1970 MK1 Invader kingpin bushes - Help!!!!!!!!!!!!

[welshrat]

Hi all,
Looking for some help yet again, trying to source lower kingpin rubber bushes for my 1970 Mk1 Invader, have spoken to Roger who only has the cotton reel type, mine are very different, they are in two pieces and are similar to the top ones but considerably bigger, the steel inner sleeve collars out into what at first looks like a washer (it is one piece). The diameter across the top of the bush is 40mm, bottom is 30mm. Roger thinks that I have MGC running gear, however I cannot find these bushes listed anywhere. They may be an early type, if so will the cotton reel type do the job.
By the way what is the difference between a kingpin and a swivel axle or are they the same thing, also is the lower and upper parts of the kingpin/swivel axle the trunnions?
Regards,
John

[rocketman]

Hi John,
You could talk to 'The Welsh MG Centre' on 01978 351635 they are in the Wrexham area, the guy is usually very helpful
and if you can sort out what you need he will supply. My Mk1 had the normal rubber bushes which Roger supplied.
Stu.

[GGenie69]

Hi John,
With regard to the bushes, if you take a look at the superflex catologue, http://203.31.191.243/fulcrumCat/, part numbers SPF0805k and SPF0960k you'll see the 2 different shapes used. The first one is Austin Healey 3000, which I suspect you have and the other is MGC.

The front hub assemblies have more in common with the AH3000 than the MGC. The Healey has lever arm dampers whereas the MGC had torsion bars but used the Healey kingpin/hub.

It's far easier to locate Healey 3000 parts and they are exactly the same.

Swival axle and kingpin are not the same, the kingpin is a vertical rod that passes through the stub axle where as a swivel axle does not have a king pin.

Take a look at the exploded diagrams on http://www.ahspares.co.uk/en/products/default.aspx under big Healey suspension front. Copy the picture and use this for a workshop manual.

The trunnions are indeed on the top and bottom of the kingpin. The top one is removable and the bottom one is part of the kingpin.

If Roger spares says he's got a bush to fit your application, he's got a bush to fit your application. End of.

Hope this helps, clear as mud.

Richard

[Gavin McArdle]

Hi Welshrat, I have just done the suspension bushes on my Mk11, the original ones were as you described and Rogers replacements were cotton reel types. Out of curiosity I checked with Rog before fitting and he said that as far as he knew the cottonreel ones were correct, so I fitted them. Every thing has gone back together OK although I have not driven it yet.
2 bits of advice , 1 from Rog - the cotton reel type is slightly larger at one end, this large end goes towards the rear of the car. 2 I found that the original 5/8th in bolt did not have a long enough shank so that one side of the wish bone was on the threaded part which allowed it to 'chatter' and wear the bolt. A 16mm bolt is slightly larger dia. (still fits in the bush OK) and can be got in greater variations so one with 2 1/4in shank and a washer fits perfectly.
Another point if you are also doing the top bushes, I found after replacing them that the 'U' sections that the top bolt goes through either end of the bush was bending when I tightened the bolt. The bolt should be dead tight as it clamps against the tube inside the bush but the rubber was bending the metal, take a look directly at the end of the 'U's. I made 2 square washers out of 1 1/4 flat bar with a 1/2in hole and fitted them after straightening the 'U's with 2 lump hammers. Job sorted.
Don't tighten every thing until you have some weight on the suspension (normal ride height ) or it will twist the bushes.
Gavin

[welshrat]

Hi,
Big thanx to Stu, Richard and Gavin for their advice.
John