Overhauling the leaf springs

[martinclan]

I was going to have some new leaf springs made, but careful examination of the originals probably means that won't be necessary. The fact they have been supporting a somewhat lighter Marlin Roadster for 40 of their 50 years is probably a factor...

Today I gave them a good clean and they seem in very good condition. I have compared them to a new unused spring and there seems to be little or no sag. The question is, is it worth the hassle of stripping them down into the individual leaves? The only benefit I could see doing this would be to replace the little buttons (nylon?) that sit between the springs. Are these even available?

Also... The spring eye bushes look servicable although I would ideally like to replace them. Are they still available?

Cheers, Robin

[MarinaCoupe]

I bought some nylon slider pads off eBay recently (delivered from Singapore or somewhere). Polyurethane bushes are available from Superflex here https://www.superflex.co.uk/products.php?cat=234

[martinclan]

Thanks Chris
Something else I would like to try and clear up :-) The parts list I have lists different bushes for the front and the rear of the spring. Yet mine appear to be identical. Any clues anyone?

In the parts list they appear as:
21H 5722 - Front
21H 5732 - Rear

Cheers, Robin

[MarinaCoupe]

They are the same, BL in common with many other manufacturers use different parts numbers as a way of identify problems. For example if a lot of rear bushes were being ordered, then they would realise that there was a problem at the rear of the springs and not the front bush.

[ClaytonSpeed]

Some of the spring bushes are different. If you had a later mk3 or Ital then it might have had offset centres. These are mostly on Itals but some Mk3s also had them.

[martinclan]

Some of the spring bushes are different. If you had a later mk3 or Ital then it might have had offset centres. These are mostly on Itals but some Mk3s also had them.

Aha - that would explain it.
There is a bloke selling them on ebay and he lists different bushes for the front and rear, one with concentric bushes and the other offset. He is 100% convinced that offset ones are for the front of the spring and the concentric ones for the rear. So he may be correct then - in the case of the Ital at least....

I think i'll buy two sets of the concentric ones....

Cheers, Robin

[ClaytonSpeed]

The offset ones will lower the centre line of the axle slightly.

They are fitted to the front of the spring

[MarinaCoupe]

Oops forgot the Ital

[locost_bryan]

Wonder what the thinking was behind the concentric bushes. Presumably BL did it to improve ride or handling?