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Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9458

Posted: 07:44am 28 Feb 2025

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On the 1100/1300 series cars from the 70's(Austin/Morris/MG/Riley/Woolsey/Vanden Plas), the upper suspension-arm has a foam-rubber weather-seal.

It is not anything SERIOUS in terms of WOF or MOT, but it needs to be intact.
After 50-odd years, these break-down into a bubbled rubber sticky goo, and as there are ZERO after-market replacements to be had, one has to - basically - make new ones if the vehicle fails as a result of the condition of these.

I used 53mm x 14mm MDFR(medium-density foam-rubber) for my replacements.

From the manual: Part #45 is the one that turns to bubbly goo...

Various photos now follow, but I am now ready to refit these on Sunday.

I love working on old cars.

Yes, I am a very sick man.

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

Revlac

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Joined: 31/12/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 1114

Posted: 12:09am 07 Mar 2025

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Did it work?

I did a rubber mount using an old Bobcat Tyre tread, a powerful low speed drill a hole saw and a lot of swearing.

Edited 2025-03-07 10:11 by Revlac

Cheers Aaron
Off The Grid

Murphy's friend

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Joined: 04/10/2019
Location: Australia
Posts: 671

Posted: 02:22am 07 Mar 2025

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Interesting that you managed to cut it with a PVC tube section.

I have used re ground old hole saws for large hole punches, done in a vise like you.
Many broken parts do have another use

Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9458

Posted: 06:06am 07 Mar 2025

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Yes, the result worked fine, but if there IS a next time - I will use 40mm STEEL PIPE, and sharpen that on the grinder. The PVC pipe method worked OK for the ones I stamped out, but after two or three stampings in the vice, the PVC pipe had dulled, so steel pipe would be MUCH better for this kind of thing.

Here is the result:

I'd have her back on the road by now, but during the re-pumping of the hydrolastic suspension last weekend, the bloody pump exploded under the pressure!

Typical fluid suspension pressure, is around 350 pounds per square inch, so....just a little more pressure then your average tire!

We're looking for replacement "Olives" for the pump high-pressure line unions at the moment.

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

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