suspension rubber leaks

Post by **deano69** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 10:47 am

Hi, the suspension rubber at the top of the kingpin leaks when i greased it via the nipple.Im being told this is a MOT failure so am wondering how difficult it will be to replace it?Will it necessitate a stripping of the kingpin?

cheers in advance and Merry Christmas.

Deano

Post by **aupickup** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 10:49 am

do you mean that the rubber seal is broken, if so they can be renewed

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:51 am

Sorry - your description is a little vague!
When you grease the trunnion, the old grease will be pushed out - this is normal. You should continue to add grease until clean grease starts to come out. After that you may want to steer a few times and repeat the process.

If the seals are split, they should be replaced.
On the lower trunnion the grease should come out via the kingpin ring seal and/or via the grooves in the washers next to the front and rear suspension arm. The lower trunnion and pin have grooves that act as greaseways.
On the top trunnion the grease 'should' exit via the ring seal to the kingpn, but often it comes out via any / every small gap by the trunnion end cap. The upper trunnion doesn't have the same type of greaseways as the lower one, so if the end cap seals properly, it will be harder to pump grease 'through' the trunnion.

A split seal could be an MOT failure, or an advisory, but if there is excessive play in the trunnion that is a definate MOT fail.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 1:59 pm

Only failed rubber boots on track rod ends (and CV joints on FWD cars) are fail points.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 11:33 pm

Only failed rubber boots on track rod ends (and CV joints on FWD cars) are fail points.

The trunion seal is as important as the track rod end seal. Where do you see the difference in the latest MOT test manual??
Anything that can raise an advisory can raise a fail on the MOT computer... I'd expect an advisory for a damaged/missing trunnion seal but I'm sure some places would fail it - rather like persished suspension rubbers, the level of degradation has to be judged by experience...

Post by **deano69** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 2:47 pm

Yes sorry i was a little vague.When i looked at the exploded diagram in the morris handbook i couldn't see what i was looking at on the car.Having had another look and a further read i think im talking about the upper link and having read what's been posted about grease exiting where it can on the upper trunnions im less concerned.

So its just the chassis legs, sills, braking system and the petrol tank and fuel pipe that need work...oh and the fuel pump needs a clean up.
Roll on 2010 and the hoped for MOT.

Post by **aupickup** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 2:49 pm

sounds like you have more to wory about than rubber seals then

Post by **deano69** » Fri Dec 25, 2009 3:07 pm

i wasn't worried until i spoke to an mot tester and my no knowledgeable brother.Then i got worried about the suspension needing rebuild as well as all the other areas that may or may not need work.Im back to being less concerned about the suspension and most concerned about bodywork and welding.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 1:28 pm

Track rod end boots are a specific 'fail' in the MOT if damaged. The tester uses his own judgement when mentioning 'advisory' items. Generally items that he thinks could do with some work soon - but which are not specified fails at the time of testing.