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Rebuilding front Swivels

vping

Yoda
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Is this something that can be tackled by the above average DYI. What special tools do I need?
 
The replacement bushings need to be reamed to size with an in-line ream. It ~can~ be done with some centering tools and adjustables... ya just gotta be creative. And patient.
 
DrEntropy said:
The replacement bushings need to be reamed to size with an in-line ream. It ~can~ be done with some centering tools and adjustables... ya just gotta be creative. And patient.

Like a lathe? So I take it that you press out the old, press in the new, ream to the proper diameter with tolerance but the pins themselves cannot be worn? If they are worn can you chuck them up in a lathe, mill them down, measure and then ream?
 
Send the stub axles & bushings to PeterC...he'll ream them for new kingpins....he's doing that to my '63 Midget suspension right now!

All the assembly work after reaming the kingpin bushings is child's play!
 
So king pins need to be replaced and not machined slightly smaller?
 
IF king pins need to be replaced, the bushings are reamed to the size of the kingpin.
 
NEW kingpins and ream the bushes to tolerance. Mic the old kingpins for ovality and wear. If they are out of spec, replace 'em. New bushes pressed into place will NOT make up for worn kingpins.

As I said, ya gotta be creative. No lathe involved. Hand reams.
 
and those bushings need to be reamed in place and both are different and must be reamed at the same time. Special reamer.
 
I hear the tool is 'spensive and the tolerances are tight. I'll probably send them out when I am at that point. Does anybody know what is costs to rebush?
 
I'm doing this very job at the moment. The rebuild is easy, but if the bushings need to be replaced, it's best to let a professional or at least someone with the proper tools do it. If you have access to a reamer, it isn't that difficult a job but don't bother doing it yourself without the right tools.
 
Vping,
I just finished a front end rebuild on my MGA. After I disassembled the old king pins I found my left one was slighltly bent so I replaced it. I had my local machine shop replace the bushings and it cost me about $125 for the pair but I provided all the parts. Rebuilding my front end along with installing Mk2 disc brakes and an early mgb 3.9 pumpkin have been the best upgrades I have made to my mga.

Good luck,

Liam
57 mga
 
Vinnie, it can be done at home, it just has to be done right... the two bushes just need to be reamed to size on center. A careful aligning of the reams is a challenge but "do-able" if careful consideration of "on center" and ream adjustment are taken seriously. Done many that way. Use the opposite bush as a guide for centering the ream for each end. I had two shouldered dowels (similar to the cam bearing tools posted earlier this week) with center holes to fit the reams' shafts made to keep everything aligned. I.D. micrometers or pin gauges & mic's are a great help, too. It's a back-and-forth job, but with patience it can be done on a bench.

That said, it'd be easier (but not faster, usually) to outsource the job. Get the "kit" from Tony and yank an old set of 'em off a parts car, send 'em to a machine shop. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

As Tony said: assembly is child's play (I'd say baby poop). /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]it cost me about $125 for the pair but I provided all the parts[/QUOTE]
WOW!! Now I feel much better having PeterC prep my bushings for new kingpins - even with shipping both ways! & that's all I'm gonna say about prices.....
 
Yeah, what HE said! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif
 
Hmm, I'm going to have to keep Peter in mind when time comes to tackle the front end.
 
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