Rear Leaf Spring clamps

[Ufudu]

Hi all,

I may have missed this in my search, but are these leaf clamps common? There is a rubber insert between the spring and the clamp. It is quite different from the 'U' clamp plus bolt arrangement the manual seems to show. I'm asking since I'm about to start dismantling & cleaning the rear of the 1960 saloon and do not see any replacement clamps/rubber in the usual places (BM, DMG, EMS etc)

many thanks[frame][/frame]

[MartinLowe]

The U bolts are where the axle crosses the spring

[bmcecosse]

You won't find replacements - you can reasonably easily make new ones yourself. Otherwise - leave well alone ! Or buy new springs of course......

[Ufudu]

Thanks BMC, that's what I thought.

Martinlouwe, apologies, I meant these U clamp plate thingies that hold the leaves together not the axle U bolts.[frame][/frame]

[Ufudu]

I have now dismantled the springs, most of the rubber components are pretty rotten.

I'm not sure how much difference it makes, but I see a small strip of 2mm rubber sheet between the end of each lower leaf and the one above it, presumably to aid the movement of one leaf relative to the other.

The question I have: is that correct, or was there rubber between each leaf for it's entire length (not just at the ends?)

If my description makes no sense I will try & rustle up some photos...

[bmcecosse]

Pretty sure mine are metal to metal......

[MarkyB]

Same here, I believe it helps damp the spring.

[Ufudu]

Thanks Folks, I think I will clean & reassemble as I found it, with some fresh rubbers....

[drivewasher]

they are called "rebound clips" they keep the spring from splaying AND keep them tight together so as the friction between the leafs helps rebound damping as the spring lengthens and shortens

[bmcecosse]

Yes indeed - but I haven't seen them with rubber in there.......

[les]

It seems that companies are selling springs like this, I fitted a pair, admittedly a while back but the thin metal band wrapped around the leaves break or rust and the thin piece of rubber falls out. I've found my springs are missing some. Not a patch on the original 1/8th thick steel brackets. Another example of shoddy goods, possibly dangerous in this case.

[klm]

This is a genuine rear spring with original clip and rubber pads. The spring has two clips at the front and one at the rear of the spring. Shown on the photo is the rear clip. The rubbers can still be obtained on special order from a company here in Australia.

[les]

They're not like that here! the metal 'strap' is the same, although narrower, because there is no rubber pieces. The springs now have a thin metal band wrapped round the leaves with a thin piece of rubber in between, and no bolt. The bolt shown in the last post doesn't look original to me.

[bmcecosse]

Not at all convinced these are 'original' !!

[drivewasher]

That bolt looks like a coach bolt. And the thread looks like 8x1.5mm thread.

[les]

Also, in the uk, the bolt passes through a metal tube to stop the clamps crushing.

[drivewasher]

Yep!
That nut will forever becoming loose as it's got nowt to tighten onto

[aupickup]

certainly non original

[klm]

The spring I posted was removed 20 years ago from an Australian assembled Minor 1000 saloon and it is possible that the spring was manufactured in Australia. The bolts have metal tubes which I have not installed as they are currently being cleaned and painted. The bolt used is a coach bolt, again possibly made in Australia by Ajax. The rubbers have markings 'MOWOG Australia'. As I am aware this is a genuine spring used on Australian Morris Minors as it has the part number ACA 5016 Y stamped on the bottom leaf. I expected the springs fitted to UK assembled cars to be identical in specification and appearance.

[bmcecosse]

Does sound like local production then....