06-10-2019, 08:12 PM
Front Axle Shenanigans!
A spate of family illness has slowed work down this summer but I've finally grabbed a few days in the garage to do some work on the Top Hat.
First job was to measure the axle and find out if it too, was bent.
All looked good but the track rod was bent, as were the track rod end levers. I managed to straighten all of these cold by using the press and the vice but the steering lever from the O/S stub axle was a write off and couldn't be straightened. I used another, after crack testing and filing it smooth.
Rebuild went well, as usual, I found that there was only a little wear in the king pin bushes and new pins took it out. The original wheel bearings were also smooth after washing out and repacking with grease.
Now, the chassis is back on four wheels and rolling!
Today was shock absorbers. The 1990's cosmetic restoration had left a lot of painted grease!
It's interesting that the early shock absorber components are so different. On the right are the normal Box or Ruby link and pin, on the left are the 1926 versions, a lot smaller and lighter.
A bit of time next week to complete these, then I need to "temporarily" refit the body so that the car can be stored away down the garden during the winter. I need the floor space to put my MGF away until April.
A spate of family illness has slowed work down this summer but I've finally grabbed a few days in the garage to do some work on the Top Hat.
First job was to measure the axle and find out if it too, was bent.
All looked good but the track rod was bent, as were the track rod end levers. I managed to straighten all of these cold by using the press and the vice but the steering lever from the O/S stub axle was a write off and couldn't be straightened. I used another, after crack testing and filing it smooth.
Rebuild went well, as usual, I found that there was only a little wear in the king pin bushes and new pins took it out. The original wheel bearings were also smooth after washing out and repacking with grease.
Now, the chassis is back on four wheels and rolling!
Today was shock absorbers. The 1990's cosmetic restoration had left a lot of painted grease!
It's interesting that the early shock absorber components are so different. On the right are the normal Box or Ruby link and pin, on the left are the 1926 versions, a lot smaller and lighter.
A bit of time next week to complete these, then I need to "temporarily" refit the body so that the car can be stored away down the garden during the winter. I need the floor space to put my MGF away until April.