Re: [Healeys] BN2 Caster Angle

[Fred Wescoe <fredwescoe@gmail.com>]

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Listers,

I have looked at these top trunnion bearing kits over the years and
considered installing them.  However, I simply cannot get my head wrapped
around why replacing bearings at the top of the kingpin would reduce the
weight of the car and improve steering.  It seems to me that all the weight
of the car is pressed against the bottom of the kingpin.  To me, it seems
replacing the top bearing would have no effect on the steering effort.  Can
someone explain in simple language why this kit would work?

Thanks, mystified,

Fred

66 BJ8

On Wed, Jan 6, 2021 at 9:49 AM Bluehealey <bluehealey@gmail.com> wrote:

> These are the ones.
>
> https://www.ahspares.co.uk/austin-healey/big-healey/suspension-front/top-=
trunnion-bearing-kit-pair.aspx
> Well worth doing.
> The other often overlooked source of heavy steering is the Steering Idler=
.
> It is rarely lubricated, has no real reservoir for oil, and a poor seal a=
t
> the bottom. I suggest releasing the ball joints that connect to the drop
> arm to check it for stiffness. Complete removal of the idler isn=E2=80=99=
t a
> difficult job and is the best way to clean and lubricate.
> The caster is pretty good on these cars (the initial design was good).
> Camber could go from positive to negative to be more compatible with radi=
al
> tyres. Also check and minimise toe-in. This has a radical impact on
> steering feel when wrong (in either direction).
> If after all that you still have problems, then go for the caster changes
> you have in mind and tell us about your findings. The Team may learn
> something.
> The only other aspect that seems to vary from car to car is bump steer.
> Some can be horrible on fast bumpies and others are on rails.  I=E2=80=99=
ve never
> seen a decent treatise on dealing with this on our Big Healeys.
> Have fun.
> Alan - from my iPad
>
> On 6 Jan 2021, at 13:35, Team.net <lawrence.swift@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> =EF=BB=BFWhen I rebuilt the front end on my BT7, I had the trust bearings=
 at the
> top of the kingpin replaced with bearings - made a huge difference in the
> ease of steering.
>
> On Jan 5, 2021, at 10:36 AM, Bob Spidell <bspidell@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> re: "The other two are factory fixed and too dangerous to play with or
> maintain...even if Kilmartin makes the parts"
>
>
> How so?
>
>
> On 1/4/2021 9:40 PM, gradea1@charter.net wrote:
>
> I'm with the philosophy "set the toe and let 'er blow" The 1/16-1/8"
> toe-in is most important for proper tire wear.  The other two are factory
> fixed and too dangerous to play with or maintain...even if Kilmartin make=
s
> the parts. Hank
>
>
>
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<div dir=3D"ltr">Listers,<div><br></div><div>I have looked at these top tru=
nnion bearing kits over the years and considered installing them.=C2=A0 How=
ever, I simply cannot get my head wrapped around why=C2=A0replacing bearing=
s at the top of the kingpin would reduce the weight of the car and improve =
steering.=C2=A0 It seems to me that all the weight of the car is pressed ag=
ainst the bottom of the kingpin.=C2=A0 To me, it seems replacing the top be=
aring would have no effect on the steering effort.=C2=A0 Can someone explai=
n in simple language why this kit would work?</div><div><br></div><div>Than=
ks, mystified,</div><div><br></div><div>Fred</div><div><br></div><div>66 BJ=
8</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail=
_attr">On Wed, Jan 6, 2021 at 9:49 AM Bluehealey &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:blue=
healey@gmail.com">bluehealey@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote =
class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px sol=
id rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"auto"><div dir=3D"ltr"><d=
iv dir=3D"ltr">These are the ones.<div><a href=3D"https://www.ahspares.co.u=
k/austin-healey/big-healey/suspension-front/top-trunnion-bearing-kit-pair.a=
spx" target=3D"_blank">https://www.ahspares.co.uk/austin-healey/big-healey/=
suspension-front/top-trunnion-bearing-kit-pair.aspx</a></div><div>Well wort=
h doing.</div><div>The other often overlooked source of heavy steering is t=
he Steering Idler. It is rarely lubricated, has no real reservoir for oil, =
and a poor seal at the bottom. I suggest releasing the ball joints that con=
nect to the drop arm to check it for stiffness. Complete removal of the idl=
er isn=E2=80=99t a difficult job and is the best way to clean and lubricate=
.</div><div>The caster is pretty good on these cars (the initial design was=
 good). Camber could go from positive to negative to be more compatible wit=
h radial tyres. Also check and minimise toe-in. This has a radical impact o=
n steering feel when wrong (in either direction).</div><div>If after all th=
at you still have problems, then go for the caster changes you have in mind=
 and tell us about your findings. The Team may learn something.</div><div>T=
he only other aspect that seems to vary from car to car is bump steer. Some=
 can be horrible on fast bumpies and others are on rails.=C2=A0 I=E2=80=99v=
e never seen a decent treatise on dealing with this on our Big Healeys.<br>=
Have fun.<br><div dir=3D"ltr">Alan - from my iPad</div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br=
><blockquote type=3D"cite">On 6 Jan 2021, at 13:35, Team.net &lt;<a href=3D=
"mailto:lawrence.swift@gmail.com"; target=3D"_blank">lawrence.swift@gmail.co=
m</a>&gt; wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div d=
ir=3D"ltr">=EF=BB=BF<span>When I rebuilt the front end on my BT7, I had the=
 trust bearings at the top of the kingpin replaced with bearings - made a h=
uge difference in the ease of steering.</span><br><span></span><br><blockqu=
ote type=3D"cite"><span>On Jan 5, 2021, at 10:36 AM, Bob Spidell &lt;<a hre=
f=3D"mailto:bspidell@comcast.net"; target=3D"_blank">bspidell@comcast.net</a=
>&gt; wrote:</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span></span>=
<br></blockquote><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span>re: &quot;The other two ar=
e factory fixed and too dangerous to play with or maintain...even if Kilmar=
tin makes the parts&quot;</span><br></blockquote><blockquote type=3D"cite">=
<span></span><br></blockquote><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span>How so?</span=
><br></blockquote><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><=
blockquote type=3D"cite"><span>On 1/4/2021 9:40 PM, <a href=3D"mailto:grade=
a1@charter.net" target=3D"_blank">gradea1@charter.net</a> wrote:</span><br>=
</blockquote><blockquote type=3D"cite"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span>I&#3=
9;m with the philosophy &quot;set the toe and let &#39;er blow&quot; The 1/=
16-1/8&quot; toe-in is most important for proper tire wear.=C2=A0 The other=
 two are factory fixed and too dangerous to play with or maintain...even if=
 Kilmartin makes the parts. Hank</span><br></blockquote></blockquote><block=
quote type=3D"cite"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span></span><br></blockquote=
></blockquote><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span></span><br></blockquote><bloc=
kquote type=3D"cite"><span>_______________________________________________<=
/span><br></blockquote><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span>Support Team.Net <a =
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