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MG MG Y Type - YB rear springs

In preparation for the rally in Switzerland a friend decided to replace the rubbers in the rear suspesion of his YB.
However, when he removed the right hand rear spring he found that 4 of the leaves were broken. So BIG PANIC. Does anyone know where he can he a get a couple of rear springs, either made or brought from a supplier. All of the sources in the UK appear to be unable to help, so I said I'd try this board (I usually lurk in the TD section).
Any help would be appreciated because along with another friend in his YB we were hoping to take both the YB's and my TD on the Rally, and as there are only 5 'Y's listed as attending two less will be a great shame.
Thanks.

Mike.
Mike Christie

If the YB springs are the same as the YB (I think so) I could help; everything to keep up the Y-appearance in Switserland!
But shipping (used) springs from NL to GB is expensive, so I'll gladly give British contibutors a go in solving this problem. I can not imagine that this relatively simple problem can only be solved with the help from "bloody foreigners"

BTW: Where is the YB located?
Willem van der Veer

<<If the YB springs are the same as the YB>> should read "same as the YA", of course....
Willem van der Veer

Mike-

Any good spring repair shop should be able to knock out a couple of leaves in short order. Unsure if the parts listings, workshop manual, or Blower's book may have the specs for them to copy. Only caution is that the springs on the car have aged together and any change to one side will be noticeable, as they won't match anymore. Best deal is to change them together. FWIIW.

Safety Fast
Paul (YB)
Paul Gaynor

I have a couple of YA spare springs which I can lend you, if at a later date you can get your ones repaired and then return my ones to me. At least it will get you out of a problem. My Tel 02920613198
Bryan

Hi Willem,
Thanks for the reply. I'll ask if the springs are the same and get back to you.
have you any idea of costs including shipping?

Thanks,

Mike
Mike Christie

Bryan,

Thanks so much for the offer. I'm waiting to hear from Derek (he's the owner of the YB) whether YA and YB springs are the same. And I'll pass on your number.

Paul, yes you are right any good shop should be able to make some leaves. The problem is that in the UK those types of places are now very few and far between. All out manufacturing has gone to China!

Mike
Mike Christie

I have some (obviously) old pairs of springs here as well, from rescue or restorations never completed!

If needed, just drop me an email, (address on the site)

If you or Derek are up in Ripon 27th July you can pick them up from the Y Stand at Ripon Old Cars while you view the 500+ cars at the racecourse! (unashamedly promotional for a few seconds)

You'll also see at least 10 Ys to compare the ride height,which I predict will be different as usual!!

Cheers
Andrew
Andrew Coulson

Andrew,

I don't know how to get your email, have you a phone number I can give Derek please.

And a heartfelt thanks for all who've replied to my (Derek's)cry for help, what a great fraternity the MG crowd are.

Mike TD CEG 16.
Mike Christie

Check the Technical Centre, Technical Data pages for the Y and the YB - details of the springs can be found there.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Having checked both YA and YB workshop manuals, it appears that rear springs are similar, but have a different camber. 4" on YA and 3.25" on YB As a short term measure it would probably be OK to swap over to a used pair of YA springs as they would probably have settled a bit over the years. Cheers, Dave
Dave Gibson

As a matter of interest, is the YA ground clearance just a little more than the YB seeing that the latter has smaller wheels or does the camber take care of this? Also are the front springs interchangeable? It would seem that the YA springs would need 1/2 inch spacers to fit the YB. A bit academic I suppose in view that most old cars have sagging springs anyway, and probably list to starboard driving north in the northern hemisphere and port driving south. [sorry I just had to add something more to consider].
Bryan

Bryan,
In theory the YB's smaller 15" rims are compensated by the fatter and thus higher 5.50x15 tyres. In practice YB's are fitted with slightly lower 165/80-15 radials so most YB's ride lower than YA's?




Willem van der Veer

Looking back through this thread - Mike did you ever find Andrew's email address? If not, go to www.mgytypes.org and click on the CONTACT US (6th option on the menu). Andrew is on the list.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Hi,

Just logged in to say many thanks from Derek for all your help and advice.
He's taken the springs to be a pattern for a new pair to be made to a chap in the Midlands who says it wont be a problem, so fingers crossed.

So with a bit of luck he'll get the springs back next week then fitted in time for the Switzerland trip on the 7th August.
If there's a problem I'll be back on here asking for your help again, but you were all very supportive thanks.
By the way if anyone is a member of the Octagon Car Club and has this months magazine, Derek and his car has a mention and a picture in the Y Type report pages. He's the one with the blue Y type which has an MGB engine and gearbox!

Mike.
Mike Christie

Aha! So the broken springs weren't caused by old age but sheer "hot-rod power".
You can count on me taking lots of pictures in Switserland of the way this engine is installed....
Willem van der Veer

Hi Willem,
I'm sure he'd be delighted. What is of interest (to me at least) is the way he has arranged the throttle linkage. It's an engineering work of art.
Mike
Mike Christie

Mike
We still make lots of things in this country - including 1.7 million cars last year and a lot of high value low volume items.

Your friend could of taken a much shorter drive to N7 - Brost Forge - for spring repair and remaking.

Hope his Midlands made springs are Ok and I will see him in Switerland on the 8/9th August.

George
G R Wilder

Hi George,

I think that the N7 company was his first plan, he lives near Woodford, but I think he told me they were closed for two weeks!

Well we assembled 1.7 million cars maybe, but finding a machine shop to skim my brake shoes or to press in new rocker bushes was very difficult. And I am very jealous when I read on the TD part of the BB how easy it is to get parts manufactured in what seems every large town in the US. When I bought my TD 40 years ago there were many machine shops in this area, now there are none to speak of. I fear our children will rue the loss of this type of manufacturing.
We might make high value low volume parts, but we need low value low volume parts. A crank for my TD costs upwards of £1400 I could buy a complete MGB engine for that and have change!

See you in Switzerland, less than two weeks to go!!

Mike.
Mike Christie

This thread was discussed between 10/07/2008 and 25/07/2008

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