Suspension setup

[Willem]

I have started doing some maintenance on the rear axle of my Rover 12 Tourer, the n/s axle seal was leaking and has contaminated the brake pads. Whilst I had the whole lot exposed I removed the Luvax suspension unit to change the bushes, I want to change the oil in the unit and set it up correctly. I have made a board to time the suspension drop, as it comes off the car the timing is 18 seconds for 110 degree drop with a 10 Lb weight, according to the workshop manual it should be timed with a 20 Lb weight, and the time taken is stamped on the back of the unit, I have the following numbers:
T
12
8 . 2.0

Can anyone clarify the meaning of the numbers?
I will clean out the unit and fill with fresh oil (Castrol EP140) and check what the timing is at that point but I would like to set the suspension up properly on all 4 corners with the correct timing.
I do have new seals, bearings and brake linings on order and will fit them once they arrive.
This is all part of my maintenance schedule in readiness for summer, once fitted with new tyres, fresh oil all around we should be ready again for some motoring.

Any suggestions are most welcome

Willem

[luli]

I am not familiar with "the car the timing is 18 seconds for 110 degree drop with a 10 Lb weight, according to the workshop manual it should be timed with a 20 Lb weight," Can you elaborate?
See here some of mine experience on these subject:
https://lulis.org/2021/12/15/%d7%93%d7% ... %99%d7%9d/

https://lulis.org/2020/12/03/%d7%9e%d7% ... %95%d7%a7/

[Willem]

I only had a 10Lb weight available, and it was just to have a starting point, I have now cleaned the unit and filled it with fresh oil, testing it again with a 20Lb weight after adjusting, it now drops to the mark in 14 seconds, I assume the T 12 is the time taken (i.e. 12 seconds)with an 8 inch bar, the one fitted to the car is 7 inches so I will try this setting, I will do all 4 to the same measurement and see how it goes.
I did measure 130ml of EP140 going back into the unit, that gives about 3/4 of an inch to the top.
There seems to be very little information available for these units.
Thank you for the links, it confirms my idea to make a gasket and use a sealing compound to seal the wheel hub back to the axle, your information about the bijour girling oiling system is most welcome, nice to see how you have created an oiler out of a little oil can, I have to make one of those.
Will

[David2021]

Stevson Motors in Birmingham may have seals/bearings for the Luvax horizontals. They may be at the Resto Show. I sold Derek loads of N.O.S. Luvax etc in the 80's. He was repairing them then & is still in business, so they must have worked! I think his daughter runs the business now

[Willem]

Hi David,

thank you for the suggestion, I have now reset the suspension units, when they came off the car one had a drop of 9 seconds, one of the adjustment screws was not in it's locking clips and was completely loose, the other side 83 seconds, the oil was very thick and black, with clean oil and sloshed out it is now 14 seconds each side, we will see how it changes the handling. I did find a page on the SVW register website (part of the MG car club) that has the original Luvax suspension details and how to set it up and how to change the bushes more easily.
The units are back on the car and once I have rebuilt the hubs, changed engine oil, gearbox oil and sorted out the sticking fuel level we are good to go..
Oh I also have to get 5 new tyres, I am looking at getting Blockley, complete with tubes and liner, quite an expensive exercise but having had one tube explode on me I'd rather not repeat the experience.

Will

[SHyslop]

Dear Will,

Just to give you some reassurance on your proposed tyres. I have Blockleys on a couple of cars and can confirm they are indeed excellent. The price of most crossplies in the UK has gone up in recent months by 40% - 50% but Blockley prices appear to be as they were and so the price difference right now is not bad at all. A 5.00x18 Blockley is £155 + carriage and a 4.75/5.00x18 Excelsior is £171.60 inc. UK carriage.

The Blockley tyres are looking like something of a "bargain" , maybe not across the board, but certainly in some sizes where the "cheaper" makes have undergone a fairly dramatic increase. Regarding tubes, the Blockley 18" tubes are either £27.60 or £34.80, depending on your preference - non race/race - and a Michelin tube is £45.60 so again, the Blockley has gone from being a more expensive option to a better deal, although how long that may last could be the problem.

[David2021]

Re. Tyres
I went for Avon, but only because my wheels are 17inch rims & Blockley don't do them!
I had Blockley (19 inch) on a 1929 Austin Seven and they were very good. I had them fitted at Blockley and they were very good too. Correct balancing equipment as well,asonably priced.I recall (2019)
I like the Avons though. And they were OE fitment I think!
David

[Willem]

The 18" 450/500 are out of stock, should be available mid April, I have reserved 5 and will get them fitted by them, I did look at the 550's they have but I think they are a bit too wide and the steering components would get too much strain exerted on them.
Will

[TonyG]

Tyres

I fitted Blockley tyres onto my Tourer. They are by far the best made tyres, given they were developed for competition use and are ‘H’ rated, not that many of us will be going anywhere at 130 mph! However, the downside is that there are limited sizes available and they do not make a 475/500 x18 so the option is a 450 or a 550. I went for the 550 to get the diameter and they work very well but the resulting width can cause rubbing on the rear wing if cornering quickly and hitting a bump or undulation in the road. With that in mind I will be interested to hear how the 450 looks and works on a similar car.

Tony.