Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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consul 57
Joined: 09 Nov 2017
Posts: 598
Location: somerset
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 Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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just changed back to the original leaf springs on my mk2 consul, the brand new ones i bought sat the car lower and made an awful scraping noise when doing 20-30 mph, higher than that the noise was drowned out by other noises.
the edges of each leaf are a straight cut so scraped against the one above so would eventualy make a groove, despite plenty of grease & oil they never shut up for long, so back on went the old original ones and the car sits flatter, even the wife noticed that and much less noise so far.
the old ones are far better quality, rounded and chamfered edges to each leaf and they were quieter when i first had the car, the only difference is it is now poly bushed on the old springs.
so much for new things! |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7217
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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| consul 57 wrote: | just changed back to the original leaf springs on my mk2 consul, the brand new ones i bought sat the car lower and made an awful scraping noise when doing 20-30 mph, higher than that the noise was drowned out by other noises.
the edges of each leaf are a straight cut so scraped against the one above so would eventualy make a groove, despite plenty of grease & oil they never shut up for long, so back on went the old original ones and the car sits flatter, even the wife noticed that and much less noise so far.
the old ones are far better quality, rounded and chamfered edges to each leaf and they were quieter when i first had the car, the only difference is it is now poly bushed on the old springs.
so much for new things! |
I also had the "square cut" problem with some new leaf springs. I had heard they would need work to avoid premature wear so I disassembled them and filed chamfers on the ends. I greased them and will be keeping my fingers crossed. |
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consul 57
Joined: 09 Nov 2017
Posts: 598
Location: somerset
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Ray White wrote: | | consul 57 wrote: | just changed back to the original leaf springs on my mk2 consul, the brand new ones i bought sat the car lower and made an awful scraping noise when doing 20-30 mph, higher than that the noise was drowned out by other noises.
the edges of each leaf are a straight cut so scraped against the one above so would eventualy make a groove, despite plenty of grease & oil they never shut up for long, so back on went the old original ones and the car sits flatter, even the wife noticed that and much less noise so far.
the old ones are far better quality, rounded and chamfered edges to each leaf and they were quieter when i first had the car, the only difference is it is now poly bushed on the old springs.
so much for new things! |
I also had the "square cut" problem with some new leaf springs. I had heard they would need work to avoid premature wear so I disassembled them and filed chamfers on the ends. I greased them and will be keeping my fingers crossed. |
nice, i had considered that as it is not too hard a job, but as they lowered the car too much i felt the ford ones would be better back on. we shall see when i do a test run. |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7217
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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It may be possible to get a spring specialist to alter them to give a better ride height...but I know what you mean about the quality of the original equipment. I guess they (Ford) have been making leaf springs for so long they know how to get it right  |
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bjacko
Joined: 28 Oct 2013
Posts: 534
Location: Melbourne Australia
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2025 7:10 am Post subject: Leaf Springs |
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Sounds like they have not been set correctly or are weaker material. You need to take them to a spring maker who knows what the curve should be.
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1938 Morris 8 Ser II Coupe Utility (Pickup)
1985 Rover SD1 VDP |
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consul 57
Joined: 09 Nov 2017
Posts: 598
Location: somerset
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2025 9:56 am Post subject: Re: Leaf Springs |
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| bjacko wrote: | | Sounds like they have not been set correctly or are weaker material. You need to take them to a spring maker who knows what the curve should be. |
i shall just put them in the garage & forget them, they don't take up much room tbh.
not worth playing with. |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7217
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| Should you be ablate blow or suck through a windscreen washer valve in one direction? If no then my new replacement valve is also faulty. |
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4267
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Ray White wrote: | | Should you be ablate blow or suck through a windscreen washer valve in one direction? If no then my new replacement valve is also faulty. |
Possibly not as air will compress whereas water wont. |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7217
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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| ukdave2002 wrote: | | Ray White wrote: | | Should you be ablate blow or suck through a windscreen washer valve in one direction? If no then my new replacement valve is also faulty. |
Possibly not as air will compress whereas water wont. |
I couldn't either blow or suck air through the non return valve so I gave it up as a bad job and simply joined the two ends with a bit of tubing. Job done. |
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013
Posts: 4204
Location: The Somerset Levels
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| Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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We, as in 3 generations of us spent the morning down the yard today.
We gave it another go trying to remove the engine from our 1944 Commer, all bolts and fixings are off yet she'll still only budge about qtr of an inch...seized on the splines possibly.
I still can't find a starter dog for our 55 Hillman after the engine rebuild so I found the thread size and had a large nut machined. Tried that on the car and it's just the ticket. I need to buy a new coil and fill her with some oil and I think she's not far off trying to start her.
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Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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MikeEdwards
Joined: 25 May 2011
Posts: 2725
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2025 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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Swapped an ABS sensor on the daily driver today, the last thing before I book it in for an MOT.
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1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT |
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Rootes75
Joined: 30 Apr 2013
Posts: 4204
Location: The Somerset Levels
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2025 10:28 am Post subject: |
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We fitted new HT leads to our 55 Hillman yesterday. Cranked her over and now we have a good clean spark.
With her now being stored outside, I purchased a good heavy duty tarp to cover her, 600gsm so its not one of these ones that disintegrates after a couple of months.
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Various Rootes Vehicles. |
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MikeEdwards
Joined: 25 May 2011
Posts: 2725
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2025 10:02 am Post subject: |
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Cleared some space in the shed yesterday by getting rid of my Sunbeam Alpine project car, which has gone off I believe to be broken for spares. It was in the way, really, and realistically I wouldn't have been able to start work on it for 3-4 years.
I took the daily Audi in for MOT on Tuesday and it passed with one advisory on an oil leak, so that was good. The cold starting problem from a few weeks back seems to have been fixed by replacing the coolant temperature sensor. It had been in for pre-MOT check and oil/filter change a few weeks previously and nothing untoward found, but it's still a relief when it gets to 25 years old and over 200k miles.
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1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT |
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badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1476
Location: Netherlands
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2025 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry to hear that the Alpine is to be broken up. Was there no-one interested in restoring it? Was it that bad?
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment |
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MikeEdwards
Joined: 25 May 2011
Posts: 2725
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2025 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| badhuis wrote: | | Sorry to hear that the Alpine is to be broken up. Was there no-one interested in restoring it? Was it that bad? |
It was pretty bad, and not complete. I wouldn't have minded doing it, but when I put the photo up on the Alpine Facebook group offering it as a brave project, the first comment was that it was beyond saving. Panels are available but at quite a cost, Alpines in much better condition are quite plentiful, and prices aren't high apparently.
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1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT |
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