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MG MG Y Type - YA Front shocks rebuild

Gooday fellow Y lovers. This is the start of no doubt a long saga - first question on the restoration of our beloved '49 YA, chassis 3348 engine no. 13216. Regarding the front shocks - I have 4; I don't lean towards adding mini-style telescopics, as the car has always performed admirably with the original set-up. BUT - Do any Y-Typers in Australia recommend anyone to dismantle, sleeve (?), rebuild and rebush the Girling PR 5X ? And of course the rear shocks at the same time. I don't mind sending them overseas if need be - but I've heard of a G.McCrell possibly in Melbourne; and Abingdon Motors in Brisbane, but with considerable time delay there.Would appreciate anyone's thoughts. P.S. - should I put general comments on progress to a particular site, thread or whatever? - I'm a bit new to this computerised information exchange, but I think it's terrific! Regards to all readers, John Hall, Atherton Queensland.
J.P. Hall

Hi John and everybody. I'd also be interested on where to get the shockers fixed - my front ones are OK but the rears I would like to get repaired. I have tubular ones mounted at the moment which work fine, but it was and is only intended as an interim measure - one of the originals is seized solid with a wrecked shaft caused by having the link arm welded to it.
John Turner Turners Beach,Tasmania
J B Turner

Hi John,

Here in UK a company called Stevson refurbs shocks. Their link

http://www.stevsonmotors.co.uk/

In response to your question "P.S. - should I put general comments on progress to a particular site, thread or whatever?"

I recommend you use the website www.mgytypes.org International MG Y Register Website.

This is 1st dedicated site for all things related to Y Types. The site is 10 years old next year and is packed with useful information to assist owners, and is known within Y circles as the "bible"

Richard

R E Knight

Thanks Richard for the suggestions - they will be followed up. I wonder whether Terry Ciantar (whom I met briefly in Townsville a few years back), or Tony Slattery would know of a rebuilder of Girlings? How do I obtain their email addresses?? Regards, John Hall.
J.P. Hall

John,
Tony Slattery is Australian Rep. for the www.mgytypes.org site and may be contacted via an email address on the "contact us" tab on the site.
My suggestion is contact Paul Barrow with your contact details and ask for the said persons to make contact with you.
Richard
R E Knight

Roger that, Richard. Lucky your name's not Roger! John.
J.P. Hall

Hi John, great to make contact with you again since we met in Townsville. Unfortunately I had lost your contact details. I will be following this thread closely as I also require some serious work done on my front Shocks which leak badly. Unlike you I don't have a spare set so I have been reluctant to remove them and send them away for fear that they may go missing and put me off the road indefinatly.
I plan to be up in Townsville again next Easter and most likely will take the Y up for the weekend.
I will contact you directly as time gets closer.
I have met Tony Slattery and I'm sure if a reputable rebuilder is available in Australia Tony will know of them.
Cheers for now.
Terry
T J Ciantar

Sorry for the delay, Terry - I have in the meantime heard from Tony Slattery, and he suggests adding on Escort tubulars all round; I'm not agin the idea, as I already have tubulars on the rear of the TD - just that it seems a shame to bastardise what is otherwise an unmolested car! I'm still keen to know if there is an engineering shop in Aust. who knows what they are doing with the rebuild approach, so will let the thread know of anything I find.Oh - and I will be in the UK over the Easter weekend next year, so unfortunately will miss you and your wife in Townsville. Maybe I could bring you back a spare set of front shocks? - more than happy.
J.P. Hall

To J P Hall.
R E J Stewart

To J P Hall.
Re shock absorber rebuild, try S G Leslie & sons-Shock Absorber Specialists.
19 Molonga Rd .
West Heidelberg 3081.
Victoria .Ph No 03 94592859.
Regards.
Ralph.
R E J Stewart

Hi Ralph - big thanks for the suggestion - I'll ring S. G. Leslie tomorrow for sure. We lived not far from Heidelberg back in the late 80's - got to know Ray Skewes well, and still keep in touch - no doubt you know Skewsie ? John.
J.P. Hall

This thread was discussed between 31/10/2011 and 06/11/2011

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