Leaf springs and wheels

[Robert]

Hi everyone.  I've just been stripping my Ardea rear suspension and could do with a little advice...

Is it the done thing to reuse the aluminium plates between the leafs?  I've attached a photo.  Just a wire brush and trim the edges or should I throw them away and make up some new ones?  I like to try and keep as much original material as possible, I'm not just being tight!
When refitting should i be using any grease? I'm guessing not as there didn't appear to be any there originally.

Regarding the wheels, should the wheel centres and rims be split before blasting and painting and if so is it a specialised task to put back together?

Finally, sourcing new bushes.  Does anyone know if there are any more modern bushes that will fit the leaves and dampers?  Any advice in this area would be appreciated.

[simonandjuliet]

Did you get anywhere with this ?

My feeling would be to tidy up the inter-leaves and refit them .  I would put a smear of copperslip on the leaves

Equally, I wouldn't split the rims and centres, prepare and paint as one

Lastly, Robush have bee frequently mentioned on the Forum, I have used them and they are quick , efficient and have a big range of sizes

Good luck

[DavidLaver]

I've heard of zinc for the interleaves, but not sure on what make let alone model.  To guess it was an Austin 7.

David

[Tony Stephens]

Someone told me the interleaves on B20s were zinc, but who it was, whether that is true, and if they make much difference I cannot say. Mine I think had the interleaves removed, and I continue to worry whether that was right.

[GG]

On the later Aurelia I believe the interleaves are rubber, like the Fulvia. The earlier ones don't have any leaf springs. Changing them is a good thing to do - it makes the suspension much more supple. 

[the.cern]

When I rebuilt the leaf springs on my B20 I used new interleaving. I bought a roll from Ron Francis, but this was about 3m short. Omicron supplied the rest, but that was the last of their stock. However, they did say they intended to order more in.

I cannot comment on new aluminium or re-use the originals for the Ardea, depends on condition, but I would not grease them unless I was to sleeve them!! I would not do that as it was not original.

Good luck,

              Andy

[williamcorke]

Zinc sounds more likely to me than Aluminium, which, in frictional contact with steel/iron springs, would surely lead to electrolytic corrosion.

[davidwheeler]

If you cannot get interleaving which presumably acts as a lubricant insome fashion, then do as Vintage springs which are greased and then wrapped in gaiters to keep the fgrease in and the wet out.   Leaf springs do need to be lubricated!   Leather gaiters are expensive but duct tape works very well.