Jackson,
I'm not sure where you're located but try www.mcmaster.com (do a search
for Delrin and Nylon) for Delrin strips down to .010 thick. They come in
widths from 1 inch to 1 foot and standard lengths of 5 feet to 100 feet.
Hope it helps you out on your search. I think I'm going to order some
for mine.
Bill
Herbytoy ('64 MKII Sprite)
-----Original Message-----
From: Jackson Zimmermann
[SMTP:JZIMMERM@exch.co.albemarle.va.us]
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 1998 10:46 AM
To: spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
Subject: RE: Leaf Springs & Brake Fluid
I have also been interested in the leaf springs listed in the
Mini Mania
catalogue. Do you have the composite ones (didn't think that
they were
actually able to get them made) or are they metal?
As a suggestion to those on the list with 1/4 elliptic sprung
models, a
very nice mod is to remove 2 leaves from the stock springs.
This
softens the spring (very definitely needed as the stock rate is
far too
hard even for racing) and at the same time allows for more
adjustment to
ride height and wheel weighting. 1/2 elliptic models need
stiffer
springs, so don't do this on your 65+ spridget! Another trick
is to use
some sort of lube (I use TAL-5) between the leaves to alleviate
the
stiction associated with leaf springs (this makes a surprising
improvement). I have often though about getting very thin
sheets of
Delrin and cut some to fit between the leaves to permanently fix
the
stiction, however I have never found a good source for a thin
sheet (<
1/16") of Delrin...
I'm pretty surprised that no one has made a pitch for Castrol
LMA brake
fluid yet. This is THE brake fluid to use if you are not
totally
rebuilding the system from scratch. If you are rebuilding from
scratch
there are pluses and minuses for Dot 4 vs. silicone, however the
only
instance where silicone should really be used is with brand new
rubber
all around. If you are flushing an existing system that uses
standard
brake fluid, then Castrol LMA is the ONLY one you should use for
virtually all British cars. Also never reuse brake fluid from
an open
can (even the LMA), always chuck it after you've used as much as
you
need as brake fluid starts absorbing water from the moment it is
opened.
As always, YMMV
Jackson Zimmermann
jzimmerm@albemarle.org
'64 A-H Sprite (5-speed)
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