I would recommend looking for an LBC shop that has the special reamer that
reams both bushings at the same time. If you can't find such a shop, you
could send the parts to Apple Hydraulics (don't buy their shocks, get
them from Peter C.) to have reamed.
The one-piece reamer insures that they are lined up correctly.
The true cleverness of your machinist might come out after a couple of 100
miles when the play is as bad as before...
Ulix
I agree with Frank: replace the upper trunnion bushings first and see.
On Tue, 5 Jan 1999, Geoff Branch wrote:
> Justin- The dreaded king pin bushing is not the problem. Installing it
> is. It has to be reamed in place after pressing into place. The problem is
> that the top and bottom bushing are different sizes and you have to be a
> pretty clever machinist to pull off the in line reaming that is needed. I
> found a great local guy who installed them, reamed them perfectely, and
> installed the wheel bearings for me for $45.00 US ( I supplied the parts).
> Look around your area, ask parts guys, ask garages (especially foreign) for
> names of machine shops that are clever. Regards Geoff Branch
>
> '74 Midget "Yellow Peril"
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Justin Cook <justincook@yahoo.com>
> To: spridgets@autox.team.net <spridgets@autox.team.net>
> Date: Tuesday, January 05, 1999 2:03 PM
> Subject: Front suspension advice please
>
>
> >Thanks to prodding from the list, I put rebuilt shocks on the front of
> >my sprite (1966). I was pleased it was so easy. In the process I
> >found that the four top bushings were missing or toasted. I am
> >wondering if I should just order new bushings or order the whole
> >suspension kit in the victoria british catalog. I know it NEEDS the
> >whole thing redone. However, I'm kind of concerned about a message
> >about a month ago talking about a king pin bushing that was supposedly
> >very hard to replace (I think I was supposed to give burnt offerings
> >to anyone who could do it in two tries...) I'm not much of a mechanic
> >-- this is my second car, and the first I've had to lay hands on.
> >
> >Question: given that the front suspension is shot (lots of play when
> >grabbing a wheel, I've already replaced the bearings), should I order
> >the whole kit? Does this kit in victoria british (part number 5-309
> >major suspension kit) contain this horrible king pin bushing? If it
> >contains the bushing, would I lose anything by replacing everything
> >BUT the dreaded king pin bushing. Is it unsafe to drive a car with a
> >fair amount of play in one front wheel?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
Ulix __/__,__ ___/__|\__
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'67 Sprite '74 X1/9
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