Mini Wishbone

[stevejgreen]

While it has been raining I have been under the Marlin.
I have found some play, fore and aft, in the front top wishbone despite passing an MOT recently.
This appears to be on both sides but so far I have only stripped one side to investigate and I have not yet found why.
I guess there should not be any play, except minimal tolerace but it seems to be about 10 to 15 thou, enough to noticeably clunk.
Any thoughts?

[stevejgreen]

Re: Mini Wishbone

Further investigation.
Shaft and thrust washers do not look worn. When cleaned and tightened on the bench I found I had 15 thou play. I have made up some shims and the play is now minimal. Bolted it all back in place and the upper arm rorates freely with no fore and aft movement as before.
I am still concerned as I would not have thought any fore and aft movement was desireable.

[dogoncrazy]

Re: Mini Wishbone

Steve
I quote from build manual 'The castor angle is dictacted by the inclination of the torsion bar which cannot be adjusted.The top wishbone should be fitted in such a position for and aft so as to allow the hub carrier to adopt this angle without straining the bottom swivel.Complete this assy before tightening any bolts. The fore and aft position of the top wishbone can be adjusted by interchanging the two seal washers [4mm and 8 mm] and moving the end spacer washer[2mm] from end to end.'

[stevejgreen]

Re: Mini Wishbone

Alan, thanks for that, I have not got a mini or metro manual to work from so additional data always welcome.
I assembled in accordance with a Marlin build manual with the seal washers back in their original position so castor angle should be the same.
Not wanting to repeat my question, when removed from the car with the seal washers in place and both nuts tightened on the pivot shaft I had 15 thou of movement axially.

It's the size of this unrestrained movement that worried me as there is no scope for adjustment apart from fitting home made shims.

I have now refitted everything back in place having stripped, cleaned and reset the trunnion and top ball joint and then generously greased all three places.
Steering feels a bit more precise and even running down country lanes with the front wheel in the gutter I had lost all the annoying little rattles, so job done there.