Steering, Suspension, & Brakes

tips, technology, tools and techniques related to non-driveline mechanical components

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BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: November 24, 2022 08:40AM

I just ordered a set of TSL style bearings to modify the kingpins. Sourced them from Lilly Bearings. They are made from hardened 440 stainless which wouldn't have been my first choice but should be acceptable. Part numbers as follows:

S440-R8 2rs: 8 each
S440-R12 2rs: 2 each
S440-R14 2rs: 2 each

Total, $100 though I wouldn't be surprised to get charged something for shipping. This will require some machine work of course, and I will have to turn some bearing cups somewhat similar to those used on the necks of motorcycle frames but the goal is to replace all the bushings including the rubber trunion cushions with tapered bearings.

I have already fitted oil-filled sintered iron bushings to the inner LCA pivots and didn't have any trouble with that but it did require me to drill out the link ends to 1-1/4" and fit grease zerks. Should have that back in service today sometime or tomorrow. The bushings came from McMasterCarr:

[www.mcmaster.com]

This bushing has a 3/16" flange. I had to make inner sleeves to fit.

Jim


Airwreckc
Eric Cumming
RTP, North Carolina
(246 posts)

Registered:
05/28/2020 10:10AM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB-GT (working on a Sebring project) Buick 300-4 V8

Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: Airwreckc
Date: December 01, 2022 02:03PM

Jim,

That's great news--please keep us posted on how it works out and how the process goes.


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: December 01, 2022 04:24PM

Ni noticeable difference in NVH from the urethane bushings but the suspension and steering is tighter and more precise. Still waiting on the bearings.

Jim


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: December 19, 2022 02:53PM

Well, the bearings came in. And... not as advertised. I now have $100 worth of very nice stainless sealed BALL bearings. I blame the search engine. You know what I mean. No idea what I'll do with those. But at a unit cost of about 8 bucks apiece they'll just go into bench stock. Actually all but the one that goes at the bottom of the kingpin would probably be just fine as ball bearings so I'll have to re-think that.

And back to the original question: Are TSL bearings bearings available in the required sizes? More searching required.

Jim


Airwreckc
Eric Cumming
RTP, North Carolina
(246 posts)

Registered:
05/28/2020 10:10AM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB-GT (working on a Sebring project) Buick 300-4 V8

Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: Airwreckc
Date: December 19, 2022 03:18PM

Ugh, I hate when that happens.


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: mgb260
Date: December 20, 2022 07:14PM

Speedway Motors sells Kingpin needle bearings for early Ford and Chevy kingpins for street rods. Maybe a person could adapt them?

[inthegaragemedia.com]

[www.jalopyjournal.com]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/2022 07:22PM by mgb260.


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: December 21, 2022 08:57AM

I'll look into the possibility of using needle bearings. A suitable thrust bearing might be a challenge also. That is an alternative, as is using unsealed Timkens. The attraction of the TSL bearings was the integral seal.

Jim



mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: mgb260
Date: December 21, 2022 01:26PM

Jim, they already sell a Torrington bearing for thrust bearing.

[www.jbbearings.com]

[ttypes.org]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/21/2022 01:40PM by mgb260.


Airwreckc
Eric Cumming
RTP, North Carolina
(246 posts)

Registered:
05/28/2020 10:10AM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB-GT (working on a Sebring project) Buick 300-4 V8

Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: Airwreckc
Date: January 10, 2023 04:55PM

Looks like JB Bearings has a minimum quantity for those bearings, although it doesn't say what. If there are others interested, I'd definitely participate in a group buy.


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: mgb260
Date: January 11, 2023 10:29AM

Second thread has part # and DIY info. They are for sale on UK Ebay frequently.

[www.ebay.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2023 10:36AM by mgb260.


Airwreckc
Eric Cumming
RTP, North Carolina
(246 posts)

Registered:
05/28/2020 10:10AM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB-GT (working on a Sebring project) Buick 300-4 V8

Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: Airwreckc
Date: January 11, 2023 10:36AM

Thanks Jim, I missed that. I'll check it out.


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: mgb260
Date: January 11, 2023 10:37AM

I just added the Ebay link above.


waterbucket
Philip Waterman
England
(112 posts)

Registered:
07/30/2011 01:08PM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB GT

Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: waterbucket
Date: January 14, 2023 02:36AM

I just came across this thread, the MGOC has been offering a ball joint suspension for years but it rarely seems to be talked about. Some of the photos clearly show the modified uprights

[www.classicdrivingdevelopment.co.uk]

[www.classicdrivingdevelopment.co.uk]

[mgm.gtwiz.net]



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2023 02:59AM by waterbucket.


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: January 14, 2023 10:02AM

Thanks for the links, Philip. I had never seen that.


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: January 14, 2023 11:15AM

Looks to be well designed. Priced at something around $1000 US maybe? That would be affordable.

Jim



mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: mgb260
Date: January 14, 2023 12:06PM

Carl, Remember a while back on the link on the other board my suggestion to use the Jag/TR ball joint.?


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: January 14, 2023 12:15PM

Yes.

[www.mgexp.com]

This thread was also quite interesting.

[www.mgexp.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2023 12:17PM by MGBV8.


mgb260
Jim Nichols
Sequim,WA
(2461 posts)

Registered:
02/29/2008 08:29PM

Main British Car:
1973 MGB roadster 260 Ford V8

Re: Front Suspension Upgrade
Posted by: mgb260
Date: January 14, 2023 01:28PM

Current exchange rate is $1684 US, plus shipping.
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