Morris Minor Owners Club

Right then you lot... no laughing. I know it's tempting whenever I get on here and ask a screwdriver related question.
Front passenger side wheel has wibbly wobbly free play when you grab it firmly and shake it. You only notice this when the wheel's on the floor and there's no jacking involved. Basically there was a knocking noise on that side of the car that turned into the a full percussion section at 60mph. A mate reckons hub bearings. Now then, in all honesty, is it something you'd trust ME to do to YOUR moggy? Or have I got to get a perofeshunall involved (bearing in mind I'm in France now...). Cheers peeps - oh thanks for the shirt Andrew ;-)

A side to side rocking of the wheels is usually trunion related wear i would of thought.
Jack up the car and wiggle the wheel itself, thats usually a giveaway as to whether its a worn bearing or not.

I've been sat at the side of the car, facing the wing and the front wheel. If both hands are on the top of the wheel I get most significant movement just pushing in and pulling out. Jacked up there's no movement at all...

Check the wheel bearing with wheel jacked off the ground - one to wiggle the wheel and other to watch in behind. Wheel bearing is dead easy to change - well within your capabilities - half-hour job. If the bearing is fine - then look to the trunnion behind - if its' moving then beware it can drop off at any moment - especially when the car is jacked up! Bit more complex to change - and really best way is to buy a complete NEW king pin assembly and just fit that - 2 hour job. Don't let the *EDIT a* get at it!!

*Sorry, not strictly against T&Cs (yet), but although pretty minor, still offensive.

guydenning wrote:oh thanks for the shirt Andrew ;-)

A pleasure - sorry it took so long Wheel bearing - piece of quiche, trunnion a little more involved, but still very DIYable, and very mechanicable too, though I'd supply the parts if I were you to be on the safe side. Love to Coll

After a night of worrying about having a borked Morris with no other vehicle to get us around I had another look in the morning... It was the castellated nut that secures the damper arm to the top of the metal thing connected to the rubber roundy-roundy things. I reckon when the replacement dampers were fitted there must have been some architectural crud in there that didn't allow it to be tightened fully (the split pin was still in place). The crud's obviously vacated the premises leaving the free play that was causing the almighty rattle. Easy job, much relief and the moral of the tale? Buy your spares before you need them I shall now be annoying an appropriate vendor for a delivery of king pin assemblies (are they the same both sides?) and bearings (are they the same front and rear?). And big ginge... I've tried explaining the nuances of 'suck, squeeze, bang, blow' to the locals - nahhh... Mind you Fifi is a big hit over here!

Congrats on sorting it King pins though - nope, they're handed (LH thread for the hub nut on the left, tapered steering arm hole etc), and AFAIK the bearings are different as well, though it's a long time since I played with the fronts.

Front bearings are very different to the rear ones, but the same from one side to the other, so as spares you just need to order one rear bearing kit and one front bearing kit (the kits come with the gaskets and seals you need to replace at the same time!