leaf springs

[BLOWNMM]

Rob - I don't think axle tramp would be your only problem. If the primary and secondary shafts (gearbox and diff pinion) are not close to being parallel then the secondary shaft would experience angular velocity and could end up inducing vibration or harmonic problems.
Bob

[RobThomas]

Yes, I hope to have a trial run later today. A set of tapers ground from 5mm steel plate are now in place and awaiting a test run. Shafts are not parallel. I set a "T-square" (not sure if the name is the same round the world) on the aft face of the diff flange and it was waaaay out until the tapers went in. Now it is all straightened.
I see there are different curvature specs for lowlight springs in the book.

New axle should be delivered next week. 9 inch brake shoes on order and then I need to sort out the oversize bearings for the front. Busy few days ahead. I may have a lead on some 10 inch front drum brakes for the MM, if the bearings are the same. Probably overkill.

[RobThomas]

Wedges worked out well. When static the diff nose is now parallel to the propshaft. Tramp is reduced.

I sent a photo the the springs I bought to another major supplier of Morris bits (somewhere in east Sussex, ahem) and they said "Yuk. They don't look anything like ours....are you actually gonna fit those????"

Off to help fit springs to a friend's car on Sunday and he has some of these 'better' springs so I'll report back.

[RobThomas]

Just fitted some extra spring leaf clamps from ESM to the less-than-impressive springs from a different well known company. I'd say 90% of the axle tramp has suddenly disappeared. Happy bunny!

[philthehill]

Rob
Many years ago I copied the spring clamp idea from pictures posted in the HOT ROD magazine. I fitted the additional clamps (3 each side) to the spring leafs in front of the axle tube. Tightening the clamp nuts helped to adjust the spring rate and it certainly got rid of the axle tramp.
Phil

[RobThomas]

clamps.jpg (151.9 KiB) Viewed 1333 times

One clamp behind and 2 ahead of the axle. They've run out of the 4-leaf clamps. Later dampers fitted along with the later axle and wide 6-inch wheel rims. The rear shackles are the 'better' ones from the late MG Midget. Nice thick material compared with the weedy Morris ones.

[StillGotMy1stCar]

Wow, looks every nice under there, like new, also like the use of MG Midget spring shackles.
Regards John