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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - leaky lever arm

Err I have a spax conversion
one of the front lever arm's is leaky - does this matter, also should there be no valve in the front lever arms, since the spax are there?

Derek
Derek Watson

The valve in the lever arms should be removed if you have Spax, the Spax will be doing the damping, the old lever arms just the upper suspension location. You should really have hydraulic fluid in the old dampers, and them not be leaking, as without fluid the bushings will be running dry and could wear altering the suspension geometry.
Paul Hunt

Paul
thanks - I'm sure I'd heard that before and then forgot to have a look, years ago!
need to dig out some hydralic oil, have some somewhere - other than all over the o/s suspension!

what did make me notice the leak was - the bolts in the bottom suspension arm (forget the right name) holding it to the cross member looked to have come loose! And yes they had - scary thing is the front end was overhauled, maybe 4 years ago, with all new bolts & nyloc's, all bolts rechecked every few months afterwords to be sure all ok.... dont like nyloc's - once had a rear wheel fly off a Dolimite cause the nyloc unscrewed its self letting the hub flange move out, tearing out the woodruf key - thankfully at 10mph.. went back to B's after that since they have split pins where it matters most!

Derek
Derek Watson

Trouble is, once they start leaking they keep leaking because the seals are shot. It's usually an MOT failure as well, but you may be able to convince them 'it's just an oil leak' if you have Spax.
Paul Hunt

yeah guess it would fail mot - unless cleaned off all traces or cover both side of suspension with waxoyl.... anyway re-con units are not expensive.
I wonder what the car will feel like with only the spax damping....
Derek Watson

You may find your eyes less bloodshot and your fillings still in place ...
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 17/08/2004 and 23/08/2004

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