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 MGA - Swivel Link bushing seized - part 2

After a successful rebuilt of the RHS front suspension, I am half way through the LHS and I encountered the following issue.
The lower distance tube was seized solid as it was porbably not greased much in the last years and had strted to rust.
Today I managed to take it out using my 'home-made In-situ press' made out of 3/8" threaded bar.
When I took it out the distance tube was slightly pitted and rusty but not too bad.
I cleaned the inside o the copper bushing, and it actually looks quite smooth inside (so I am not planning to replace it).
When I went to put in the new distance tube which I purchased from Scarbourough Faire it does not fit. it is too bit for the hole.
I was wondering if anyone esle encountered such a thing and why the would be a variation? does Moss or VB supply them from a different manufacturer?
I guess the other option would be to ream it as Barney describes in his site? or sand it slightly?

However I would prefer to avoid the trouble...
Any thoughts?

Gonzalo Ramos

Very strange that does not fit, an less that the bushing was damaged when you extracted the distance tube, one alternative is to sand the bushing with a 3/4" hone used to clean cylinders, you can buy it in autozone or other store, cost less than 10 dollars! Get a two leg hone! three leg may not fit!!
R Garcia

Did the swivel pin links on the LHS screw off completely or did they jam like what happened to you on the RHS lower link?
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

It is generally not a good idea to hone or sand a soft bushing like that. Grit from the hone can get embedded into the bushing. That is why they are reamed and not honed.

Jeff Schultz

I would put the reamer through it, that way you know for sure.
Neil McGurk

Are you saying the old distance tube was stuck in the bushing and had to be pressed out? A couple of my distance tubes were rusted and fused to the bolt so that I had to cut the bolt head off to get them out. However, after I cut the bolt head off they came easily out of the bushing. My guess would be that some DPO installed a new bushing and did not ream it the correct size so that it was too tight a fit.
Jeff Schultz

Well just finished the work.
Indeed the distance tube had to be pressed out of the bushing (it was solid).
I ended up cleaning and sanding lightly the inside of the bushing and the outside original distance tube and using that until I can get a reamer.
After doing this the distance tube was a good slip fit. My assumption is the the PO did ream it but to a slightly different ID.

BTW I was not able to unscrew either of the swivel links from the trunnion on this side.

I put it back together changed all the seals and greased it. I hope it will last at least another 50years, or until I do a full rebuild.

What I did notice on this side was the damper was much stiffer than on the other side.

I am going to take it for a spin now to try it while it doesn't rain in Miami.

Thanks for the comments!
Gonzalo Ramos

Swivel link bushings should be reamed to exactly 3/4-inch (0.7500"). The distance tubes should be 0.002" under size to allow clearance for grease (0.748").
Barney Gaylord

This thread was discussed between 19/06/2010 and 21/06/2010

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGA BBS now