Vesconite Hilube bushings have proven their durability and superior performance by operating for 20 years without noticeable wear on a restored 1950 4-seater Morgan Series 1. This remarkable achievement is according to Anthony Browne, who meticulously restored his Morgan between 2000 and 2005, including the installation of Vesconite Hilube kingpin bushings and rear sliding spring bearings.
During the comprehensive restoration, Browne installed Vesconite Hilube kingpin bushings with standard kingpins on the front suspension and replaced the original, pitted rear sliding spring bearings with Vesconite Hilube. Browne remarked on the extensive nature of the restoration: “The car was completely restored between 2000 and 2005. No item was overlooked, not even nuts and bolts, screws, toggles, etc. Everything was repaired, replaced, or rebuilt. New reinforced chassis, new woodwork, new suspension.”
Browne’s Morgan, though equipped with non-original mechanicals such as a GT Ford Cortina 1.5-litre balanced engine, a 5-speed Ford Sierra gearbox, a Triumph TR3 differential and rear, wire wheels, and front disc brakes, benefited significantly from Vesconite Hilube bushings, particularly on the front suspension on which the bottom bushing often exhibits noticeable wear when phosphor bronze is used.
“The low wear rate and self-lubrication are the advantages. Phosphor bronze is the standard and lubrication is needed regularly, usually between regular services. Vesconite Hilube is a very suitable material in this application. The Morgan front suspension has a long kingpin where the sliding stub axle travels up and down, friction plays an important role and any wear results in a clear disadvantage with loose wheels, poor alignment, vibration, etc.,” Browne explains.
Browne’s advocacy for Vesconite Hilube led him to write a paper titled “Morgan Front Suspension Bushes – Experiences and Testing of Vesconite Hilube,” published in January 2008 for the Morgan Owners Club in Australia. The paper presented test results comparing Vesconite Hilube bushings with traditional phosphor bronze bushings on two vehicles. The findings revealed that bronze bushings exhibited ten times more wear than Vesconite Hilube on the bottom bushings, despite the vehicle with bronze running fewer miles during the test.
Car 1 – 1969 4/4, 4 Seater with Phosphor Bronze Bushings
New factory stock mild steel kingpins, factory bronze bushings, CR lip seal on the bottom bush and new wheel bearings were installed.
| Wear After 12,478 miles (20,081 km) | ||
| Wear (inches) | Left | Right |
| Kingpins (bottoms only) | 0.001 | 0.002 |
| Bushing – Top | None* | None* |
| Bushing – Bottom | 0.004 | 0.0055 |
*Honing marks on the top bushings were polished off by usage.
These comparison tables were prepared by Bill Button of Seattle.
Car 2 – 1958 +4, 4 Seater with Vesconite Hilube Bushings
New factory hard chromed kingpins and cylindrical ground, new wheel bearings and bushings made from Vesconite Hilube bar stock. CR lip seal was also installed on the bottom of the lower bushing.
| Wear After 15,569 miles (25,056 km) | ||
| Wear (inches) | Left | Right |
| Kingpins (bottoms only) | 0.001 | 0.002** |
| Bushing – Top | None* | None* |
| Bushing – Bottom | 0.0005 | 0.0005 |
*Top bushings still showed honing marks, no signs of wear.
**Chrome plate worn through in a 5/16″ diameter patch. Tests showed the plating was thin at this point. Hard chrome plate was measured showing an average on the length of only 0.001” thickness.
These comparison tables were prepared by Bill Button of Seattle.
At the time of the 2008 report, Browne noted, “Vesconite Hilube is more expensive than nylon or bronze but should last a hell of a lot longer. I hesitate to suggest a limit, but if the bushings are greased and foreign material is kept out from between the bushing and kingpin, the bushings could last indefinitely and not need replacement for the life of the car.”
Browne’s 1950 Morgan Series 1 underscores the longevity of Vesconite Hilube. He notes that he has the original Vesconite Hilube bushings on his vehicle, which is used regularly for short runs but has also been used for two longer year-apart stints on a return journey between Melbourne and Brisbane.
Vesconite Hilube’s outstanding performance on Browne’s Morgan and the documented test results underline its exceptional durability and suitability for automotive applications, offering a reliable and long-lasting alternative to traditional materials.
