MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Top/Botton Link Bushing

Hi, Finished rebuilding most of the front suspension on my wife's TD; and only the swivel pins remain to be finished. Everything appears to be in very good condition except the RH Bottom Link (Trunnion) bushing has slight wear on one side.


First, has anyone replaced link bushings themselves? I have bushing drivers and a 10-ton press and assume this is all that is needed? Would welcome any advice and recommendations based on first hand experience.


Second, link bushings from the Moss kit are split along one side while the original bushings are one continuous tube. Are these the best replacement bushings available today?


Thanks for any thoughts and recommendations. Have considered taking the links/bushings to a shop, but don't have recommendations for one in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.



W. H. Troyer

I replaced those bushings with a 6 inch vice and a couple of sockets, so you should be fine with the equipment that you have. I don't know if the Moss bushings are the best, but most people are probably using them.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Hi Dave.

Thanks very much for responding with some moral support. Going to soak them in penetrating oil today and then give it a go tomorrow.
W. H. Troyer

W.H. - Dave is right, you have all you need in the way of mechanicals to do this job. I turned down a piece of 312 stainless steel to .004 under the brass link ID. The original bush is thin and was an extremely close fit(tight) which surprised me. The replacement bushes from Moss, like most of their reproduction bits, didn't make the grade by my standards. The bush could be pushed back and forth with very little effort and there was play also in the tube. I finally found some NOS bushes at OOPS(OOPS1947@metalfan.com) and refitted them. The replacement bushes were a clearance fit so I used a tiny coat of anti-seize on them, piece of cake. Curt
CCV Curt

Hi Curt,

Looked at the replacement Moss bushings and felt the original bushes were also better quality. Will try to find NOS if possible. Thanks very much for the OOPS email address and installation information.

Most of the original bushes are in good shape (close tolerances), but the car was stored for 10 years and hard chrome plating on the distance tubes is corroded on several of them (moisture?). Might as well replace everything.

W. H. Troyer

W.H. - Yes I forgot to tell you, I had the tubes hard chromed (like a bulldozer's hydraulic pistons) and the bushes had to be honed a little to get the tubes to fit, anti-seized them too, just like new. Curt
CCV Curt

Thanks, Curt. Looked to me like the original distance tubes were hard chromed. Will probably have the new ones hard chromed also. Would certainly help if you can't find NOS bushings and want to tighten replacement clearances (and could use mild bearing compound for loose fit bushes).
W. H. Troyer

W.H. - My tubes were NOT originally chromed but mild steel. I'm not certain the FACTORY ever chromed them. I also am not sure about 'hard chrome' and 3 step 'show chrome'. I think 'show chrome' is copper/nickel/chrome and known as 'soft chrome'. Someone please correct this note if needed. Curt
CCV Curt

Wanted to get back to this thread and give a final thanks to Dave and Curt for their encouragement and suggestions. The one bushing with slight wear is out and the bore of the trunnion looks perfect.

Decided to align the bushing and bearing driver in an OTC ball-joint press instead of the hydraulic press. Two or three minutes with an air impact driver and the bushing was out. Really, fairly easy job.

Also, I was wrong about the original trunnion bushing. It was split longitudinally like the replacement Moss bushing. Will install the Moss bushings and determine what comes next. :-)
W. H. Troyer

This thread was discussed between 11/10/2015 and 12/10/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now