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MG MGF Technical - Broken lowering knuckle AH!

Had the MOT today good thing is the car passed but only after fixing a lowering knuckle.

I knew I had a broken knuckle so had warned Techspeed so they had a new one in but forgotton to mention that I had lowering knuckle sourced from B&G fitted by my dealer before I had the techspeed shocks fitted. Luckily they had one lying around.

This broken knuckle ended up rather costly as it was not a straight forwad job as it had broken and had left the end in the top arm thus needing a new top arm as well. which is not the easiest of things to change due to lack of access to the bolt holding it in place.

To avoid costly top arm replacement I am know contemplating replacing all knuckles back to original spec and let Techspeed re do everything as they showed the difference between the 2 parts and there is actually a huge difference not just in length but how the difference in length is achieved. On the lowering knuckles everything is much more compact not just the overall height but the actual joint is quite different which we think might hinder the movement which might have aided the knuckle breaking.


Tom
Tom Randell

Dooh, bad luck !!

Andrew had similar in last year with gone/broken plastic surround at the lower arm.

Didn't you feel or hear anything ??

I think you've no time to wait. Got still a bunch of standard knuckles in the garage. At Ebay is another single one currently.

I'd go instead only for a single short knuckle joint from MS. Or take two of to both front to get the same height. The broken should be coincidence only. Never heard before. (See Andy with broken plastic surround, which is a different failure though)

Regards
Dieter
Dieter K. @ work?

Yep, in my case the plasic surround had broken, this caused the whole thing to rust up solid - had to chisel them out in the end.

Still, i got 5+ years out of them so i suppose it isn't too bad.

SF
Scarlet Fever

Dieter,
Car drive fine, I just knew it was brocken from changing wheels for track days and have done at least 2 track days like it as I noticed it after goodwood.

I will send a photo of the bits when I get home if you are interested as have taken picture of the knacked knuckle and it is actually quite hard to tell it is a knuckles due to the state it is in.

Tom
Tom Randell @ work

Dieter,

If you like pictures email me as I dont have your email address.

Tom
Tom Randell

The known problem with the short knuckels is the upper rubber gaiter and the _green spring ring_ holding it in place on top.

We assumed this was the problem SF suffered from. Can't find Andrews pic by this moment.
It's worth having a look there frequently when changing wheels.
Impossible to get the ring and gaiter back in place without fluid release and re-pump.

If it's off then water and mud gets in easy and heavy corrosion will appear.

Here it came off.
http://www.mgfcar.de/defects/sp_119_1967.jpg

Another trouble with either the short or the standard is a lost washer between knuckle joint and aluminum piston of the hydragas unit.
The hard steel joint will _work_ into the larger hole and can stick at any time.
Can be seen here from Hanah /NZ (lower knuckle part slipped off from the lower arm, due to sticky joint in piston.
http://www.mgfcar.de/defects/hanah1.jpg
Pic of the important washer
http://www.mgfcar.de/lowering1/dk_DCP_5381.jpg
(notice different washer height between front and rear suspension though)

Tom, please email mgf_at_mgcc.de ;)

Regards
Dieter
Dieter K. @ work?

Hi,

had a search on the HD and linked Andrews pix of the gone knuckle at Scarlet.
http://www.mgfcar.de/defects/old_knuckle.jpg
http://www.mgfcar.de/defects/old_knuckle2.jpg
Dieter K.

Booh Hoo, found Tom's email today late in a Spam folder ;)
Provider disliked the Email subject *knuckle pictures*. Dunno why ;)(lol)

Anyway, here they are.
http://www.mgfcar.de/defects/knuckle_gaiter_P3020001.jpg
http://www.mgfcar.de/defects/knuckle_gaiter_P3020002.jpg

All together with Andrew's pix and the ADVISE on frequent checking the rubber gaiters upper green coloured spring ring.
If it came off, you will get water ingress to the rollbearing in the lower arm... and sh*t will happen.

Not sure whether this was the reason for Tom's problem with his MGF, but it looks like.

http://www.mgfcar.de/defects/rusty_knuckle_joint.htm

HTH
Dieter
Dieter K.

This thread was discussed between 02/03/2004 and 08/03/2004

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