Bring A Trailer

[pbf777]

   There was some recent discussion of B.A.T. with comments on some of their practices, and perhaps just out of frustration, I thought I'd vent here (just what everyone wanted to hear, I'm sure)!   

   There is this vehicle:

      https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1932-auburn-speedster-special-2/

   Kinda "cool"  , so I was looking it over and noticed and then attempted to post this comment:


 "It appears in photo #26 that there is a fabricated clamp on the spring stack, and this for the purpose of attempting to hold the broken main-leaf in place?

This should be addressed without hesitation, via replacement, not as has been done!  Remember, in this sort of suspension, the main-leaves act as the training arms which have the responsibility of maintaining the rear axle in place. And at minimum when one leaf is broken, particularly the main-leaf, this throws the suspension function and balance off, which can cause unappreciated instability and handling woes.

Also, since it probably isn't going to be a simple matter to be able to duplicate the singular broken example, and then considering that if one broke, others may not be far behind, it'd be better and wiser to realize that all four sets should be replaced together."


     The purpose of my message isn't for the purpose of disparaging the car nor to hinder the bidding, but rather just pointing out the issue as a safety concern, and that this should be addressed differently, this before the axle comes flying out from under the car!   

     The result is that B.A.T. won't release my comment into the event, again!      I mean this is a "safety" issue, but they still seem more intent on aiding in the auction event and the sale!  And I realize that someone saw to it that a photo showing the failure was presented in the gallery, but in today's age of litigation, it would seem they're still opening themselves up for potential trouble in blocking of comments attempting to point out "safety" concerns should the issue progress into a full-blown failure with injuries or worse.    

     Besides, the old gal has survived this long, let's not fold her up now due to a stupid thing like this!   

     Scott.

[CSX4781]

It has cantilevered rear leaf springs. That clamp is the mount for the front of the springs. Old sprint car/dirt car setup. Definitely not your typical rear leaf springs setup like we're used to seeing.

Dave

[pbf777]

That clamp is the mount for the front of the springs.

    I'm quite familiar with vintage vehicles and the "quarter-elliptic" springing system, both that of the two and of the four spring stack setups, which had some popularity many decades ago, this particularly in smaller vehicles, as it is more compact and lighter in weight as compared to the full length "semi-elliptic" leaf spring we're all more familiar with.  And yes, clamping the leaf spring stacks, other than that as required in the mounting system, does change how they function and has been a popular practice in all forms of racing when what might be present isn't deemed satisfactory and might need "tightening-up".   

    But what I'm attempting to point out is the not as originally intended, seen as the added four gold "hardware store" bolts and two pieces of flat-plate mounted where the main-leaf spring appears to be separated (BROKEN!  ).  This apparatus seems to have been instituted in the attempt to keep the broken main-leaf in position and from allowing the axle to move fore or aft or to rotate;.  But which if any additional significant influence might be exerted, at best might "just" allow the axle to get crossed-up under the car, or perhaps once things start going badly, the entire axle just comes flying out from under the car!        

    Scott.

    P.S.  Typically as described a "cantilevered (rear) leaf spring" suspension is of a makeup where a full-length "semi-elliptic" leaf stack is utilized and where one end is attached to the vehicles' frame (generally forward of the axle), the other end is attached to the axle, and the center (but not necessarily symmetrically) of the spring stack is also attached to the frame (again generally forward), but on a pivot. 

    For example: as utilized on the late 1920's into the '30's Ford Model AA truck or the Rolls Royce "Silver Ghost" up to the mid 1920's or so.