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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - grease nipples '79 1500

Confession time this is the first time I've ever done this despite having the car for nearly 20 years.

Anyway I have had a good look around the front suspension and can only find one grease nipple on the wishbone at the front and I can't see anything at the back. I've checked the exploded views on both MGOC and MGB hive and that seems to confirm it - but just wanted to double check with the wise heads here I wasn't missing anything.

thanks as always
timmyk

original A pans only have 1 nipple; some refurbed and new 'improved' ones will have 2, one either end of the pin.
David Smith

A bit more investigation, on the nearside I've got three nipples (photo) all good and all now greased.

On the offside the top one has the nipple broken off but I can still unscrew it and replace it, the middle nipple is missing completely (although it feels like its remains are still in situ but nothing to get purchase on), and the bottom one is there but on the back of the wishbone.

So a couple of questions -

Am I missing any (haynes shows a couple on the back of the hub but I think they're on an earlier assembly)

And any tips for drilling out the middle one without removing the whole hub assembly - or do I let sleeping dogs lie until something else needs doing

Apologies if the photo is sideways on - it might need mentally rotating 90° anti clockwise

timmyk

Hi tim,



Only ever found 3 each side on mine, one in the fulcrum pin and 2 in the kingpin, top and bottom.


They do sometimes need taking out and clearing with a twist drill if the grease won't go in though. I find a good trick is to put a rag over the end as well, it makes the greae gun fit tighter and the grease seems to go thro the rag ok.


It must work as I've had the car since 86, when it was 9 years old and it's still on it's original kingpins.


SR Smith 1

Thanks and I'll try the rag trick, although I've ebayed 4 new nipples for £4 so should be able to get a tighter fit

S.Smith in kent- that's not Simon Smith who works in Sandwich is it?

Tim
timmyk

It does work i can assure you.



Sorry, not him though. Steve from Maidstone, hope to catch you one time at one of the MASC meets.
SR Smith 1


you should be able to use a small "easy out" to get the broken remainder out. Drilling shouldn't be needed.
J Bubela

Tim
There is a Masc meet at the Crown, Sarre, East Kent from 1200hrs today
(13/03/2016). Why not come along and say 'hello'.
Alan

www.masckent.org
Alan Anstead

Alan,
Sorry only just got back into the BBS - ballet shows and travel getting in teh way.

Tim
timmyk

Tim
Have a look at www.masckent.org
Alan
Alan Anstead

round 2 - one side (nearside) is fine - grease goes in relatively easily (I've a decent wanner greasegun) and comes out of various unexpected places - as you'd expect !

Offside though is a completely different story.

1. The top nipple on the kingpin won't take any grease at all - even to the point where grease is flowing back up the thread where the nipple goes into the into the stub axle assembly. I'm sure it shouldn't be that hard (and I've the other side to compare it to). I guess that means that the internal grease ways are completely crudded up - any guidance on how to clean them without removing the whole assembly?

2. Bottom nipple is sheared and won't 'easy out'. There's not much room to work, but I've got the easy out to screw in a long way (so much so that I think I was fouling the kingpin so chopped the end off) but the nipple wont budge. I'm loath to heat it up (given the grease that's about) - any thoughts?

Tim
timmyk

Tim
Not any help with your problem other to suggest stripping it down and rectify.
Masc meeting at the Angel, Addington Green this Sunday from 1200 hrs if you have nowt on.
Alan
Alan Anstead

taxi service this sunday - "little mix" at the O2 (thats a popular music combo):-)
timmyk

This thread was discussed between 12/03/2016 and 26/03/2016

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