Morris Minor Owners Club

The force on the top trunnion is negligible except when the suspension moves up or down and the damper counteracts the movement. There's no spring in the damper so none of the car's weight is taken by the top trunnion.

Because the telescopic damper links between the bottom arm and the inner wing, it only stops the bottom arm going too low. There is nothing to stop the upper arm and the swivel pin/wheel from moving as far as the top bump stop if the bottom trunnion comes off. With your figures, that means the telescopic damper will allow the swivel pin to come out of the bottom trunnion by 130mm. There isn't that much thread on the pin...

Wow, this is scary. Okay, let say your buddy has removed the wheel, king pin, and trunnions and he asks you to hold the car level using a rope with a hook. Which leg are you going to put the hook in and pull on? My vote is the lower one.

Now that tension in the rope is the same tension on the threads of the lower trunnion.

I'm sorry I should have given you a choice of tools. Either the rope with a hook or a compression spring with which you could push down on the lower leg?

... so have ordered the top and bottom kits... !

Good idea- this thread makes my head spin Barry!