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MG MGA - Inner wishbone bush


Sorry for asking basic question, but I am bit of a novice.
I spent the Royal wedding under the car today. Very nice too. But unfortunately I noticed some detioration of the inner wishbone bush and since an MOT is due, I need to get it sorted.
If I only want to replace the bush and leave the rest alone, do I need to just compress the spring with the jack to take pressure off, undo the bolt, discard the old bush and insert a new one, or (I suspect) is it more complicated than that?
Many thanks
Graham M V

Graham, Renew the lot! If one has deteriorated they are all suspect. To do just one you will have to dismantle the lot, so bite the bullet and renew both sides. Have a look at the MGB bushes (same size) they are reputed to be better quality.

I sat outside in the motorhome watching the football on satellite during the wedding hysteria, banished from the house!
Barry.
Barry Gannon

Raise and support car chassis on stands. Jack under coil spring to unload all suspension joints. Remove one trunnion bolt, either top or bottom (prefer bottom as it has to come out anyway). Then lower the jack to unload the spring, push lower arm down to lift out spring, then disassemble one A-arm bracket and the inner pivot nuts to replace inner bushings.

Original style rubber bushings are all crap in modern parts. Urethane bushings or MGB GT-V8 type bushings highly recommended.
Barney Gaylord

Graham
Many years ago I replaced the bushes on my MGB as per Barneys method -I used V8 bushes as they wereeven then recomended as replacements they were still on the car when I sold it last year after some 20000 miles still OK As I remember being a novice it took me a morning to do both sides- from memory I pressed the new bushes in with a bench vice.
Paul
P D Camp

Thanks very much for the advise. As I want to get the fix done quickly, and I inevitably seem to hit problems, would it be a short cut if I used spring compressors? - i.e would that save the need to remove the trunion bolt? Or do I need to get it off and in to the vice?
Also having read the thread about difficulties fitting the V8 bushes, would it be an easier short term fix to use the original type bushes?
When the summer is over and the car is not driven, I would like to strip it down and replace the lot, as recommended above, but I want to be able to drive and enjoy the car as much as possible over the next 4 months.
Thanks again
Graham M V

The most part of the work is to disassemble and reassemble the lower A-arm. Otherwise while it is apart it takes 30 seconds to replace the original rubber bushings with your fingers, or one minute each to press in the V8 type bushings with a vice. This is not a good place to be trying to save 30 seconds. As far as I know, there is no way to replace these bushings without disassembling the A-arm.
Barney Gaylord

Graham, as everyone is saying it's only a couple of hours (even if it's the first time and you work slowly!) to remove and refit the lower arms. No need for a spring compressor. If the suspension is very corroded it might take another half hour or so messing with rusty split pins, but the only real risk is worn A arm holes or previous V8 bushes rusted onto the pins. Sounds like you don't have V8 bushes and if the arms are too worn you don't really want to be driving around!
Neil McGurk

Graham

I did it very easily as per Barney's instructions. I have several Shelley jacks to choose from for the operation! It's an easy job with the weight of the installed engine to counteract the jack. The first time I did it was with the engine out - not so easy. I had a jury strut between the top of the chassis and garage roof!

Prior to that I did consider spring compressors and even bought a pair, but they would not fit the close coil MGA springs.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Barney, Neil, Steve
Thanks so much for your encouragement. From what you say it should be straight forward. But I was confused by the the other thread that implies difficulties in fitting the V8 bushes. Am I missing something?
Graham M V

No, it seems that someone had a problem sliding the pin through the bush, but caused by distortion to the end of the pin. If you are not using new pins, you might have to run a file or some emery cloth over the old pins to make sure they are cleaned up ok with no burrs on the end.

It really is a very straightforward job.
N McGurk

The urethane bushings are much easier to install than the V8 ones and will last longer. The red bushings seen in this picture, One in foreground 2 in back. There are 8 total in a kit. Moss sells the kit for $33.95. See picture at: http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29889

R J Brown

Graham

If you are still not confident I am always happy to travel up for the day to lend a hand - just say.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Thanks as ever for the feedback.
Steve, thats a very kind offer. I am tempted to take you up on the offer, just so that I can have a close up look at your car! But I guess I should have a go first, and if I get stuck maybe I can come calling for help?
Graham M V

Guess what? Went for the MOT anyway today before tackling the job as it was already booked, and to get his opinion on state of suspension generally. He said it was fine. Obviously I am more cautious than him. I will go ahead and get the job done in the next few months regardless.
Thanks again for the help.
Graham M V

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2011 and 04/05/2011

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