Page 44 - MM_Sep Oct 2021

TECHNICAL TIPS
Old Car, New Technology
guess we have all seen those red or blue suspension bushes in little packets Nolathane – or Pro something or other – and wondered, ‘How good/How easy to fit/How will it affect
hugely! With old rubber bushes flexing
to a degree well over their design limits it would be hard not to detract massively from handling as ‘the edge’ is approached.
So why bother to use such a specialised product? I would suggest that the only time these firmer bushes would ‘come into their own’ is when things go wrong. That very quick stop or swerve or both to avoid some sudden obstruction is when you will be
glad you changed the bushes. Under those circumstances the hard plastic bushes flex less than rubber. The less they flex the better the steering and suspension geometry is held true. From that follows the wheel/tyre is held in a position to do its job – stick to the road – to the maximum of its ability.
In addition this new material is (more or less) oil proof for several years. Those with a small leak or 15 would see rubber disintegrate before their eyes long before the plastics
get affected. So there is a vastly reduced maintenance routine, it ain’t broke, so no need to fix it. I would suggest that doing a
job once is far more satisfying than having
to repeat the process. Leaked on rubber will deteriorate even when the car is stationary.
There is a huge range of bushes available. Once the dimension of the original is known a quick e-mail to the Technical Assistance area will get a recommendation, even if a
little machine work is required. Plastic does need very sharp tools to get a good finish and it tends to flex away from the blade, so being a 64th or so over in the drill will be advantageous during assembly. Boy-Racer Red is easy to spot during race scrutineering or to impress at shows, but for those who crave originality most bushes are just about everywhere. Is it worth it? I would suggest yes, 1. For longevity of the repair and 2. For that time you hope you never need it. The parts cost over original rubber is minimal, taking into consideration reduced repair frequency.
The Nolathane Catalogue lists the following kits for 1955-91 Minors: 45191, 47091, 47092, 47093 and 48044. They will all be fitted to my Traveller prior to its registration here in Perth, Western Australia. l
Colin Salmon (520)
Originally written for, and published in,
the Daimler and Lanchester Owners Club, magazine, Western Australia. It seemed relevant to Minors too. Urethane or polyurethane is the product the bushes are made from, Nolathane is just a brand name that make bushes from Urethane. SuperPro, Polybush and Superflex are among the brands available in the UK.
Iide/Are they good value?’
This, like all my articles, is only my opinion, a result of my experience, or research, or
the r
a combination of the above. I have some Nolathane parts now in the front of my S2 Daimler, replacing well worn out original rubber bushes.
To go back in history a bit, in the ‘good
old days’ saloon car racers replaced rubber bushes with custom turned brass items. Massive stability improvement, but at the cost of noise transfer and a harsh ride. Along came Nolathane and his friends. The stability approaching brass but without the noise transfer or harshness. Track cars could be driven home in almost comfort.
Can I tell the difference? In all honesty, not really. The ride and steering improved
as you would expect with new parts, but did the ride become harsh? No. Was the handling improved that much? No. But bear in mind that all this car does (the same as all club cars) is potter about on public roads. Would the before and after comparison be different if the car was track driven? I would suggest
Condensers and Capacitors
The engine of 1970 1000 saloon idles but will not rev-up, i.e. won’t spark under increased compression
and often mistaken for fuel starvation. A brand new auto-factor’s condenser (left in picture) in a shiny new packet was fitted. It lasted about a month then the same symptoms again. A filthy, dirty old distributor lying behind the garage yielded
an original condenser, which cured the problem and is still going strong four years later. The spare I carry (right in picture) is a new-old-stock item, bought at one of Bryan Gostling’s open-day sales about twenty years ago, and in which I have complete confidence.
Geoff Marshall (50877)
44 | MINOR MATTERS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021