Morris Minor Owners Club

I have just descoved that the strange tapping noise I have been hearing for the last couple of days on my mog is one of the leaf spings have snapped!
(its the driver side, bottom one)

a few things I would like to know:
1)is it still safe to drive?
2) how easy are the new sprigs to fit
3) what do i require: springs, bushes, shackle pins and plates. anything else?
4) Why me!!!!?

are you sure its a road spring?

http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... ic&t=10253

New springs are pretty easy to fit as long as you dont need to re-use the old parts. Normally about 2 hours, or 3 if you need to use the angle grinder on some of it.

You definately want a new front pin and side mounting plate (and the little 2 nuts/bolts to hold the mounting plate). Also 6 new bushes.
Best is to get new U bolts and nuts too.
You might as well change the flat rubber plates to mount the spring at the same time.
If the bump stop is starting to come away from the axle plate, you'll want a new one of those too.

Rear shackle pins - get new ones if the old ones are scabby, but it's not life and death as these can be changed easily without removing the spring.

You 'ought' to do both rear springs at the same time - a new one and a heavily worn one are not an ideal combination.

123_Paul wrote:I have just descoved that the strange tapping noise I have been hearing for the last couple of days on my mog is one of the leaf spings have snapped!
(its the driver side, bottom one)

a few things I would like to know:
1)is it still safe to drive?
2) how easy are the new sprigs to fit
3) what do i require: springs, bushes, shackle pins and plates. anything else?
4) Why me!!!!?

I'll keep the spings from the spares car ..

changing mine in the next couple of days, ive got everything new, saves time and grief

rayofleamington wrote:You definitely want a new front pin and side mounting plate (and the little 2 nuts/bolts to hold the mounting plate). Also 6 new bushes.
Best is to get new U bolts and nuts too.

I am going to get new U bolts, but why do I redo the metal plates? Do they fatigue in odd ways or...

I only ask, as it is big postage to get bits like that. I am in the process of ordering the front spring pins (its a Ute), and cleaning up the springs to refit.
Thanks,
John

i might have some up the loft

The metal plates can sometimes 'deform' out of shape (especially near the centre spring locating hole) and can be easily damaged if driven for a while with dodgy/broken adjacent items. Mine have always been OK, but I know Ray has had some bad ones in the past.

know Ray has had some bad ones in the past.

mine were damaged because the axle hadn't been properly located on the spring! It drove like a thing possessed/posessed/possesed (due to torque steer). From the wear marks it had been left like that for a while no wonder it ended up being unused!

I just can't help it - "possessed" - sorry
a

So I could get it exorcised and reuse the old parts ;)

Dangerous - do you know a good exorcist?
a

I have to look. But if you didn't pay for the bits, would it be repossessed?

bigginger wrote:I just can't help it - "possessed" - sorry
a

Who needs a spell chequer when you have Andrew

// can't resist the urge to go off topic...//

The heavy plate at the base of the spring is unlikely to be damaged - and the U bolts should be fine too - dose them liberally with penetrating oil NOW - and again every day till you do the job. You may still need to use a blow torch - so get a new gas cylinder now ! If only one leaf has snapped it should be ok to drive for a few days - but mind how you go.

BMC, you may be right with that, but I always advocate getting a complete set of replacement parts in cases like this... especially if the car is the daily driver. If the parts are fine and don't need replacing you just have a spare set!