[Healeys] 100 Rear Springs

Tue Nov 23 03:20:28 MST 2021

BCC springs just fitted to my not so concours BN2 restoration.
Installation was easy and no problems fitting to the car.  As of today I
have still not had the car down on it's wheels to see the stance.
Mike MacLean

On Mon, Nov 22, 2021 at 7:14 PM Henry G Leach via Healeys <
healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:

> One of the problems in getting the correct springs is the *thickness of
> the leaves*. If I remember, the factory British stock material was .059"
> and in the US there is none of that thickness available.  The thinnest
> material available is .065.  If you build up a spring using all of the
> thicker material it will not fit the car eyes, or the u-bolts.
>
> Luckily, when I rebuilt my 100, the spring shop in Portland, OR. had
> enough existing material stock to combine with my thinner original main
> leaf and I was able to put the unit together and into the rear end. At the
> time, 2015, he said that he was not able to get any more of that material
> when his stock was gone.
>
> Since my car is of early production, it uses the A series spring: 7
> leaves, with 1/4" negative camber. The C-spring is another whole issue with
> that double eye.  Hank
>
> -----------------------------------------
> From: "Michael Salter via Healeys"
> To: "Bob Spidell"
> Cc: "healeys at autox.team.net"
> Sent: Monday November 22 2021 3:21:54PM
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] 100 Rear Springs
>
> IMHO Bob this is very typical of unscrupulous companies who operate in
> this business.
> They are well aware that only  very small proportion on customers will
> make the effort to complain or caution others.
>
> M
>
> On Mon., Nov. 22, 2021, 6:11 p.m. Bob Spidell, <bspidell at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Wow. Makes me extra glad my dad made the effort to restore our BN2’s
>> original springs, including my sourcing new zinc interleaves from a guy who
>> had bought a sheet and had them cut to spec on a shear.
>>
>> Why is it so hard to get decent repop springs?
>>
>>
>>
>> On Nov 22, 2021, at 2:38 PM, Michael Salter via Healeys <
>> healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:
>>
>> 
>> Well, based opon the advice given and a carefully reading ofthe
>> information on their web page <https://britishclassiccarparts.com/>
>> https://britishclassiccarparts.com/ which includes this statement:  *BCC
>> will only supply springs that comply, as best possible, with OEM
>> specifications or better* I ordered a pair of BN1 rear springs.
>> Initially I thought my order had not gone through because despite their
>> statement that *"Your order confirmation from BCC will include basic
>> dimensional information on the spring you have ordered allowing you to
>> check against the springs you are replacing"* I received no confirmation
>> from BCC that the order had been received and the only way to confirm that
>> it had indeed been received aws to check my account withdrawals.
>> These springs are not inexpensive and ended up costing almost 3 times
>> what they would have cost from one of the usual suspects.
>> When I finally received the shipment and had an opportunity to examine
>> what had been supplied I was far from impressed.
>> This is my email sent to BCC regarding their *"OEM specifications or
>> better"* product.
>>
>> *Dear Sirs, *
>>
>> *We recently received from yourselves a pair of rear leaf springs
>> purchased for an Austin Healey 100 BN1 which we are restoring to concours
>> level for a long-time customer.*
>>
>> *The preamble on your web site states “BCC will only supply springs that
>> comply, as best possible, with OEM specifications or better.”*
>>
>> *You also state “Your order confirmation from BCC will include basic
>> dimensional information on the spring you have ordered allowing you to
>> check against the springs you are replacing.” We received neither an order
>> confirmation nor the dimensional information mentioned.*
>>
>> *The springs that we have received do not come even close to the OEM
>> specifications for the springs for a BN1.*
>>
>> *There were 3 types of leaf springs supplied for the BN1. The final
>> design, fitted after body number C.154647 was arrived at after much
>> experimentation as many owners experienced difficulties with the rear
>> suspension of these vehicles.*
>>
>> *The last type, part number 1B829, had the following specifications:*
>>
>> *Free length  34.75” *
>>
>> *Laden length 36”*
>>
>> *Free camber 3.75”*
>>
>> *Laden camber 0.25”*
>>
>> *Deflection 4” @ 490 lbs*
>>
>> *Number of leaves 8*
>>
>> *Number of zinc interleaves 3*
>>
>> *6 rebound clips were used on each spring, 2 open to the top and one, the
>> outer, open to the bottom.*
>>
>> *The rebound clips were closed using ¼” UNF countersunk slot screws with
>> tubular spacers. *
>>
>> *A special extra-long “toe bolt” head was required to penetrate the fiber
>> pads and tapered spacers.*
>>
>> *The springs that you have supplied are absolutely unsuitable for use on
>> this vehicle and are nothing like OEM specifications.*
>>
>> *In addition to the above the following are some of the other problems
>> that we have noticed with your product.*
>>
>> *1.      Free camber 4.75”*
>>
>> *2.      No zinc interleaves at all.*
>>
>> *3.      Metric thread hex head rebound clip screws (threatening the tyre
>> sidewalls)*
>>
>> *4.      Short “toe bolt” heads (very dangerous as the axle will be
>> located by friction alone if these springs were to be installed)*
>>
>> *5.      Middle rebound clip installed upside down*
>>
>> *6.      Nothing locating the end rebound clips *
>>
>> *We have not bothered to install these springs because this would
>> obviously be a total waste of our time. *
>>
>> *The cost of these springs £576.27 plus local taxes of $CDN107.20
>> (£63.01) for a total of £639.28.*
>>
>> *We could have purchased Indian made reproduction springs, which we have
>> used previously and are considerably more accurate aesthetically, from a
>> local supplier for about 30% of the cost from yourselves but based upon the
>> claims on your advertising opted to purchase what were reputed to be the
>> best available.*
>>
>> *We do not believe that it is unreasonable of us to expect a full refund
>> as your product does not even come close to being what you advertise.*
>>
>> *We will be happy to return this defective product to you at your
>> expense.*
>>
>> *Please advise.*
>>
>> * Michael Salter*
>>
>>
>> The answer received from the General Manager of BCC served no useful
>> purpose and indicated that he should definitely seek a career in politics
>> when BCC goes under.
>>
>>
>>
>> *NOT RECOMMENDED*
>>
>> On Mon., Oct. 25, 2021, 8:09 p.m. John Sims, <ahbn6 at verizon.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Try britishclassiccarparts.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
>>> <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aol-news-email-weather-video/id646100661>
>>>
>>> On Monday, October 25, 2021, 8:05 PM, Alan Seigrist via Healeys <
>>> healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Michael -
>>>
>>> My experience is to have spring makers in the UK make them up.  There
>>> are several there, and generally they know what they are doing.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>> On Fri, 22 Oct 2021 at 2:26 AM, Michael Salter <michaelsalter at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> As is so common with "offshore " products I'm having ongoing problems
>>> with the currently available rear springs, in particular those for the 100.
>>> It seems that all the usual suspects source these from the same
>>> manufacturer in India and it is my suspicion that these are made from
>>> substandard steel.
>>> Typically leaf springs are made from 5160 steel which is incredibly
>>> resistant to deformation and fatigue. I don't have facilities to determine
>>> what steel is used to make these springs but it certainly isn't 5160!!
>>> Has anyone found a source for rear springs which last more than a few
>>> years?
>>>
>>> M
>>>
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