A bit odd?

[stag36587]

I'm finally getting into the home straight - mechanically anyway. As I'm now beginning to tick off jobs before an MOT, I decided to check out the front suspension. On one side (near side) I was surprised to see that the original? top link doesn't have a hole through the thread for a split pin but it does have a castellated nut - yes I did check that everything was clean. There just isn't a hole.

Has anyone else come across that? Having said that on the other squared off ends of the top links, there are no holes either even though one side has a castellated nut. Is that correct or should I be fitting loc-nuts?

Thanks

[bmcecosse]

Either drill the hole - or fit nyloc nuts. If they see a castle nut without a split pin - it's a fail....

[philthehill]

The nut PT No: SUS127 at squared off end of the top link does not have castellated nut. It is held in place by the lock washer Pt No: SUS147. Only on the tapered end does it have a castellated nut Pt No: SUS148. I suspect that the castellated nut was fitted because they did not have a plain nut.
See diagram below.
Put the correct nut in place with the lock washer and all will all well.
Be aware that there is a tendency to use UNF nuts and threads on the top trunnion pin but the nuts are still castellated and non castellated.[frame][/frame]

[stag36587]

Really helpful Phil, many thanks!

[alexmcguffie]

There probably is a hole for a split pin but the pin in probably still in it and the nut has been used to shear it off by a previous owner who couldn't get the pin out! It does make the hole/pin quite hard to find but once you do, you should be able to drill/punch it out.

[philthehill]

Alex
There has never been a split pin on the squared off end of the pin.
Note that both threads are the same 1/2" BSF.
So as I said in my post above - a previous repairer had most likely lost the nut and the first that came to hand was the 1/2" BSF slotted nut (drawing No: item FN408-Z (see above)) which so long as the nut was locked with locking washer (drawing No: item 183428Z (see above) would in reality not be any inferior to the solid nut (drawing No: item FN108-Z (see above)) but would not look very good.
Even with the previous top trunnion arrangement there was no split pin at that end either.

As an aside what is it that you are driving in your signature photo?

[alexmcguffie]

Hi Phil,
From the original post its a bit hard to tell which end he means. I agree though, plain nut on square end, castellated on tapered end.

Alonso, R23, happy days