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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - I DONT BELIEVE IT !

Im in the process of trying to fire the engine up ( my last post ).
For a feel good factor, i tried the new superlites on to see howd they look. When the front wheels are off the ground, theres noticable side to side play and slight knocking from the hub area.
Any ideas and if you know straight away, is it easy to fix ?

Not having a good week :(
G Bewick

First thing is to check the hub nut is tight. Some numpty might have thought they were taper bearings and left them slightly loose - mine survived for years like that!
John Payne

The start point is to determine EXACTLY where the slack, or knocking is coming from. This is best done by feel as even a very small movement that may not be easy to see, will cause a knock. If you can position a finger across between two adjacent components whist rocking the wheel (or having someone else rock it) you can usually pin point where the problem is.

e.g.
Between wheel and hub = wheel nuts not seating properly. Do you have the correct nuts for your wheels?
Between hub and hub carrier = wheel bearing or hub nut problem
Between hub carrier and kingpin = worn kingpin or kingpin bushes
Between kingpin and Bottom wishbone = Fulcrum pin and bushes are shot!

Don't forget to rock the wheel top and bottom (6 / 12 o'clock ) as well as side to side (3 / 9 o'clock) as this will also identify TRE or steering wear.
GuyW

Noise and play just below rusty coloured nut.

G Bewick

Also, if the play reduces if someone holds the footbrake on it is more likely to be wheel bearings.....
J Smith

<<Noise and play just below rusty coloured nut. >>

Assume you mean below the large bolt head, centre picture. Top trunnion. If the play is the joint just below that it is the kingpin bushes and/ or kingpin. But do first check that the nut on the top of the kingpin is tight. Some people try and adjust the kingpin swivel by slackening that nut a bit, but this is wrong! It needs to be tight, and adjustment if needed is by shims.

If the nut is tight, then its kingpins or bushes. Difficult to disassemble, but once apart are easy enough to replace, but you then need a reamer to get them sized correctly, so purchase of new or reconditioned parts may be necessary. That said, others have occasionally reported that "new" parts supplied were badly reamed and looser than the originals! So beware!

If wear isn't too bad you may just be lucky and be able to tighten things up by removng a shim or two from the top of the kingpin. May work if there is vertical play in that joint.
GuyW

Bollocks. Thanks for that Guy. Its one step forward and three back with this car lately.
Dont suppose you live in Co Durham and fancy a job ? :)

Q. If i buy a new KP kit + Lower Fulcrum pin , is it just a case of remove and refit ?

Gary
G Bewick

Your springs look quite new. Has it been apart recently? If so might just be a case of disassemble, get a parts diagram and check it has all been put back together correctly with the right shims in the right places.

You'll need to support it under the spring pan to take the load off, and probably unbolt the caliper and track rod end but otherwise not too hard.

Lower fulcrum pins however can be very difficult to extract. They screw in to the wishbone, but if not greased regularly they can go dry and rust solid.
AdrianR

Well theres your problem in plain view

Your brake claipers are painted blue 😲

Try grade 8 nyloc nuts in place of the old castle and cotter pin nut configuration for a better secure postion and fit

Prop
1 Paper

This thread was discussed between 20/10/2017 and 25/10/2017

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