[Healeys] Top Trunnion Needle Bearings

[bluechip]

I read with interest the thread on the top trunion thrust bearings.  AH
Spares claims that their needle bearings "give an almost power steering feel
to your car" , and Alan's experience supports this claim.  This is
beliveable since the total sprung weight of the front half of the car (over
1000 lb) is supported by these bearings, which must turn under that load
(Sorry Dave, but a free body diagram or a glance at figure 11 on page J8 of
the 100 shop manual reveals that these bearings do in fact support the
weight of the car).
WRT Lube, from the photo of the needle bearing assembly on the AH Spares
website, it appears that it might be a sealed, permantly lubricated bearing.
If not, I would think packing with wheel bearing grease should suffice, and
last at least as long as the wheel bearings.  Also, it appears that the
Oil-Lite thrust bearing gets lube from the uppermost kingpin zerk, so maybe
the periodic grease job will suffice....not sure about that.
In any case, to me this seem a worthwhile improvement.  $60 (29 GBP) doesn't
seem like a lot of money for a one time upgrade that will last forever,
especially if it makes a the steering significantly lighter.  I plan to try
a set on my BN6 which steers kind of hard due to the quick ratio steering
box and small diameter steering wheel.

Jim Smith
East Hampton, CT