in the future 75% of the cost/pain/struggle is labour. Rebuild it with new parts throughout, why cut corners on your pride and joy to save a few pounds??? Under £8 a bush? Come on let’s get real chaps ;-).

Your lower spring compressors work perfectly to reassemble the whole system, that’s all I used on the first few kingpin jobs I did before I had a top bolt compressor made, takes a little longer but so what. Just compress from the lower section and ease the pin into the dust tube, reach down and start the top oiler bolt as soon as it contacts and as you ease up the compression just make sure you don’t nip the dust tube, turning the stub a little from side to side normally centralises everything. And DONT try and pull the kingpins up into place until you can get at least 5 threads started by hand, the kingpin internal thread can strip. I have had 2 calls from owners who have done this!

BR
Colin

Colin

I'm under the impression that the lower bushes need to be pressed in with a hydraulic press ( which I don't have) and then need reaming (which again I don't have)

Is this incorrect?

Gary

No your right both bushes (4 in all) need pressing in and out. Yes you could bash with a big hammer but stub damage is a risk? Or, you could do what I would do and ring Cain at Wolf Performance and ship your stubs to him and he will post them back rebushed, reamed and with new Hardchrome kingpins even new top bolts. He can supply steering bearings etc etc. I have to declare an interest/bias as I sold my Morgan Kingpin replacement business to Cain a couple of years ago ;-). He can also demonstrate the dry/oiled kingpin fit ;-). Cain is in Miscellany or on 07944 72070

BR
Colin (PS my photo on here shows me pressing Morgan bushes in)

Thanks for the info, its the time factor that limits my enthusiasm. I can only do one side at a time due to access in my garage so the process would have to be done twice. Still I presume his turnaround is reasonable quick?? Do you have any idea of the cost? (pm if you think this might be sensitive)

Thanks

No sorry no idea, Cain is a super chap and very, very helpful (he has helped countless people on here) if you give him a call he will do what he can to help I am totally sure. I can tell you the reason I got into doing kingpins over 10 years ago is a good friend got little change from £1,000 when his car had kingpins fitted at a Morgan dealer. I thought there must have been issues to justify that then 3 others came up with similar figures.

Sorry I can’t help more.

BR
Colin

Gary

Pop over to Holywell sometime!

I've got a 30 ton press and the proper reamers!

Arwyn