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Post by barryr on Nov 25, 2015 19:12:40 GMT
Thank you enigmas I think that's very sound advice.
If removal shows the front mount to be in good condition I think I will leave that alone too.
The whole setup just looks like it needs some tic. The car was quite well maintained in the past hence the ease with which it's coming apart.
I can't decide about the rear mounts ie if they are tatty or unserviceable so I'll take a pic and ask the forum.
When you dismantle the leaves is it simply a matter of bending the clips open (and removing the centre bolt?)
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Post by enigmas on Nov 25, 2015 21:24:33 GMT
Barry your springs may not be original. The spring leafs on my car are held in place by a retaining pins through the clips.
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Post by barryr on Nov 30, 2015 14:16:48 GMT
Right then, Off side spring is out. Thought I'd post for others like me that are new to this job (never had leaf sprung car before!) It looked like this: Gaitors did not do much for them: Here are the buttons people talk about - I think they may be ok? Question - the front bushes look really good but are they and are they fitted correctly? ie this looks like 12 oclock to me and not 1 o'clock as people have mentioned here: Lastly the "contrasonics" - clearly metalastic ones, they looked manky but not ripped - reusable?
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Post by barryr on Nov 30, 2015 14:23:09 GMT
Don't know why that link doesn't work! Try
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Post by barryr on Nov 30, 2015 14:26:03 GMT
Argh!
Gaitors fail
Buttons between leaves
Manky contrasonics!
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Post by barryr on Nov 30, 2015 14:30:08 GMT
And is this front bush fitted right and or reusable? Attachments:
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Post by enigmas on Nov 30, 2015 22:02:35 GMT
You must be very young Barry to have never had a leaf sprung car? If you're happy with the current stance of your car, I'd mark/notch lightly, the ends of each leaf (at the bottom for identification purposes) using a cutting disc on an angle grinder...2 notches on one set and one on the other. Then take them to an industrial sand blaster to have the metal surfaces thoroughly cleaned of scale. Any surface irregularities could then be easily identified and linished...simply using a belt sander. Since they're apart I'd also change the front bush (if they're available) as they've had a lifetime of use and are acomponent not readily removed when in situ, unlike the rear mounts.
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Post by barryr on Nov 30, 2015 22:45:03 GMT
I've got some gummy pfledge! - might have a clean up of the old y bushes first.
The front bush appears to be a void bush and yes the void is right through.
Was just wondering about grit blasting the leaves. I am going to save the buttons first. I'll keep posting pics as i go.
Re leaf sprung cars nope they are new to me. Everything I've had has been coil or torsion bar based!
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Post by v8pete on Jun 16, 2016 16:28:39 GMT
So does anyone know if the JR Wadhams leaf springs are still a bit dodgy as I need to fit some new ones,i see most are removing 2 leaves from each spring is this still the case?
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Post by stantondavies on Jun 16, 2016 20:18:03 GMT
Put JRW springs on many years ago. Absolutely no problems with them. They have fewer but meatier leaves than the standard.
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Post by v8pete on Jun 17, 2016 16:14:07 GMT
Thanks for the info I will get them from Wadhams then
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Post by v8pete on Sept 6, 2016 10:44:29 GMT
Well just to let everyone know I fitted my new JRW leaf springs and they didn't fit without modification, the holes for the y bushes are in the wrong place and had to make bigger to fit them,the bushes also cam from JRW! The car now sits about 2'' higher,it has spoiled the look a little but it drives much better and level
Fitting them is not an easy job either, trying to locate in y bushes as the springs are HD was a real pig My fully trained mechanic of 30 years said he wouldn't want to do anymore
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Post by projectrover on Sept 27, 2016 9:19:12 GMT
I had mine retempered but the only way I could fit them was strip the spring and build it in situ. A right pain. But the car sit level so I'm happy. But it may need rear assisters.
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Post by OlafR on Mar 18, 2017 12:50:47 GMT
I'm also about to have new rear leaf springs fitted (won't do it myself). After having spent the last 2 hours (!) reading through all the threads here covering the subject and having seen tons of pictures (and sadly even more dead links): does anybody have before-/after-pictures illustrating the difference? IOW: - What does the car look like when sitting too high (i. e. after fitting JWR's springs)?
- What should the car look like (e. g. after having removed a leaf or two, or like the way they came out of the factory)?
And what about the PolyAir springs (as introduced by enigmas): has anybody have both new leaf springs AND some air bags fitted? I suppose it's either new springs OR air bags ... Cheers, Olaf
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Post by v8pete on Mar 18, 2017 18:29:16 GMT
The Y bushes from JRW are useless to say the least I have gone through 3 now haveing fitted all new springs they supplied, I don't think they have done more than 300 miles! Not sure what the problem is,springs to stiff or bushes to hard either way I'm not happy!
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Post by enigmas on Mar 18, 2017 21:33:53 GMT
Try removing one leaf as it will drop the spring rate. If it's sitting up like an expectant chook at the rear it should also lower the undignified stance.
When fitting the rear bushes (contrasonics) do not tighten the fixing bolts until the full weight of the car is loaded on the springs...otherwise they will shear. If when you've done this a lot of deformity is evident you'll need to slot the mounting holes so that any static shearing load is not applied to the bush at rest.
NB. Try and consider how a component 'functions' before fitting it and the component if properly manufactured will have a viable lifespan.
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Post by v8pete on Mar 18, 2017 21:42:40 GMT
Thanks for the pointer will this stop the Y bushes failing as well
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Post by enigmas on Mar 18, 2017 21:58:16 GMT
All rubber bushes in suspension systems should be adjusted in this way. Never tighten a bush before the load of the car is placed on the component.
If you set them up in a neutral state...that is, no fore and aft load imposed on them when at rest with the full weight of the car on them, they should function as designed and not shear.
If fitting second hand contrasonics note any deformation from use and fit them so that the deformation is not loaded at rest. That is, fit them so that they sit in the same fashion as the car they were removed from. Do not try to realign them...as this imposes a 'new' shearing force.
PS. The contrasonics (originals) on my car (1966 MK3 P5) are quite deformed, but are not torn or illustrate any shear as I have left them in their naturally deformed state.
* Sometimes fitting components is more than just a nut and bolt excercise.
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Post by OlafR on Mar 20, 2017 17:01:50 GMT
FWIW, I'm quite a bit worried now regarding the modern Y-bushes and the general stance after fitting JRW's leaf springs. I suppose I'll first wait for the April 2017 Take Five issue. David just posted here that the club is now offering a "Spring refurbishment service". Depending on how long this will take and where it's carried out I'd rather drive over to the UK and get it done there ... My younger son will finish high school tomorrow, a little reward in terms of a road trip to the UK doesn't sound like a bad idea either. Cheers, Olaf
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benedict_h
Rover Rookie
Benedict - P5B 1972 - Amstelveen, Netherlands
Posts: 74
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Post by benedict_h on Mar 22, 2017 15:19:57 GMT
Hi Olaf, Well worth looking into this club initiative, I should think. I had my JRW leaf springs changed for re-tempered ones and was quite amazed by the difference. In terms of appearance (a picture of how high the car sat is on page 4 of this thread), but even more so with regard to the difference in road handling and comfort. Regards, Benedict
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Post by OlafR on Mar 22, 2017 17:27:56 GMT
Benedict, on page 4 I can only find a pic of your car that was obviously taken after the retempered springs were fitted, or maybe I'm just blind (I can also be deaf and dumb ) ..? Regarding the club alternative: yes, I'll see into that option as well. Since that would involve having to drive over to the UK though, I might actually rather go for the "new" Wadhams springs (which doesn't mean that I won't be hitting UK roads soon!). That is, there is a thread in the P5 group on Facebook where someone mentioned that Owen Springs (being the manufacturer of the JRW springs) obviously has a new type of spring that eliminates the problem with the car sitting to high. I do suppose that, in turn, this will also supress (or at least diminish) the problem that there is too much shear applied to the Y-bushes so that those in result will no longer crack. I'll give it a few days as it seems that someone in the group is already trying to get the new springs. FWIW, it seems that Owen Springs is not keen on delivering to anyone but JRW so one will most likely have to hope that JRW sells them the "new" ones rather than some old stock ... In case you're interested: here's the conversation on Facebook (should be visible even if you don't have a Facebook account). Cheers, Olaf
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benedict_h
Rover Rookie
Benedict - P5B 1972 - Amstelveen, Netherlands
Posts: 74
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Post by benedict_h on Mar 23, 2017 7:14:31 GMT
Olaf, erm.. that picture was taken just before the leaves swap actually.. Anyway, the car now sits about 5-6 centimeters lower. Regards, Benedict
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Post by enigmas on Mar 23, 2017 8:56:54 GMT
Olaf, erm.. that picture was taken just before the leaves swap actually.. Anyway, the car now sits about 5-6 centimeters lower. Regards, Benedict That's an enormous drop in height...about 2 3/8" in imperial measurement
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Post by OlafR on Mar 23, 2017 9:29:56 GMT
Olaf, erm.. that picture was taken just before the leaves swap actually.. Anyway, the car now sits about 5-6 centimeters lower. Gee, that's what I meant, i. e. the afterwards picture is missing. Did I mention that I'm also illiterate? Cheers, Olaf
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Post by projectrover on Jun 9, 2018 15:35:49 GMT
I had mine re-tempered by Brost Forge, done a good job and fitted the bushes correctly. Unit 7, 149 Roman Way, London N7 8XH Phone: 020 7607 2311
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