Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi everyone,

Hope you are warm enough!

My 1952 MM seems to have later front kingpins/swivelpins on both sides.
[Reinforced circular bit]

But MM hubs, ie the bearings come away easily in the hub as one unit when removing the brake drum. And I have dinky wheel bolts not studs with nuts.

I needed to replace OS wheel bearing.

? relevant - One of the [now removed] ball bearings had shattered and ended up = gritty grease.

No problem----UNTIL

MM size bearing was too small. Er? And later bearing was too big.
Bull Motif have been so patient - thanks guys!

A bearing kit came with the car when purchased. [Automotive Bearings Ltd - ABK 007 - Type No QWB 105] which seemed to fit ok.

Now OS intermittent grrrraunching again only under load when moving. And only when hot.
Thought it suggests bearing again. Sounds dry. Not the intermittent ker-chunk sound the previous bearing eventually made.
NB Inside of brake drum is unevenly very shiney. ie approx half.

Brakes not appearing to be binding. Not overgreased and no gritty feel when examining the bearing.

Not sure what to look for. Tempting to replace the lot but cost inhibits that. I've been attending a class [another Moggy there] where I can use tools and the tutor is nearby to help. So can do a certain amount myself, but only 2 classes left till Autumn.

Concerned it's not safe to drive.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

AND as for the NS...

Bearing needed replacing recently too.

The MM size wheel bearing fitted hub ok [but had to be hammered onto the stub axle at the advice of the tutor]. [ Cue Cam Shaw cringe!]

But it's quiet now and seems ok.

----------------------------------------
Having trouble finding out what has been done to modify the car and so many possibilities being offered have got me well confused. eg the hub has been machined to a different size possibly.

Was considering putting it all back to MM but I hear the kingpin rattle is a problem with the MM ones.

Is there anyone remotely local that could help me work out what is going on please?

I'm in driving distance of Bedford, Wellingborough or Milton Keynes.

Many thanks for any help.

Many thanks

Chrissie

Sorry - can't much help directly with the problem - but if you can measure the bearings accurately it should be possible to track down replacements. However the hubs could be worn now. Would it not be better to change everything up to later uprights and hubs ? Are your hubs 4 " pcd - or the earlier smaller pcd ?
At least I have pushed this back to the top for you!

The MM has got the earlier WIDER pcd (4,5") Problem is it is
A Very expensive if you can't DIY
B Troublesome because the rear wheels won't fit the front and VV

Chrissie, try your local bearing specialist
I had a similar problem with my moped and they have all sorts of bearings. Do a google on bearings + the town

The early kingpins aren't quiet like the later ones, they have the so called 5lbs knock.

Good luck!

The trunnions are interchangeable so you can get rid of the 5lb knock simply by replacing the upper trunnion with the rubber bush type. The early trunnions were brass & wore quickly anyway.

I'm sure Mike Perry mentioned using late suspension & later brakes inside the MM hub somewhere in the Series MM area.

**Edit**
Found it:
http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... ght=#69590

Ah yes - larger pcd - I remember now - advantage there will be able to use wider wheels from an MGB etc !

NO. She will be keeping this car as original as possible. I dare say others would want to modify their cars, but that kinda defeats the object of having a sidevalve MM (unless it's SERIOUS mods in which was you'd replace the hubs/uprights anyway).

Hey, thanks for all the replies.

Very odd thing happened when I reached the vehicle maintenance class after wondering if it was fit to drive there...

Brakes gave a loud 'knockclunk' at one point and felt a bit spongy thereon.

But would the noise 'show' itself for the tutors opinion? NO! I even drove round and round Wellingborough to try and get it to moan.

The car is running better than ever before. No noises and brakes are fine.

Will check out the bearing/hub sizes tho.

None so odd as Mogs?

Thanks again everyone.

Wonderful resource this is.

Chrissie n Mr Kay

PS Somethin amiss with your smiley driver. Changing gear rather too often?

the weird and wonderful world of Morris Minors. The same has happened to me a couple of times too. You'd better check out the brakes as well then!

Squiggle wrote:PS Somethin amiss with your smiley driver. Changing gear rather too often?

It's nerves.

Cam wrote:

Squiggle wrote:PS Somethin amiss with your smiley driver. Changing gear rather too often?

It's nerves.

Close ratio, LHD

:D:D !