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MG Midget and Sprite General - Curse swear! Wishbone/Kingpin/Pivot Knackered!

Happy new year everyone!

Great start to the year out in the garage this morning.

I have been having some problems with refurbishing my driver side front suspension (passenger side has clearly been replaced recently so came apart easy, so of course the other side had to be buggered!).

I finally got the cotter pin out, although I butchered the king pin a bit. Then it turned out the the kingpin was seized onto the fulcrum pin. Damn!

After hosing everything in penetrating oil and wiggling things about a bit it trying to free it up it turns out the whole thing is nackered anyway. The fulcrum pin rattles round in the wishbone like nobodys business. I can move the top of the kingpin something like half an inch side to side!

So, things need replacing me thinks! I thought I would have an ask around incase anyone had a spare wishbone and/or kingpin they wanted to sell? Otherwise I will have a look through the usual sources.

If I choose to replace the kingpin do I need to do any work on the stub axle? I think there was a small amount of play there too.

Any other bright ideas?

If you have read this far you have done well! One day I will write a short post!

Cheers all,
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

if you can afford it, replace both wishbones with the barry king modified ones!
Mick - still wiring!!

Many people buy these reconditioned

That is kingpin wishbone and fulcrum pin. Far easier than DIY
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Malcolm, I'll have a look in the garage later today. I think I might have a spare kingpin and some bushes. You will need to change the bushes in the stub and ream them. Reamer is a special two step unit hence the tendency for exchange units.

MGmike
PS. I have the reamer in question so diy..
M McAndrew

Thought about Barry king ones but can't really afford them at this point. Trying to keep rebuild costs to minimum, then once the car is back on the road I will look to upgrade various components.

Thanks for taking the time to look Mike. I have no problems with having a go at DIY.

Cheers
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Malcolm, I have two usable pins but no bushes! In my defense they came in a box of assorted bits from ebay....
You are welcome to the pins but I think an exchange unit at £50 is the best option.

MGmike
M McAndrew

Would be interested in one of the pins Mike. It then gives me the option to destroy the king pin to get things apart and I can consider my options again afterwards.

Drop me a mail at mlechevalier(at)o2(dot)co(dot)uk and we can maybe do a deal.

Cheers
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Malcolm, you have mail...
M McAndrew

Malcolm,
The kingpin is supposed to be fused onto the fulcrum pin! Or at least it should be locked tightly on so that the two move together with no slack. The cotter pin ensure this, but it is not uncommon for them to remain seized solidly together even after removing the cotter pin.

The best way of dismantling is to cut the fulcrum pin on either side of the kingpin, either with an angle grinder fitted with a slitting disc, or with a reciprocating saw. Once cut either side you can remove the kingpin, put it onto a solid base and drive out the "plug" of the fulcrum pin with a FBH and drift.

Worth doing if the kingpin / swivel hub bushes are still a good fit.
Guy

Hi Gary, thanks for the input. Cotter pin was removed but made a bit of a mess of the king pin in the process. Pin is actually quite pitted in the area of the lower bearing surface.

As the pin is already knackered I'm not too bothered about going the whole hog and destroying it to get the thing apart. Then I will go from there.

Mike, got your mail, just not sat down to reply, will do so in the morning.

Thanks both,

Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

This thread was discussed between 01/01/2012 and 03/01/2012

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