[Zmagnette] Rear Springs

Thu Apr 3 10:36:25 MDT 2014

Yaw, the “stuff” I used on one car were some sort of “liner”, with a weeee T shape on the ends, to theoretically keep them in place.  Picture an elongated channel.  Seemed great in  theory, not so much in practice.  The more I mess with these springs trying to fix up cars, I think Lord Vauxhall (sp?) may have said it best:  “Be it unbroken, fixeth it not.”

Speaking of a certain old 1/2 ton pick up truck, vintage 1958ish . . . . I did nothing to those rear springs, and all seems well . . . . .  hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

#2SteveK

From: Mike 
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2014 9:15 AM
To: List for the Z Magnette Group - North America 
Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Rear Springs

There are places that will make spring gaiters for your car, to keep grease in and crud out. I think '50s Jaguars used them, for example. They function a bit like the boots on the steering rack. What could be cooler than a pair of laced-up leather gaiters around the leaf springs? Maybe you could get them dyed to match the interior! Of course, there's the expense, maintenance, and general nuisance of gaiters. Maybe that's why almost all leaf-sprung cars didn't use them.

Seriously, if something between the leaves would help reduce stiction and rust, why not anti-seize compound instead of plain grease? Maybe Teflon sheets between the leaves? Or something similar - some high-density plastic, perhaps? Being less deformable than rubbery materials, the sheets shouldn't "squish out" from between the leaves. Anyone ever tried that?

Or maybe just a good coat of paint on each leaf, both sides, before assembly.

That's one of the problems with a car that's this old and may have already been rebuilt one or more time. We really don't know how they did it originally, and they don't make 'em that way (leaf springs) anymore.

I wonder if the manufacturers do anything special to the leaves on half-ton pickups?

Mike

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From: Steve <skirby210 at cox.net>
To: List for the Z Magnette Group - North America <zmagnette at autox.team.net> 
Sent: Thursday, April 3, 2014 8:58 AM
Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Rear Springs

I’m interested in following the answers to this, as I’ve done different things, none of which have seemed like a solution I feel comfortable recommending.

One question is:  what about powder coating?  Would seem to be better than painting, and give some “lube” quality between the leaves?  I’ve done this once, and it seemed to work OK, but then others have said “the heat process ruined your springs.”   Don’t know about that, from a practical standpoint . . .  the car/springs/suspension “seem” fine.  I believe powder coating uses a temp around 375 – 400ish.  That shouldn’t hurt the temper of springs . . .  should it???

I tried putting some formed rubber “liners” between them, on the recommendation of someone.  Done by some hot rodders, I guess.  Can’t say I liked the results.  Worked OK I guess, but looked like crap . . . . they didn’t stay in place that well, so some edges were falling out, etc.

I’ve also tried new springs, and that was the worst.  Car ended up being jacked up way too high.  Have also had springs re-arced, and not happy with that either . . . . car was then lopsided, and the spring shop said, bascially, “that’s the way it goes, its not a perfect science, type thing.”

All these experiences were “non” Magnettic, but the “issue” is the same, eh?

#2stevek

From: Joel Johnson 
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 10:46 PM
To: List for the Z Magnette Group - North America 
Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Rear Springs

Thanks everyone. The rubber pieces I'm referring to is the inter leaf and angle pads. I have Ed Sweeney's poly bushings for the spring eyes. I have disassembled the springs and I think I need to protect the inside from rust. Since there are rubber pads between the leaves, I'm thinking it would be ok to paint between the leaves? Steve T, I will try that program.

Joel

On Wed, Apr 2, 2014 at 2:59 PM, Kelvin Dodd <doddk at mossmotors.com> wrote:

  The spring mounting pads are isolated from the frame of the car, so there is no down side to using them. The replacement rubber pads are kinda squishy (technical term), so I normally use and recommend poly. 

  The rear bushes are not the same as MGA/MGB, so you might have limited alternatives. I used the poly bushings that Edwin Sweeney made up. They fit perfectly and are not overly stiff. 

  The front spring eye bush is also unique to the Magnette and at the time I worked on my car, the recommended replacement was the MGA front spring eye bush. This is slightly larger in OD and uses a bigger through bolt. I did find that a normal work bench vice will allow you to press this bushing into the spring eye without too much trouble. Since this conversion works well, I doubt if the Magnette unique spring bushes will be reproduced. 

  Kelvin. 

  From: zmagnette-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:zmagnette-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of David Halliday
  Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 12:51 PM
  To: List for the Z Magnette Group - North America
  Subject: Re: [Zmagnette] Rear Springs

  Hi Joel,
  Some may disagree, but I would suggest going to urethane bushes and spring pads as you change.

  Kind regards,

  David

  On 2 April 2014 20:30, Steven Trovato <strovato at optonline.net> wrote:
  Joel,

  I don't have an answer for you about the springs.  Hopefully, someone will provide you with an answer soon.  As far as resizing photos, I use a program called irfanview on my Windows 7 machine.  It is very popular, free, and available here:  http://www.irfanview.com/.  All you have to do is image, resize, then save.  Of course the program has the capability to do much more, but for a simple resize of a photograph, there's not much to it.  I often also use the "crop" feature.  This eliminates a lot of excess background, focuses attention on the important part and makes the file smaller as a bonus.

  -Steve T.

  At 02:43 PM 4/2/2014, Joel Johnson wrote:
  I am refreshing the rear springs on my Magnette before installing them. Do I paint both sides of each leaf or put them together and paint the outside? Also what about the rubber bits? They need to be replaced. Thanks. There will be lots of questions to follow, I have my Magnette back from body work and am putting it back together. I'd send a photo, but I can't figure out how to reduce the file size for email.

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