MGA MGA Swivel Pin Replacement

[Mkutz]

Good Morning -- I'm in the process of replacing my swivel pins on my MGA, and was able to get the old pin separated from the stub axle with a whole lot of heat and a copper hammer. I have new pins to install and was wondering the method to reinstall. Can I reheat the stub axle and tap it into place or should a machinest press it back in?

 

[LarryK]

Guessing here, might need a reamer. Give some time and someone will chime in. It is early and after the Holiday.

 

[DrEntropy]

If you got the pins, did you get the new bushings for the top and bottom trunions? If so, they ~can~ be drifted in but will need to be reamed to size. If you are going to keep the old bushes, and the pins don't just slip in, something tells me you have a bigger issue. Using the Moss diagram, what parts, by number, are you having to fight to get apart?

 

[Mkutz]

No, I'm not talking about the steel insert sleeves in the trunnions, I'm talking about the big threaded rod that passes through the stub axle knuckle and which is held in place by the steering arm.

 

[Brinkerhoff]

Call John Twist at University Motors . I'll bet he's changed the swivel pins out from the steering knuckles . The concern is that you'll bend the pin ever so slightly by not having the proper set up. Perhaps gone are the days of plentiful MGA front suspension parts? I've never had to change the swivel pins out , just found better assemblies with the knuckles.

 

[Mkutz]

The situation involves installing swivel pin (#23 in the Moss diagram) to the steering knuckle (#30).

Thanks!

 

[DrEntropy]

If you don't have it, THIS LINK is to a PDF of the factory manual for the front suspension. It shouldn't be an interference fit for the pin to go into the knuckle, as far as I can recall. But it's been years since I did an MGA front-end. Maybe even decades, come to think on it.

 

[Mkutz]

Thanks for the guidance. I'll check it out and try to get it figured out.