Hello! This thin reddish pad was between the leaf spring and the front suspension tower on BEX1122. There was not one on the rear. Seems like a good idea to have something there. Does anyone know what this material is and what a suitable replacement would be? Or is this even worth worrying about?
Thanks.
-Tom
IMG_20261019_182836991_HDR.jpg
Tom,
The red seating material should be there, front and rear, between the lap plate and the tower spring perch. Sorry to say I do not know exactly what the composition is, obviously some kind of fibre sheet and an equivalent should be easily found from a gasket materials supplier. As to purpose that becomes more interesting: I suppose the obvious explanation is to prevent fretting, but that begs the question of secure spring mounting to prevent movement. After all any movement of the spring on the perch will upset the road wheel geometry. So if there is such clamping as will prevent movement why the protective gasket ?
I fear it needs a proper engineer to explain
Hello Tom,
I normally use 1/16" thick red fibre sheet.
Available here.https://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/products/ca586-hard-red-fibre-sheet-1-6mm-thick (https://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/products/ca586-hard-red-fibre-sheet-1-6mm-thick)
It should be fitted under both springs. I would say that it gives the spring something to bite down onto rather than just the painted steel. I would agree with Barrie, that its main function is to prevent the harder steel of the springs from fretting at the corners of the spring perch.
Regards, Luke.
Thanks for the replies. Luke, that looks like the stuff I need.
Am I the only one surprised to see no aligning pin hole at the centre of the tower? Was the upper plate replaced at some point?