A couple of
years ago I fitted a new Damper Mounting
Bracket to the nearside on the 6A
because in the passage of time it had
rusted and the metal was getting very
thin. We now have the same problem
on Glen's 5A, I suppose it has not done
too bad as the car is now 28 years old
but replacements are getting hard to find.
We have found replacements
and as I looked at them I started to
consider how I can make them last the
life of the car, assuming that it will be
longer than another 28 years. The
narrow gap between top and bottom makes
it difficult to clean and seal the inside
and the metal rusts away on the
inner and outer sides. When
you think of it the answer is obvious,
seal the "box" ends. So
this is what I have done by welding a
plate at either end.
The more observant will see
the screw on the top of the plate, this
is where I poured in waxoil ( or you
can pump in grease ) because although the
ends are sealed the top and bottom parts
of the plate are not completely sealed as
the original welding is not continuous
and thin oil will leak from the bolt
holes if nowhere else.
I am surprised that I did
not think of this earlier as years ago I
replaced the diagonal rear "U"
outriggers with solid tubes.
Looking around the rest of the chassis
there are other places where sealing can
improve things, the forward lateral tube
( behind the front springs ) for one but
here I think I might hammer in wooden (
barrel ) bungs rather than welding the
ends up as it will be easier to do.
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