Broken Trunnion

[Fredman]

Hi guys,

My car is a '69 Spitfire with a 2.0 GT6 engnine and frontend - and I was so unfortunate to experience a broken trunnion on a sunday drive I took! Fortunately, it happened right outside my garage, but still (see image).

I want to order a new one, but I'm not sure if it will fit. I will order this:
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RG1192

The spring nut also broke in the "crash" so I will need new one of those as well.

Am I missing anything?

Thanks,
Fred

[heraldcoupe]

It's not the trunnion that breaks, it's the vertical link which has snapped. The trunnion may have been damaged when the link went, you need to dismantle the suspension and assess the condition of all related parts before placing an order.

For the record, all trunnions on Herald/Spitfire/GT6/Vitesse are interchangeable. Buy on quality rather than price alone, there have been some complete stinkers in circulation.....

Cheers,
Bill.

[mikeyb]

no the broken bit is this one here

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GSJ265

careful - they are handed left and right and differ slightly between early/late, Spit/GT6 etc

lubricate with gear oil NOT GREASE or it will happen again!

[Clive]

Sorry to hear of the breakage, it does happen, but thankfully normally at low speed when parking or whatever (and before anybody jumps it, it can happen when on the move too)
It is not the trunnion that has broken, but the vertical link (ie the threaded part)
This means you need a new vertical link, and it may well be worth replacing BOTH as the other may (just may) be heading the same way.
Probably worth fitting a new pair of trunnions at the same time complete with kits, and new "top hat" seals to gkeep water out.

Have a look at the brass trunnion. If it has been greased that will be one of the causes, they should be filled with EP90 oil and NOT grease. And this should be done on a regular basis.

As your car is a conversion, it will be worth checking that you definately have GT6 uprights and brakes. You just never know!
Here is a diagram from the highly recommended Canley classics site, I suspect you need parts 10 (vertical link/upright) plus 47, 48 and 56. Plus the nut!
http://www.canleyclassics.com/?xhtml=xhtml/diagram/gt6mkiandiifrontsuspension.html&xhtmlcatalogue=xhtml/catalogue/earlygt6.html&category=axlessuspensiondriveshaftsandwheels&xsl=diagram.xsl

[Burnerboy]

A very obvious alternative if you are going to replace all that lot is go for the Caterham uprights as supplied by Canleys - you should never have to worry about this sort of thing happening again.

[Richard B]

MikeyB wrote:

lubricate with gear oil NOT GREASE or it will happen again!

Yes as Mike say make sure you use EP90.

Canleys, James Paddocks, Rarebits all sell good parts.

[Deleted User]

And just to increase your bill a bit more, you will also need a new tyre - yes a new tyre !

In the photo, you can see where the lower wishbone struck the wheel rim when the vertical link failed.
After it hit the wheel rim, it will have struck the sidewall of the tyre and severely damaged the internal structure, you may already see a bulge forming.  It is a high speed front blowout waiting to happen.

[CharlieB]

cliftyhanger wrote:

As your car is a conversion, it will be worth checking that you definately have GT6 uprights and brakes. You just never know!

That looks like a Spitfire vertical link to me. :(

[HMaze]

(evil)

me too.

[Gt6s]

CharlieB wrote:

That looks like a Spitfire vertical link to me. :(

That's probably because it is a Spitfire vertical link, on a six TUT TUT !

[JensH]

And - when you have finished the broken side - go for the other one. Better safe than sorry  8)

[Clive]

Looking like a few quid to be spent. Spitfire brakes are just not up to the job of the extra power/weight. Plus I doubt the insurance company will be very impressed  :o

[GT6 John]

If you're changing the front end to GT6, as you should, then you may like to consider the upgrade option that cuts out all the silliness with trunnions.

Not a cheap option, oh no not by a long way, but you won't break these babies! Fit & forget (well, almost)

http://www.canleyclassics.com/?xhtml=xhtml/product/catkit1.html&xsl=product.xsl

[Pete Lewis]

with the weight of the 6 pot I would advise the need for the 2ltr stub axles and the larger bearing'd hubs C/W the vitesse/gt6 discs and type 16 calipers

the whole front end is underspecified if you continue to use spitty parts  

looking at the dirty. dry state of the oil nipple when was she last given a trunion oiling ??? Pete

[sparkytph]

look at this link have got them on my spit and can recommend them
http://www.canleyclassics.com/?xhtml=xhtml/product/catkit1.html&xsl=product.xsl

[Deleted User]

Burnerboy wrote:

A very obvious alternative if you are going to replace all that lot is go for the Caterham uprights as supplied by Canleys - you should never have to worry about this sort of thing happening again.

John_Martin wrote:

If you're changing the front end to GT6, as you should, then you may like to consider the upgrade option that cuts out all the silliness with trunnions.

Not a cheap option, oh no not by a long way, but you won't break these babies! Fit & forget (well, almost)

http://www.canleyclassics.com/?xhtml=xhtml/product/catkit1.html&xsl=product.xsl

658 wrote:

look at this link have got them on my spit and can recommend them
http://www.canleyclassics.com/?xhtml=xhtml/product/catkit1.html&xsl=product.xsl

Three votes for canleys!

A quick question, is the front hub the same? Gt6 & Spit???

Does the canleys kit come with item 15 in Clive's above pic?

I know questions questions questions

[CharlieB]

And one vote against. I admit I haven't seen it in the flesh but I don't like the single bolt fixing.

[Deleted User]

CharlieB wrote:

And one vote against. I admit I haven't seen it in the flesh but I don't like the single bolt fixing.

I like the single bolt fixing more than I like the idea of breaking a Trunion ;)

I am considering these at the moment, For my GT6 brake upgrade, Just add the caliper plates?

More info required me thinks

[CharlieB]

bobyspit wrote:

I like the single bolt fixing more than I like the idea of breaking a Trunion ;)

Fair point.

I think Canleys would do better to supply exchange wishbones with the bearing carrier welded in place a la Caterham.

[junkuser]

"My car is a '69 Spitfire with a 2.0 GT6 engnine and frontend"

Was just wondering where this information came from.

[Clive]

I don't think stub axles are supplied with the uprights, I suspect you can re-use yours and the matching hubs/bearings, or upgrade to the super-dooper ones.

And Mr junkuser, not sure I understand the question? The OP put that in his post, I took that to mean a GT6 engine and bonnet has been fitted to a 69 spit?

[junkuser]

Hi Clifty.
           Where I live "front end" means front suspension, as in "Front end specialist".

Sorry for causing confusion but thanks for pointing this out,
                                                                                   Mal.

[Clive]

Aha, I see what you mean! seems rather too many people have done the engine upgrade withought thought to brakes etc. Seen this several times before....."Yes the engine fits, but thats all I care about" sort of attitude.
Haven't seen one on spitfire springs yet!

[GT6 John]

cliftyhanger wrote:

I don't think stub axles are supplied with the uprights,

No, you have to buy the sooper dooper stub axles seperately.  Not a neccessity, but nice if you want to go the whole hog.

I've gone the whole hog, but it all depends what you want your car for.  If it's just a Sunday special, summer driver then clearly the hubs will be way too much and not worth the money.

I forget the total cost of the Caterham uprights and the hubs together.  Think it's around £500, so not cheap, but then I like to think good value rather than cheap or expensive! :P

Quality of new parts these days is rubbish and it's nice to see a company like Canleys bucking the trend and producing something decent! Alas they're the exception rather than the norm!