To bung or not to bung?

Post by **Axolotl** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:00 pm

I see you can get rubber bungs that blank off the outside end of the side jacking points.

I think they might make it look a bit neater, but what do people think about whether they are a good thing or not?

Were they fitted as original equipment?

Will they encourage rot, or help prevent it?

Post by **MoggyTech** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:30 pm

Probably a good idea both for cosmetic reasons and the fact that you should never jack up a Moggy using the centre crossmember jacking point, as any weakness due to corrosion can cause the car to go out of shape. Just fill the jacking points with grease and fit the bungs.

Post by **dunketh** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 6:51 pm

Mine have been cut clean off by a previous owner... good ridance as far as I can work out!

If it aint there - it can't rust!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:10 pm

That's a point - do these 'jacking points' add any strength to the X member, because otherwise it doesn't seem to attach to anything very much - except the floor and the ends of the chassis members.

Post by **MoggyTech** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:31 pm

The jacking points add considerable bracing for the cross member, as they are welded to the outer sill.

Post by **steve4063** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 9:37 pm

MoggyTech wrote:The jacking points add considerable bracing for the cross member, as they are welded to the outer sill.

i'll ask my mot mate when i take the next car in this week and see what he say's

it would be handy as i've had to buy a lot but never really thought about not having them there

i suppose a plate across the x mem would do just as well

Post by **MoggyTech** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 2:52 am

As long as it's only the jacking point tube that is missing it should be OK.
Crossmembers differ from supplier to supplier so some variation in design has to be taken into account.

Basicaly the X member is the centre bracing point for the vehicle structure. It is welded to the floor pan, and each chassis leg is welded to the X member. What is very important, is that the X member must at some point be welded to the sill sections to give maximum anti twist strength to the entire structure of the car.

Some of the X member jacking points that are sold, include the T Piece that welds to the sills and X member.

Bottom line is if the X member stops before it meets the sills, then the vehicle structure will be weakened.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 12:40 pm

I doubt they will add anything much to torsional stiffness since they are simply across the centre of the car - and if the they are just 'not there' the MOT man will be none the wiser! I'm not suggesting they should not be fitted - but if they aren't there I wouldn't worry about it either!

Post by **twincamman** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:05 pm

I don't think MM's and S11's have them, they've got jacking points in the arches.

Post by **dunketh** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:36 am

Bottom line is if the X member stops before it meets the sills, then the vehicle structure will be weakened.

I won't lose any sleep over this. Regardless of how much it may weaken the structure its still solid enough down there.

The qhole sill area forms a huge box section when its all closed up. If the car manages to twist, flex or break at this point then there's bigger problems to worry about!