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MG MG Y Type - Rear Springs

Although I cleaned up the springs on my YB and fitted new rubber pads between the leaves there is no getting away from the fact that they are tired...I was going to buy new ones but have heard that some people have had problems ....also they are manufacturerd without the rubbers pads in between them now....I was thinking it might be better to have the old ones reset?
Any opinions or experience would be welcome particularly on quality of replacement springs on offer.
D MULLEN

Dave,
Im sure that David Pelham was having some springs made with poly interleaf pads... Neil Coombes was having a couple of sets for his YA and YT.....dont remember ever hearing what happened with that project?
Rob
Rob King

Dave,
If you google 'uk leaf spring retempering' you will find one or two co's to try (but none too local to Merseyside)
One of these might be able to help
TonyK
A B Knowles

I had thought of having my existing springs retempered but that involves taking them off and leaving the car in pieces in the hope they do them correctly which does not alaways happen.
The rear suspension on my YB is too harsh and the car leans slightly due to worn springs so any news of David Pelhams efforts would be welcome.
Buying 'new' springs is also a problem as I hear not everyone who has done so was satisfied. Thev 'new' springs do not have the rubber interleaving (which Mike Green of NTG says is not needed. Comments welcome.
D MULLEN

Just as an aside - has anyone any experience of how harsh the rear suspension of a YA/B is/should be over speed bumps ....the bl**dy things are everywhere these days. Its hard to tell what the rear suspension should be like if properly set up...probably I have been spoilt by modern cars and am getting soft but surely it wasn't that bad when new!Any ideas on improving rear suspension welcome.
D MULLEN

Dave,
I got my new rear springs from the batch Dave Pelham and Neil Coombes arranged. These were supposed to have poly bush leaf pads but unfortunately they had small bits of rubber stuck on between the leafs, which would not have lasted 2 minutes. However I could not grumble about the price I paid.

I therefore stripped the new springs and drilled each of the leafs and fitted poly leaf pads myself after a couple of coats of black paint. I then I used poly bushes instead of rubber to secure the springs in position.I as yet cannot tell you how the ride is as the car is not quite ready, another month I will be able to let you know.

I bought my poly pads from polybush.co.uk but I understand Dave Pelham now sells them more reasonably priced. The spring leafs have been hardened and are not easy to drill, but I am sure a spring manufacturer would drill them for you if asked

This company will make your springs, it may be worth ringing them up for a quote, I believe they even have the drawings for the YA

sphttp://www.owensprings.co.uk/index.php/springs/leaf-springsrings springs.

As for whether the pads are needed I can only say that they act as a buffer between the springs and will prevent the springs wearing as they rub against one another. My old springs were worn to half the thickness where the leaf springs had rubbed against each other so definitely needed replacing.

Hope this helps Chris
C A Pick

Hi Dave,
It seems the web page link has not worked so heres another link
http://www.owensprings.co.uk/

Chris
C A Pick

What is the ride quality like with the new springs....did you also recondition the lever arm dampers/shock absorbers?
D MULLEN

What is the ride quality like with the new springs....did you also recondition the lever arm dampers/shock absorbers?
D MULLEN

What is the ride quality like with the new springs....did you also recondition the lever arm dampets/shock absorbers?
D MULLEN

Damn, David. I 'sprung' into action with so much activity on the board, only to get my enthusiasm 'dampened' by your triple reply..... ;-)
Willem van der Veer

Hi Dave, The Y won't be finished till next month as I am still awaiting the seats back from the upholster so can't comment on the ride yet. However, I did the same with my TD and the ride is great. Yes I reconditioned the dampers on both cars.

Cheers Chris
C A Pick

Hello Dave,
I think that the under slung Chassis on Y Types is its Achilles Heel when traversing speed bumps. The gap between the axle tubes and the chassis rails on my Y is 1/4" with the weight of the car on the suspension. The axle travel is impeded by the under slung chassis rails hence the harsh jolt when going over speed bumps.

This design has its roots in the MMM and TA TB TC cars and given the hard suspension and light weight of these cars this setup was not a problem. The problem raised its head in the Y series and was corrected in the TD series when the chassis rails passed over the rear axle.
The lever arm dampers on the Ya are not adequate in dealing with speed humps IMHO.

Would adjustable telescopic dampers would help in improving the situation? Probably, but at the expense of originality. Well that would not worry me too much because I am thoroughly sick of the speed bump JOLT.
Regards Wayne

W Routley

Apologies for the triple reply was having wifi connection problems............I think Wayne is probably correct in his assessment- if I could find a conversion kit for telescopic I would do it as long as the ride improved.New rear springs would help and maybe better rubber packing between the axle and chassis. If anyone else has solved this problem let us all know.
D MULLEN

In response to Chris Pick's e-mail, I sell the spring interleaf pads for £1.87 each. I had a batch made from Nylatron on the advice of Barrie Jones TD/TF technical Specialist for the MGCC T Register. They are exactly as originally fitted but made from Nylatron rather than rubber.

I also sell polyurethane bushes for the TD/TF/Y rear suspension. They cost £2.85 each plus postage and come with a couple of sachets of lubricant.

I can take PayPal for a small additional fee.

JOHN JAMES www.ttypes.org

85 Bath Road
Keynsham
BRISTOL
BS31 1SR

Tel: 0117 986 4224
J D JAMES

Any news on anyone who has fitted new springs recently..my axle hits the chassis on one side if I hit a pothole ...looks like the springs are shot...Owen Springs seem to offer a decent pair of springs at about £85 a side. Anyone tried them? As per an earlier post the underslung arrangement doesnt help.
D MULLEN

Hi Dave,

I have now put on 500 miles on my newly rebuilt YA and I am pleased to say the suspension with new springs, rebuilt shockers and poly bushes gives a comfortable ride. It handles sleeping policemen with no problems providing you slowdown for them. The axle certainly does not bottom out on the chassis, even on very poor roads.

I think the quality of the ride would be improved further if I fitted radials as they are more forgiving then cross plys . So in the winter I my get my wallet out and fit michelin 5.50x16 radials.

Dave my advice would be to fit new springs from Owen springs with poly bushes. I would also consider getting your shockers overhauled whilst you have the springs off.Be aware though the two companies that refirb the shockers have long ( 3 to 4 month ) lead times.

Hope that helps Chris
C A Pick

This thread was discussed between 05/06/2013 and 23/08/2013

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