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Colin Butchers
United Kingdom
1485 Posts |
 Posted - 26/08/2018 : 11:08:11
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Some of you might remember that my PA was cruelly attacked by a white van several years ago, just two days before Oliver Richardson was due to hand the car over to me. The resultant collision ended up with a crumpled radiator, two front springs bent upwards at right angles and three inches of toe-out. Well, the swine has got me again. I had been plug testing on The Broyle, east of Ringmer in Sussex and was returning home to Southwick. Driving up Downsway which is not a very wide road, despite being on a bus route and with parking allowed on one side of the road, effectively reducing the road to a single carriageway. My side of the road was clear, and I could see for a quarter of a mile ahead, when suddenly, without any warning, a van pulled out from the parked cars, and completely blocked the road when I was about two yards from him. I think that he was in one hell of a hurry and was attempting to do a three point turn. I had no chance to hit the brakes, let along make a lunge for the handbrake lever, but I was able to swerve violently to the left, before hitting the van. Miraculously, there does not seem to be any damage to the expensive bits such as radiator or headlamps, but I now once again have three inches of toe-out.
Does anyone know how many times a PA front axle can be straightened before it falls to pieces completely ?
Colin
(a.k.a "Pissed off of Southwick") |
Edited by - Colin Butchers on 26/08/2018 11:10:53 |
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William Cullen
United Kingdom
226 Posts |
Posted - 26/08/2018 : 11:56:59
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Hello Colin
Sorry to hear about the damage to the car and glad to hear your unhurt.
Not sure with regards to your question relating to a second axle repair but I do have an axle which has been checked and straighten by Russ Truman, I was told that it had been cracked tested when I bought it some years ago but I can not confirm this, it does need king pin holes re bushing.
Should you feel it might be of some use to you please contact me off line.
Regards
Bill |
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Richard Hardy
United Kingdom
2143 Posts |
Posted - 26/08/2018 : 14:09:34
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Colin, sorry to hear of your bad luck. Can't answer your question.
Noting reference to Russ Truman's straightened axles, I have seen in the past in his workshop that he uses heat and gets them really glowing. MMM beam axles should not however be straightened with heat unless of course they are re-hardened.
There are now sadly lots of 'soft' MMM axles around.
Rich
Vintage MG Parts |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6016 Posts |
Posted - 26/08/2018 : 20:08:49
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Lousy luck, Colin. My commiserations. Regarding straightening axles, however, this is what the factory had to say.
Simon J
J3437 |
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Gordon
United Kingdom
691 Posts |
Posted - 27/08/2018 : 08:09:44
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Does anybody know what the original heat treatment was and what was the heat treatment applied by the factory after straightening to restore strength?
Gordon
ex owner of PB 0331, MG4473
Derby |
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Colin Butchers
United Kingdom
1485 Posts |
Posted - 27/08/2018 : 09:59:25
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Thank you for your kind offer Bill. My question about the number of times the axle can be straightened was very much "tongue in cheek" and much will depend on what the experts tell me after the cold straightening has been completed. If no cracks are detected I will be happy to re-use the existing axle, but if it is full of cracks, Plan B will be implemented. What Plan B comprises, I cannot reveal, as at the present time, I have no idea myself.
Anyway, thank you and all the other contributors for your kind thoughts.
Colin B. |
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