I thought I'd made a post about this but I can't find it.....
Anyways , my Metropolitan Nash Coupe's front suspension was wobbly when I bought it decades ago , I faithfully grease it every oil and filter change but it got so bad I dipped into it at the beginning of the recent heat wave , I found the A-Frame bushings on the left side were totally worn out and flaccid , metal to metal a bit even .
The trunnions both upper and lower had about 1/4" side play , the bushings in side the A-Frames were worn out too so I replaced both upper and lower A-Frames with rebuilt units I bought some years back .
As long as I had it all apart I installed a custom made heavier coil spring .
The car handles ever so much better now ! .
I can hardly wait until I feel up to attacking the passenger side .
The trick to removing the tiny taper pins that hold the trunnions in , was to ever so carefully drill them hollow in two size steps , I'm certain this should be done with a drill press but I didn't have access to one so it was done by hand .
Once there was a clear hole through them from top to bottom , the pins banged right out with a simple flat faced dift and ball pien hammer .
This whole job was labor intensive but not overly difficult , the cleaning of 50 + years of rock hard grease and road mung was the hardest and most uncomfortable part .
Midget Trunnions
- VWNate1
- Veteran Member
- Posts: 1402
- Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:41 am
- Vehicles Owned: LBC's
Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617
1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox
1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe
1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox
Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers - Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes
Midget Trunnions
-Nate
- tannyo
- Veteran Member
- Posts: 1057
- Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 1:58 pm
- Vehicles Owned: 1967 MGB GT
- Location: North Hollywood, CA
- Contact:
Re: Midget Trunnions
Now you're going to have to upgrade those wheels. I don't think 60 year old wheels are going to be able to take the stress.
That's what happens when you beef up a car. You start in one place then continue down the line. First the engine, then the clutch and tras, then the brakes...
That's what happens when you beef up a car. You start in one place then continue down the line. First the engine, then the clutch and tras, then the brakes...
- Steve Simmons
- Site Admin
- Posts: 4106
- Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:45 pm
- Vehicles Owned: .
1937 MG SA Saloon
1946 John Deere AN
1949 MG TC
1953 MG TD
1958 MGA Roadster
1959 Morris Minor 1000
1965 MGB
1967 MGB GT (UK-Spec)
1967 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8
1969 MGC GTS - Location: Co-Nay-Ho Valley
- Contact:
Re: Midget Trunnions
Can't argue with that, especially after two or three broken wheels already.
- VWNate1
- Veteran Member
- Posts: 1402
- Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:41 am
- Vehicles Owned: LBC's
Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617
1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox
1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe
1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox
Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers - Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes
Re: Midget Trunnions
FOUR now...... .
We'll see how it goes , I already notice more power is now spent propelling the car rather than shoving against the poor alignment , once I get the other side done I'll figure it out , it'll prolly accellerte better too .
The So. Cal. TT Run is fast approaching , I always let it out a little bit on this run , so stand by to see , I doubt I'll have the other side done in time .
If anyone has some 13" Rostyles for really cheap or free , let me know and I'll take 'em , de rust and spray red , slap on my rubber and give 'em a go .
We'll see how it goes , I already notice more power is now spent propelling the car rather than shoving against the poor alignment , once I get the other side done I'll figure it out , it'll prolly accellerte better too .
The So. Cal. TT Run is fast approaching , I always let it out a little bit on this run , so stand by to see , I doubt I'll have the other side done in time .
If anyone has some 13" Rostyles for really cheap or free , let me know and I'll take 'em , de rust and spray red , slap on my rubber and give 'em a go .
-Nate
- VWNate1
- Veteran Member
- Posts: 1402
- Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:41 am
- Vehicles Owned: LBC's
Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617
1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox
1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe
1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox
Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers - Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes
Re : Midget Trunnions
DONE ! .
Or nearly so anyways ~ I was up past midnight last night re assembling the right side lower suspension and installing new trunnion pin and polyurethane A-Frame bushings and heavier duty front springs , the car drive *so* much better now it's amazing ~ the upper A-Frame wasn't loose in it's bushings so I left it for now . as soon as I find source to have the threaded bushings re placed , I'll go back in and replace it .
The reduction in interior noise and vibration just by replacing the worn through metal to metal rubber bushings , is amazing ~ no more squeaks and clunks when applying the brakes or hitting bumps etc .
Whew ! almost TT ready , I fitted one Bilstein HD rear shock absorber and need to replace the other but I don't have the grinder & press necessary to modify the shock so I'm waiting for my buddy to open his El Monte Shop .
I'd like to buy two new front tires too as they don't match brands right now (I scrubbed the left one to death) and I dislike mis matched rubber .
Or nearly so anyways ~ I was up past midnight last night re assembling the right side lower suspension and installing new trunnion pin and polyurethane A-Frame bushings and heavier duty front springs , the car drive *so* much better now it's amazing ~ the upper A-Frame wasn't loose in it's bushings so I left it for now . as soon as I find source to have the threaded bushings re placed , I'll go back in and replace it .
The reduction in interior noise and vibration just by replacing the worn through metal to metal rubber bushings , is amazing ~ no more squeaks and clunks when applying the brakes or hitting bumps etc .
Whew ! almost TT ready , I fitted one Bilstein HD rear shock absorber and need to replace the other but I don't have the grinder & press necessary to modify the shock so I'm waiting for my buddy to open his El Monte Shop .
I'd like to buy two new front tires too as they don't match brands right now (I scrubbed the left one to death) and I dislike mis matched rubber .
-Nate