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MG MGA - Random parts question

Imagine, hypothetically, you were going through your boxes of parts, to see what is needed for the next phase of restoration, and to avoid buying any duplicate parts (again)... And say that you found a pair of new hub grease seals purchased by your father from Scarborough Faire in 1987. And then you found another pair of the "same" item purchased by yourself from Moss, say in the last 5-6 years.

Condition on both sets of seals appears to be fine. Which do you use?

8^)
Del Rawlins

It's a matter of judgement, but may depend on how much you drive the car. This starts with the assumption that both sets of seals appear to be in good condition, not deteriorated while in storage. If you clean and repack wheel bearings every 20,000 miles, and you drive the car at least 5000 miles per year, then I would use the older seals first and keep the newer ones for the next bearing service. If you drive the car 2000 miles per year or less, then maybe chuck the older seals, install the newer ones, and buy new ones 10 years later when you need them.
Barney Gaylord

Yeah, I know. I doubt if I'll put anywhere near 5000 miles a year on it, and I wouldn't normally consider using seals that old, but given some of the horror stories about new manufacture rubber parts crumbling to dust I'm a little paranoid about the newer stuff.
Del Rawlins

I would use the old ones.
Dave O'Neill2

Given that it is not a special part but a completely standard component that is used in hundreds of other daily- duty applications, I'd just buy a brand new set and throw the old ones away. For a set of hub seals I have never ever seen a bad set.

If it was a special MG part (like trunnion seals) that is probably made by a small chinese operation with no quality process worthy of comment, I would put them in some oil and see what happens after a few weeks before fitting them.

I had some brand new trunnion seals delivered from Moss recently - they were already rotten in the package. I found an older set in the cellar which were fine, and fitted them. Still looking fine six months later
dominic clancy

i doubt i could even spell hipofeticly
Vin Rafter

Yeah, it's things like the trunnion seals that bother me. There doesn't seem to be much of an alternative, and replacing those parts once they go bad is a lot of work.
Del Rawlins

This thread was discussed between 02/04/2012 and 03/04/2012

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