Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Rutherford rear kit

I'm replacing the leaf springs on my 72 4/4 and installing the Rutherford kit at the same time. The new U-bolts they supply are a tight fit around the axel tube. I have to tap them down with a hammer to get them all the way on. That causes the U-bolts to spread and not line up with the bottom plate. I may be able to get in there with some tool to squeeze them a bit and get them to line up. But should I have to do that?

Also, when I eye ball it down from the top it seems the holes in the plate may be a little narrower than the width of the new leaves. Putting the U-bolts on an angle may make the difference, but agin...should I have to do that?

I sent an email to New Elms but haven't heard back yet. Anyone else do this conversion?

Frustrating and dissapointing Paul. As you suggest you could bend U bolts to suit but then you have the possible plate hole issue, although it should be easy to measure correct placement. I would want it right so suggest making specific measurements and asking for correct replacements to suit.

Paul

A couple of points to check first,

Are you certain the axle is standard? Can you measure the axle tube diameter accurately, if so quote this to Tim at New Elms.

As far as I recall a 1977 4/4 should have a Salisbury 7HA Phase 2 axle, there should be measurements of this somewhere on a diagram , or perhaps a helpful TMer here can measure theirs so you can compare?

Are the axle tubes clear of rust , muck and other grime which might increase the diameter slightl.

Hi Andy. My post stated that I have a 72 4/4. Must be fat fingers. It's a 73.

The axel is original to the car. I put the new U-bolts in the same place as the old ones. No rust or grime, just a bit of raised paint that was along side of the original U-bolts. I can see the steel of the axel tube, so I don't think it could be any narrower. But I will certainly recheck everything tonight. Did a lot of head scratching last night.

Not rutherford, but when I stuck new bolts on mine (new springs, one new bottom plate and one original) I had the same problem with the distance between the U Bolt ends being slightly too wide to fit in the holes. It's an awkward place to get to - I ended up putting a coupe of large cables ties on the threaded parts of the U Bolts to pull them together a smidge which then gave me enough tolerance to fit them into the holes on the bottom plates. One I had got them located and got a turn on the nut, I cut the cable ties.

I was thinking about that, but wasn't sure how much pull it would need.

I’ve done the U bolts job several times on various old cars (never a Morgan though). Always had the same issues you mention, I have a pair of suitably large and oval jubilee clips specifically to pull them into place. Easy enough to remove once the threads have started to catch.

I got the u-bolts in, but they are too short.

That's frustrating! Mine were far too long and had to cut the ends off in situ (which was a pain). How many leaves have you got in your springs?

6 leaves which is how it came from the factory. Having discussions now about other options. I'll keep you all posted.