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(This article comes from the February 1998 issue of Octagon Topics Vintage MG Club of Southern California - by Bill Harkins)
In rebuilding a TC, one of the major considerations is preventing oil from entering the rear brake shoes. A significant factor in this regard is to replace the oil bushings at each end of the banjo housing. The problem is how to easily extract the bushings. We have heard that some MG enthusiasts have attacked the problem with a hacksaw blade! The problem with this approach is how to know when the bushing is cut through (in two places) without cutting into the housing itself, thereby creating a groove through which oil can flow and negating the purpose of the oil bushings.
The sketch shows a simple approach to extracting bushings cleanly in a few seconds after the extraction "tool" is built using junk box parts. The inner and outer extraction tube diameters must be fairly accurate to just catch the bushing, but not interfere with the hosing inside diameter. Tubing of the correct size can be created from pipe fittings if accurate diameters are not available. The MG hobbyist would be wise to save old parts such as king pins, bearing spacers, clutch rods, etc., as they come in very handy when creating specialty tools of the type described.
Once the bushings are extracted, replacing the new ones can most easily be done using a floor mounted shop press which can receive the length of the banjo housing. If this is not readily available, a similar approach to the extraction method can be undertaken by using a length of pipe to which a bolt has been welded at each end. The new bushing is threaded onto the pipe, the pipe passed through the housing, a large washer placed on the bolt with a nut following. Tightening the nut will draw the bushing into place along the centreline of the housing. Use assembly grease on the bushing to ease its insertion. As a last resort, the "block of wood and hammer" technique can be undertaken with great care as any cooking of the bushing can distort the thin wall and again negate its purpose.
Be sure the bushings are installed correctly as they are left and right handed. The spiral grooves must be positioned such that the axle will tend to push oil into the centre of the housing when in forward motion. Placing them in reverse position will nicely push oil into the brake area - not desirable.
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