MOT failure - bushes. DIY or garage at £120?

[Auntie Baarbie]

My 68 Traveller has just failed her MOT. Few things and some advisories for next year.

Main thing is the bushes - anti-roll bar on both sides (last years advisory) and leaf spring anchor pins.

I've rebuilt stub axles and king pins on similarly aged Midgets and Sprites and can recall many nights grunting and swearing away on the cold garage floor as I've tried to remove similar bushes. Garage labour charge is £40ph and they reckon 3 hours if all goes well.

Alternative is Auntie Baarbie is SORN'ed for the autumn and winter and goes in the garage and I go back to grunting and swearing on an evening. Would also let me fiddle and fill some of the joints in the wood and generally give her a tickle. I've got a couple more weeks left until the old MOT ends, so would get a few more weekends in.

So what's the consensus? DIY or garage at £120? And another thing. Original rubber, or some of those more modern types? And best place to buy?

Putting Auntie away for the winter also solves another problem. The Eriba I've bought is 2.2m high. Garage opening is 2m and I had planned to replace rafters and lift garage door to get the Eriba in - and leave Auntie under a cover outside.

As in the real Auntie Barbie's life, her namesake gets treated well

[chickenjohn]

Do they really mean "anti roll bar" or tie bar bushes.

If the former just remove the anti roll bar which is an unnecessary after market add on.

If the latter, the tie bar is very easy to remove, one nut and bolt, tap it out of the bracket and then remove the split pin and nut on the threaded end. The bushes fit either side of the tie bar bracket on the end of each chassis leg.

[chickenjohn]

If. By leaf spring anchor pins they mean the shackles , these are not too bad to change either, although you have to support the body of the car and lower the axle a little to remove the load and enable the pins to be knocked out. After undoing the nuts and removing the shackle plates. Btw, all these nuts and bolts are (or should be) whit worth head sizes with the BSF thread. If you try and use AF or metric tools you will be grunting and swearing! ;-)

Oh and if you do go the garage route, try a Morris Minor specialist or classic car mechanic they will have the right tools and know how and probably a cheaper hourly rate as well.

[bmcecosse]

As above - get rid of the useless antiroll bar, and spring shackle bushes are SIMPLE to change - be sure to fit polyurethane... The price quoted is ridiculous.... If you leave your Traveller under a 'cover' - that will be the end of it. It NEEDS good garage storage.

[ASL642]

I should fix these things (either personally or professionally - your choice) and get an MOT. Put the Traveller in the garage, the Eriba can be covered, but don't leave the car in the garage use it. These cars were meant to be used not left in a garage! They managed 50/60 years ago as every day cars. Take her out for winter runs - keeps everything ticking over.

[lambrettalad]

^^^^^^ fully agree much less likely to develop hidden problems when used ,I drove mine every week last two winters ,zero problems

[bmcecosse]

I urge you NOT to get any salt on the car....... Throw a tarp over the Eriba.....

[Auntie Baarbie]

Thanks all. Grunting and swearing it is then!