Austin Healey Top Trunnion Bearing Kit BN1-BJ8

Heavy steering on a Big Healey is often most noticeable when parking, manoeuvring in a workshop or turning at low speed, especially when worn bronze thrust washers add friction at the front suspension top trunnions. This bearing kit replaces those thrust washers with a more effective bearing arrangement, reducing friction at the top trunnions and helping the steering feel lighter and more controlled.

Top trunnion bearing kit for Big Healey front suspension

This Austin Healey top trunnion bearing kit fits BN1 to BJ8 Big Healey models and is supplied as a pair for both front top trunnions. It is suitable for suspension rebuilds, steering improvement work or replacement of worn original thrust washer components.

Key features

• Fits Austin Healey BN1, BN2, BN4, BN6, BN7, BT7, BJ7 and BJ8
• Supplied as a pair for both front top trunnions
• Replaces the original bronze thrust washer arrangement
• Helps reduce friction through the front suspension and steering movement
• Includes heat-treated cups and surface-ground washers
• Supplied with four adjusting shims

Technical notes

Correct assembly and shim adjustment are important, especially where the top trunnions, kingpins or related front suspension parts show previous wear. Additional 0.004 inch top trunnion bearing shims are available separately as SUF126 if further adjustment is required during assembly.

Checking the rest of the front suspension?

If the top trunnions are being serviced as part of a wider front suspension job, it is worth checking spring condition at the same time. Tired or mismatched springs can affect ride height, steering feel and how the front end settles after rebuild work.

View Big Healey front suspension springs for BN1-BJ8

Workshop and owner benefits

• Helps ease steering effort caused by friction at the top trunnion thrust area
• Particularly noticeable during parking and other low-speed manoeuvres
• Allows both front top trunnions to be addressed during the same job
• Retains the familiar Big Healey front suspension layout

John Lee, Director at A H Spares, says: “We have made this upgrade to all but one of our Healeys and you quickly realise which one hasn’t had the conversion when manoeuvring the cars in the showroom.”