Metalastic Bushes LG45 Saloon Restoration

David Bracey

14 August 2012 at 20:10 #49530

Hello everyone. My LG45 Saloon restoration is coming along nicely but I have a dilemma. The original metalastic bushes look pretty good and aren?t cracked or perished at all but they are 77 years old and haven?t been doing anything for the last 30 years. I don?t know if they will degrade quickly once I get the car into regular use again and so am unsure whether to replace them. I suspect that new ones will be of inferior quality but may be better than original ones that are so old. Obviously now is the time to replace them if I am going to.

Does anyone have any experience of which way to go? I am sure someone has been here before and has a view.

h14

14 August 2012 at 20:35 #49531

Presume you’re referring to the engine mountings?

If so, those on my LG6 look pretty disreputable, the rubber showing a gloss & bubbly surface, typical of rubber of some age with oil contamination.

I was concerned, but advised they would still be good despite appearances….& so it has proved.

Yours sound unusually good, so I’d leave them be, at least until you’ve driven the car. Not as if they’re difficult to access.

Laurence

Julian Messent

14 August 2012 at 22:36 #49532

As above,
The engine mount silent blocks should be bolted in from underneath so changing them is relatively easy if need be.

However! The alignment of your engine and gearbox must be absolutely spot on or your clutch will drag. If your mounting rubbers are not good then your engine will be forever moving and causing crunching selecting first and reverse. This is the first sign of mounting rubber failure / softness.

Regards,
Julian

David Bracey

15 August 2012 at 08:40 #49534

Dear Julian and Laurence,

Thanks for such a speedy input but I was obviously too vague. These are the body mounting metalastic bushes I’m referring to. There are 10 bushes in total – 5 per side. 1 at the rear, a double in the middle, and a double at the front at the base of the A post.

I suspect that they are not usually replaced but I have access to do it now so would appreciate views.

many thanks,

David

DavidLG45

15 August 2012 at 14:51 #49536

Hi David,

You mean the silentbloc bushes. An inner and an outer steel tube with rubber between.
I think you’ll find they are 3/8 ID. Not sure of the OD.
Try a Google search. May be difficult to get imperial bushes.

David

Julian Messent

16 August 2012 at 10:00 #49537

Hi,
For the price of a bush, then I would surely change them in this instance!

Do a really 150% job on this restoration and it will be worth every cent in not only your future enjoyment but also if you ever decide to sell!

Best regards,
Julian

David Bracey

31 December 2012 at 09:59 #49950

Thanks everyone for your help. I’ve got this all sorted now so on to the next part of the restoration….