Amateur Restoration of a 1960 Morris Mini

[scalpel_ninja]

So I removed the needle bearing and bushing. Looks like they split the bushing to fit the metal rod (poorly) and there's a metal tube inside. I'm guessing it's supposed to be like an older style metal grease tube?

The kit listing mentions a metal grease tube 21A396. The part number search leads to this, but the tube I removed from the arm doesn't look like it.

If it was meant to be ready to go, the bronze bushing wasn't a great fit (too much play for my liking) and split. Selling a plastic sleeve was really confusing. I'll see if the right side one has the same installation.

[MPlayle]

The metal tube is the way to go when you put it back together.  The ealiest Minis used the metal tube.  It supposedly got changed to the plastic version later to save costs.

The plastic tubes age and split, allowing the grease to escape and fill the cavity of the swing arm rather than travle along the bar to lube the opposite end.

Your metal tube looks just like the ones I have saved for when I eventually may need to rebuild my Mini's rear swing arms.

[Willie_B]

Metal grease tubes are available new now too. https://www.minispares.com/21a396-rear-radius-arm-metal-grease-tube

[MiniDave]

I have a pair of metal tubes saved back for my car too, for the next time I need to rebuild my trailing arms.

How much slop was there in the bushing? it doesn't need to be a tight fit.

[scalpel_ninja]

I have a pair of metal tubes saved back for my car too, for the next time I need to rebuild my trailing arms.

How much slop was there in the bushing? it doesn't need to be a tight fit.

Not much slop. I ended up putting everything back the way it came from MiniSpares. Let's just say now I really know the intricacies of a radius arm and how an adjustable reamer works!

Somehow it didn't occur to me the arm was built ready to go. The extra parts with the pivot really threw me off.

[scalpel_ninja]

Right side arm came in today. It's configured the same as the other side, meant to be ready to install. The bronze bushing on the right was reamed to a slightly better tolerance, both acceptable for now.