Surely Westfield would either know or be able to supply these

Bob S.

Never thought to ask, given that it was RDM who developed these parts. Got the impression WF weren't really interested in supplying GTM stuff etc.

I'll shoot them a mail and report back.

SAS

(am I about to feel really stupid? )

You could try asking here for R75 - 260 info;

http://www9.mgcars.org.uk/mgoc260/f0rum/

Eight days later and zero response from Westfield, can't say i'm all that surprised.

SAS

Here's the arms ready for welding:


Here they are with welding finished (done by The Stig's welder no less!):


Ball joints have been reinstalled using the vice and freezer method and the arms Hammerited. I've put the top arm back on my test rig and I now have a good fingers' thickness width of clearance instead of a mm worth.
Pic of the clearance post-modding:


So, hub removed from test rig and put back, rear suspension has now been reassembled so I can turn the car round in the garage in preparation to fit these (now) mark 2.5 arms.

SAS

Two of the bearing/bushes on the lower arms have been found to be damaged on the rim that secures the rubber boot, looks like damage was done when they were inserted.
So i've now got two Mercedes bearings to replace them and have made two pair of brass top hat spacers and pieces of steel tube to increase their width and reduce the bolt hole dia. respectively.



SAS

I've passed your comments on to Juilan Turner, MD of Westfield,at the Q & A on Sunday.
Hopfully he'll be getting back to me soon

Bob S.

I appreciate that, thanks.

SAS

The rear suspension is now all assembled and ready to go. More detail here: http://www.sidewinderforge.co.uk/netlibrabild/gtmlb11.html

Had major problems with Avo's rear (10" 300lb/in) springs and them bowing to one side under load, got a replacement that did exactly the same so shipped the lot back and got a refund (fronts are ok).

Found a place locally that does them cheaper and they are good, no bowing in evidence.

SAS

Passed my MOT! Again!

Few advisories, the only ones worth mentioning here is that the front shock bushes were reported as being 'worn' despite the fact they were brand new from Avo. On inspecting them they were of a softer material and poor dimensional fit, so back on the old ones went - perfect!

SAS

After a few drives I have developed a 'clunk' noise from the back end somewhere, it only happens when taking sharp turns and it may only be one side (drivers).
It's reminiscent of the sound when you fit one of the eight ball/rose joints that the arms swing on and when squeezing them in in the vice overcome the 'sticktion' and it moves a bit. I doubt it's actually them moving within their tubes but that's the best description of the sound.

With the car jacked the wheel feels nice and solid when you try to move it left/right or top/bottom so I don't think it's any of the hub ball joints. I wonder if it's the outer eccentric bolts moving in their slots?

Any thoughts, those peeps with the new style rear arms?

SAS

Phil Cope has the 'new' style arms and has never mentioned a knock?
Have you done a spanner check? You might have missed something.
What bolts have you used on the shocks? These can have to much play in them if they're threaded, best to buy longer bolts and cut them down so there's just enough thread to tighten them.

Bob.

I have found all your posts on your suspension very interesting.I have 225 front springs and 300 rears on the libra i am very slowly building with the same type rear arms .Did you find the cause of the knocking noise As mine is not on road yet i am not able give much help

What length springs have you gone for? Not found the cause of the noise yet.

SAS

front or 9inch rears 10inch protech shocks supplied with kit from westfield .They wanted to give me gaz but have spoken to other libra owners and Paul Hines the driver of f1 stockcar i sometimes work on reccommed protech so i insisted they supplied them.Are there any signs of the cam bolts moving as you sugested as this seems like a possible cause to me as the direction they are under load would when changing cornering direction rapidly on a roundabout . do you think its better that the old set up over all