What are these MOT definitions?

[GeorgeHurst]

Hi there,
Just looking at my last MOT advisory's to make sure I cover everything when I refurb my suspension and I am unsure what the following points refer to... (I presume that due to the computerised system that these items are general, rather than specific to Minor part names, which is why I dont know what they are)

Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside Front Radius arm has slight play in a pin bearing (2.4.G.3)
Offside Front Radius arm has slight play in a pin bearing (2.4.G.3)

Any help grately appreciated
George

[bmcecosse]

You should have asked the tester at the time. Usually they will happily take the time to point to exactly what they are worried about. Minor has no 'rear trailing arm' - can only imagine they mean bushes in the rear leaf spring eyes ? At the front - again no 'radius arm' as such - but could be the inner bushing on the lower suspension arms - or could mean the bushings at the front of the tie-bars. Just go round the suspension and renew everything!! Or at least - renew any that look a bit worn. Maybe a chance to start to fit poly bushes ?

[PSL184]

Front tie rod to chassis bushes and rear spring mount bushes would be my guess, but as Roy states you should have asked the examiner as the current MOT isn't designed with classics in mind. Technically I guess you can ignore it as a Minor doesn't have trailing arms

[GeorgeHurst]

Thanks guys, well that seems ok then as I have a full set of Superflex bushes from JLH to fit when my springs from BullMotif finally arrive (been waiting for ages!)

This leads me to two further questions; firstly can one remove a hub without the use of the special service tool / hub puller, and secondly, how does one check for play in a wheel bearing?

Cheers
George

[PSL184]

No hub puller required for your year of Minor. Just tighten hub nut up fully and try to lever the bottom of the wheel with a pry bar whilst holding your other hand on top of the wheel. Any excessive movement is too much and new bearings needed but don't be afraid about overtightening as they are plain bearings.

[GeorgeHurst]

Brilliant, thanks PSL. So to remove the hubs I can just undo the hub nut and yank it off?

[mike.perry]

If you jack the front wheel up and pull on the top and bottom and front and back of the tyre there should not be any movement. Wheel bearings normally get noisy or grate when the wheel is spun rather than feel loose. There is an inner and outer roller ball race which should be replaced as a pair. The hub nut should be tightened as much as possible, lining up the castle nut with the split pin hole in the axle. There is a left hand thread on the nearside axle.
Once the brake drum has been removed you should be able to remove the hub nut and pull the hub off. It may need some gentle persuasion with a hammer.

[GeorgeHurst]

Much obliged Mike, thanks

[bmcecosse]

And if the hammer doesn't work - put the wheel back on and use that to help wiggle the hub off!

[aupickup]

there is a torque setting for the hub nuts

[PSL184]

Yes, from memory around 45 lbs/ft but in reality you do it up tight and make sure you can get the split pin in through the nut

[GeorgeHurst]

Thanks for pointing that out au.
Cool, I don't have a torque wrench so will have to go for your method PSL

[PSL184]

Same method I always use mate - I only really ever get the torque wrench out for head bolts

[GeorgeHurst]

Yes, that is the job I am going to have to get one for. My local garage kindly lent me a valve spring compressor the other day so hopefully they might do the same with the wrench

[aupickup]

yes allways move the nut to tighten to find the spkit pin hole never undo

[moggyadventurer]

Hi had this last year, they was referring to the shocker links on the back suspension.

[GeorgeHurst]

Cheers for that moggyadventurer, do you mean the link arm between the damper arm and the chassis/body?

[bmcecosse]

I think they would have said 'damper link arm' or'damper bushing' - or something similar! But - if the bushes are bad - change them!

[moggyadventurer]

Yes same one, about 11pound from bull motif.
I like a fool replaced the whole suspension but overlooked the links - to be advised by the mot station of play in them. Make sure you replace both sides as they will only say there is play in the other.

[GeorgeHurst]

Thanks for that, that's good news as I did order those from BM when I ordered my springs (which are finally arriving tomorrow!) so should be set to sort it all out. The only bits I will be reusing at the rear are the dampers and the damper mounting brackets, I figure it makes sense to do it all first time round and save having to strip down again at a later date