G'day
Apart from the rear hanger there are no grease nipples on/in the rear
springs of a big Austin-Healey. There are also no leather gaiters as on
other British cars to keep grease/oil in and around the springs.
I rebuilt mine in the early 1980s and when the car was back on the road and
got wet a few times the rear springs began to squeak. No matter how well I
lubricated them I could not eradicate the squeak.
As I have to rebuild them again due to a broken main leaf I want to install
the original zinc interleaves as I believe such things prevent squeaking.
Whether the zinc acts a lubricant or anti-corrosive medium it doesn't
matter, as long as the squeak doesn't return.
Hoo Roo
Patrick Quinn
Sydney, Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: Oudesluys [mailto:coudesluijs at chello.nl]
Sent: Monday, 5 September 2011 4:38 PM
To: Shop at " Just Brits "
Cc: Patrick and Caroline Quinn; 'Noel and Helen standfast'; 'Healeys list'
Subject: Re: [Healeys] BN1 rear springs zinc interleaves
The zinc acts as an anti-corrosive medium to prevent rust on the sliding
surfaces of the spring leaves. It works the same as a galvanized
surface. I do not thing the intention was that it would act as a
lubricant but the friction coefficient between steel and zinc could well
be a bit lower than with steel on steel.
I feel the zinc is not really needed as long as you keep the spring
leaves well lubricated and rust free, but that of course means very
regular maintainance!!!! and we all service our grease nipples every few
thousand miles don't we, so it should be no problem.
Kees Oudesluijs
NL
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