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MG TD TF 1500 - Leaf Spring Replacement Issues

In removing my leaf springs on a 52 TD I encountered one stubborn bolt (the bolt which secures the front leaf spring eye to the chassis frame arm). No amount of PB Blaster or propane torch heat would break it loose. It didn't help that the bolt head is tucked within the chassis arm.

Here's the problem: when I cut through the bolt using a high speed air cutter on either side of the silentbloc between the mounting brackets I inadvertently sliced through the outer side mounting bracket.

No excuses, but I was laying on my back reaching under the car on jack stands and cutting with a poor viewing angle.

I noticed the frame arm which the leaf spring eye brackets are mounted is secured to the running rail by four (4) visible bolt heads. I don't see or feel bolt nuts on the backside of the rail so it does not appear these four bolts extend through the rail. Is this correct! It would be easier to weld my sliced bracket if I can remove the arm from the car without creating a new problem with hard to reach and possibly inaccessible bolt nuts.

Thoughts on how best to proceed.

Also, and Steve from Conn. will say I told you so, is that I found the third leaf from the bottom to have a hairline crack extending from the outer edge to the middle bolt hole. I supposed this needs replaced. All other leafs appear fine but the passenger side leaf set is 5/8 inch flatter than the drivers side leaf set. I will swap and alternate leafs to balance both leaf spring sets before trying to bend select leafs.

While others have found a date stamped into the leaf spring I found the following; BRAMBER 139106

I wonder, as my car was restored in the mid-90's by the PO, if this was a leaf spring maker at the time. This would make my leaf springs about 20 years old and not 63 years old.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance. Tim
Tim Debes

I believe you will not get anywhere removing the four mounting bolts from the bracket. I believe the bracket is also welded in place after the fact. Look it over I may be wrong. With regard to swapping out leafs I don't recommend it. Springs sag over time and mismatching leaves will likely cause more failures as the differing arches fight one another. Spring sets are not that expensive and my recommendation is to replace both stacks at the same time to ensure a level stance side to side and firmness of ride ...

Bill Chasser
Td4834
W. A. Chasserq

Definitely welded. Likely the bolts were used to locate/place the bracket. Ouch. George
George Butz

See Archived thread titled: "Rear spring support bracket"

I had to remove one of mine from an early TD years ago. Ground the tack welds from the bolts, and cut the welds on the top and bottom of the bracket. Lucky I guess, but the bolts came out easily as I remember. Nuts were tack welded inside frame. Then after replacing the BSF bolts, I re-welded the areas where I ground off the original weld points. My body tub was off at the time, so access was not a problem on mine.

Richard Cameron

Iīve heard bad comments on new spring packets - sagging after 1 year of use. Thatīs why I decided to re-use my old ones, also interchanging blades between sides to equalize them out. No issues since but then I donīt drive that much. Definitely put in new pads (PU, not rubber!).

Maybe there are some experiences with new spring packets.

Rgds, Mike
Mike Fritsch

Mike where did you source poly pads? I've seen them mentioned before but never found the source. My Moss pads are already turning to mush less than a year after install.

Bill Chasser
TD 4834
W. A. Chasserq

I heard that the rubber pads would do exactly that...

I got the Nylatron pads them from John James who issues the TTT2 newsletters. Iīm not sure he still supplies them, but he may know the right source. Someone with a lathe could make them easily, they are just round discs with a small dot in the middle that fits into the hole in the spring.

Rgds, Mike
Mike Fritsch

Thanks Mike for the info. I will contact him.

Bill Chasser
TD 4834
W. A. Chasserq

Bill, If you find access to the poly pads, please post where to get them. I have the Moss pads also and their disintegrating after two years. Thanks, PJ
Paul161

This thread was discussed between 05/06/2016 and 07/06/2016

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