front end knock

[joe winkfield]

hi, im 17 and have recently bought a morris minor 1968 saloon, and i'm in the process modifiying it slowly bit by bit. im really enjoying driving the morris however when i get few of my friends in the car if we hit a bump or corner to fast the front end seems to knock, like bottomng out, i think this is something to do with shockers or bushes but i'm not sure,advice please.

[d_harris]

Hi Joe

Welcome to the forum. My initial reaction is to check that the front suspension is properly greased and that there is no play in the trunnions.

Im not sure how much you know about cars, but I'm going to make a dangerous assumption that its not a great deal yet....

When you take the front wheels off there is a vertical bar with various odds and sods attached to it. This is the kingpin at the top and bottom of this kingpin are two devices screwed onto the end - these are the trunnions. Each trunnion will have a grease nipple - pump grease into these until it starts splurging out. if you try and wiggle these there should be no play at all.

The other thing to check is that directly above these (on the inner wing) there is a little rubber cone (called a bumpstop) which means that when the suspension "bottoms out" the kingpin doesn't directly contact the inner wing

[bmcecosse]

Welcome indeed! Check also if the suspension is sitting too low - there should be a couple of inches clearance from the top of the kingpin to the tip of the bump stop - IF it's there. And if it's NOT there - fit new ones urgently! Otherwise - the front inner wings will be destroyed by the 'banging'. Then - turn your attention to the front dampers - these are lever arm devices - bolted (4 bolts) to the upper crossmember under the bonnet. Check the fixing bolts are tight - then drain off the horrible old oil by removing the lower valve assembly (don't lose any bits)and gently bouncing the car. Then refill with SAE 30 oil (Tesco gardening) and bounce a few times to expel final dregs of old oil - then refit the valve assy and fill up - leave a small air space. Check/top-up again a week later - and a week later again. I'm sure you will see a BIG improvement! Same should be done with rear dampers - best to remove them from the car and do it 'on the bench' - then refit.

[MarkyB]

Tell your mates to lay off the pies!
Make friends with skinny women instead.
apart from that, as above.

[joe winkfield]

all done. it was the fron bump stops. iv bought some off ebay for 4.40 each. thanks for all the advice this should keep me and my moggy going for a good while longer