BENSPORT RESTORATIONS

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ONTO WEEK FOUR

WEEK THREE

REMOVAL AND STRIPPING OF FRONT AXLE

With the body off we can now start the long job of dismantling and cleaning the chassis. Removal of the front axle came first. On inspection both top leafs on the front springs are broken, they will need the first 2 or 3 replacing on both sides. Removal of the hubs revealed the brakes to be in remarkably good condition with plenty of thickness on the shoes and everything operating freely, although the nearside brake cross-shaft seems stiff and isn't returning smoothly. After carefully removing all the various chassis lubrication pipe work and brake mechanisms the king pin can be knocked out and the hub removed. The top king pin bearings were fine but inevitably the lower bushes had excessive play and will need replacing on both sides.

Having removed the Axle and started by dismantling the brake cross-shaft and king pin lubrication pipe work, its clear the N/S brake shaft oil-ways are blocked. As a result getting the N/S outer Brake shaft bush out of the axle proved to be trying. The O/S shaft was not half as bad at the N/S although both shafts and the 4 bushes will need to be replaced. Luckily there is minimal if wear to the axle bore. The king pin oil-ways and the felt filters were fine both sides.

Broken front springs. Same both sides.

Brake shafts run within front axle. Bottom shows the N/S shaft that was seized. The spring has also corroded away from its slot in the bush.

King pin oil filter set up located on the axle, this filter will be replaced, if this felt filter becomes blocked the king pin will not receive sufficient lubrication.