MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Asdvice re front wheel bearings # 2!

Hi all.
Just need a little more advice re front hubs if at all possible.
I'm fairly sure I need to replace my FWb before the MOT in march due to " play" and have settled on getting mine from Heritage car parts.
As there is s little "play", should I really replace the WHOLE stub axle with a new kingpin reamed in AND the new bearings OR just replace the stub axle with a new king pin using the bearings the new stub axle comes with?
Sorry about posting this but I have only replaced bearings on a classic mini before and being taper roller bearings, it was a breeze!
Any thoughts ?- I'd be really grateful!
Cheers colin
colin frowen

You need to establish if there is play in the bearing, in the stub-axle/kingpin, or both.
Dave O'Neill 2

What David says

You do NOT need the absolute hell of changing the king pins and stub axle just because of a little play in the hub bearings

Someone posted at a recent time when the question was asked:- a mornings work to change the bearings

Or:- a whole weekend (if you are lucky) to rebuild the entire front suspension

The inevitable broken or not-in-the-kit part and the time can stretch interminably

Colin gird up thy loins lad and be done in four or five hours

:)

Heritage bearings are the way forwards

(we must get Chris to sponsor us for these commendations mustn't we)
Bill sdgpM

"....using the bearings the new stub axle comes with?"

er, the new stub axle won't come with any bearings, just the kingpin and bushes.

It sounds as if you haven't yet managed to ascertain whether the play is in the hub bearings or the kingpin bushes?
David Smith

Good point David, I meant to mention that

How do you determine where the play is?

You could jack up the car safely and wobble the wheel to assess the play, then get a beautiful assistant to apply the footbrake pedal firmly then grasp the wheel again and wriggle it top and bottom

Using the brake locks the wheel to the hub so the bearings are held stationary

Any play you find then is likely to be kingpin bush wear

Does anyone else have a quick easy way to help Colin assess his real problem?



Bill sdgpM

No Bill I think you nailed it.
Brake on and hard shake of the wheel from top to bottom to find kingpin bush or bottom strut bush wear. Gentle-ish wobble of the wheel from front to back to find wheel bearing wear.
At least that's how I remember it.
Greybeard

Nope, that's the way Bill.

Lock the brakes and wobble wheel, whilst feeling or watching the top and bottom of the stub axles. Also look at the fulcrum pin movement through the wisbones.

As for a "little play", if it really is a little, take it for an mot, see if it passes. If not, then you will be told why, and have time to put it right in time for a free test.
Lawrence Slater

Good call Lawrence. The shaker plates on the MOT ramp will find it!
Greybeard

Yeah, I don't like those shaker plates. Seems to me, they can damage old suspension and steering setups like ours.
Lawrence Slater

Pump the kingpin full with grease just before the MOT.
Alex G Matla

Bill,

As long as I have played with cars, it never occurred to me (and no one ever mentioned) that locking the brakes isolates the wheel bearings from the rest of the suspension. So, Thanks.

Charley
C R Huff

This thread was discussed on 05/01/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now