Morris Minor Owners Club

How much movement should there be in the upper trunnion when the wheel is turned?

I can see some movement in it, I've kept it fairly well greased, and I'm sure I changed one of them a few thousand ago, how long do they last?

I'm just thinking, it'd be easier to do it now than when the wings go back on

Andrew

Movement in what plane? Up and down/loose on the threads* type movement? There shouldn't be any of that

Bear in mind that they will appear to move slightly up/down when the steering is operated, as they move with the kingpin thread - can't say I've ever noticed that, mind

sort of twisting ever so slightly. No up or down or fore/aft movement.

i'll recheck tomorrow.

Is it worth popping polybushes on while access is good?

Andrew

So the kind of movement that worn bushes would cause? Always worth putiing poly bushes in, there specially

well hope it is the trunnion and not the thread on the kingpin

As Mr Ginger has suggested - it sounds more like the trunnion is tight on the threads and what you are seeing is the trunnion twisting the top bushes on the damper pin. This is one place where poly bushes are an absoute MUST on a Minor - even if you don't fit them anywhere else. the top threads wear very little - compared to the bottom threads and trunnion which do most of the work.

checked it again today, it does look like it's just movement in the rubbers. I have a front damper that's leaking, so I may replace the dampers, fit polybushes and do the trunnions all at the same time.

Andrew

Good idea - unscrew the trunnion from the kingpin and you will get a feel for how 'worn' or otherwise it is. Also check to see if any of that grease has actually been getting inside!