1964 Triumph Herald 1.1L Petrol · XJT 269B

Like its Spitfire sibling, the Herald uses brass trunnions at the base of the front vertical links. Triumph engineers specified regular oiling with EP90 hypoid gear oil. Owners and workshops frequently mistook the nipples for grease points; heavy chassis grease cakes and solidifies inside the trunnion threads, preventing lubrication and accelerating thread wear until the vertical link snaps while cornering.

The Herald's steel double-backbone chassis extends outriggers sideways to mount the sills and passenger tub. Mud and salt flung from the wheels collect inside the hollow outriggers, rusting them out from within. When the outriggers collapse, the body tub loses structural support, causing doors to drop on their latches, sills to rot, and panels to rub.

Standard-Triumph four-cylinder engines (948cc, 1147cc, and 1296cc) incorporate two semicircular thrust washers flanking the centre main bearing. Prolonged driving with an engaged clutch or high mileage wears away the soft thrust bearing metal. If neglected, the washer drops out of its groove into the oil sump, allowing the crankshaft to grind directly against the engine block casting.