When did you last check your subframe mounting arrangements.

[Richard the old one]

When I had a look at mine the following picture shows what I could see.


I was obviously a bit concerned about what I might find but as I had caught it quite early it was easy to put right. See photo of the cupped washer.

[triumphdolomiteuk]

That's topical, Richard. We received this from Chris Witor a few days ago;

I am in a position to get the steel cup washers re made that are welded to where the upper axle link bushes fit.

Apparently they are prone to rust?

They would be £20 + vat for a set of 4.

Maybe you could gauge interest though the forum, and the magazine. If there is enough interest via emails to me, I will get them made.

Thanks

Chris

[Richard the old one]

I do not recognize the part that Chris is considering to remanufacture we or I would need the part number or a photograph to be able identify it.

He can already supply the subframe lower cupped washer that I had to replace if you look at his advert in Dolly Mixture. His are manufactured in stainless steel. Part number 138626SS

Luckily I had a couple spare from a car that I scrapped a couple of years ago.

[sprint95m]

The subframe cup washers failing is (was?) a common problem.
Early Dolomites, Toledos and 1500s had cup washers at the front as well as the back
(fortunately the Sprint type bushes can be fitted instead).
When a subframe drops it is held only by the steering intermediate shaft!


The message from Chris is about the mounting brackets on back axles.




Ian

[Richard the old one]

I was aware that it is a common problem that the cup washers rust away but it did not realize that there was a difference between the early and late arrangement. All my Dolomites have been 1977 or later.

I did suspect that it might be the rear axle bits that Chris is considering for remanufacture. I always give the area a good spray with waxoil regularly.

[captain_70s]

When a subframe drops it is held only by the steering intermediate shaft!

Back when I was using my old 1850HL as daily transport it was sent to my local garage several times as the steering was so heavy as to be almost unusable and they could never get to the bottom of it. A couple of years later I got underneath and realised that it was because the subframe was falling off!

[Richard the old one]

I thought that I would post the photographs that I took to alert fellow owners to this problem, which can be seen without having to jack the car up.