Rear springs

[TerryBeck]

Has anyone any experience of replacing the rubber centre mounting pads? Surely it can't be that difficult? I've had a real problem undoing the centre bolt that holds everything together. I clamped the spring in a vice, but the nut wouldn't undo because I couldn't prevent the bolt from rotating - the bolt head is round, rather than hexagonal. I ended up chiselling off the old rubber from the plate to which it was bonded, so I could grip the bolt head with a Mole wrench - not very sophisticated!
So, when I fit the new pads, is there any reason why I shouldn't use a conventional hex-headed bolt? And does anyone have any tips for more easily undoing the bolt on the second spring?

[Martec]

Hi Terry,

Yes I've replaced the rear spring centre bushes with Poly ones and taken them off again and refitted rubber ones. I don't remember having problems with the bolt but they had been copperslipped when first assembled.

I've still got the original springs and centre bolt fitted. I can't see why the old bolt can't be replaced with a hex head. But as its the only bolt to hold the spring in place (the carriers locate the rubber pads only) then you would have to buy long bolts so that there is no thread inside the spring, only bolt shank to act as a solid locator for all the springs. Then cut off most of the excess thread.

Brian

[smiffy]

Hi Terry
The only issue with non-standard bolts is to make sure that they don't protrude beyond the rubber mount pad when under load or, if they do, that the bolt head does not contact the metal work of the spring hanger and plates. Can't comment on getting the old one apart I'm afraid - like Brian's, mine came apart easily. Did you clamp the spring leaves before trying to undo the bolt?
Best wishes, David

[smiffy]

Hi Terry
Sorry, forgot you had said you clamped the spring leaves. I was looking through the Jaguar Enthusiast Mark 1 restoration articles yesterday evening, and saw a photo of Dave Marks undoing this bolt with a pair of long nosed mole grips on the head. If it's OK for him.....
Best wishes, David

[TerryBeck]

Thanks for the replies. I had no trouble at all with the bolt on the second spring, nor on a third one that i happened to have as a spare. So clearly, I was just unlucky with the first one. I've used the bolt from the spare to reassemble the first spring. Simple!

[ManxNeil]

Further on the subject of putting the springs back together, when I took my springs apart I wasn't happy with the state of the rubber 'spacing' pads that sit on the end of each leaf; one or two were missing, anyway. I went down to a local shoe repairer and he had some textured rubber sheet which looked absolutely right for my purpose. He said it was for repairing the soles of operating theatre shoes worn by surgeons and nurses. When reassembling I painted each leaf with a good coat of Waxoyl.