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MG TD TF 1500 - Poor quality rubber parts again

I just replaced a split rack boot again. Pretty sure this side was replaced by one of the Moss made in China boots a couple years ago. The other side is about 5 years old and mushy/rotten. Anybody have a comment/suggetion for something better quality and longer lasting? Thanks, George
George Butz

Moss is great for some products, and Abingdon is great for others. I have been extremely disappointed with rubber products from Moss. I will never buy any rubber products from them again. Despite assurances that issues have been addressed, the rubber still dissolves within months.
Rubber from Abingdon has held up very well. You may notice that their rubber parts has A S L molded into them.
It is especially cruel to have to replace the front suspension rubber, as the entire front end needs to be removed to access the swivel seals and the grunion rubbers. Grr.
-David
D. Sander

I noticed this on the wifes MGB, the rubber bases under the windshield frame side posts are cracking already. I don't want to pull the windshield to replace them, only to go through the same thing a couple years later. Real crap rubber! PJ

P. Jennings

This project that I refer to as 'the53' (http://www.ttalk.info/The53.htm)has been an excellent source for originality and history. For instance, the rack boots are as flexible as you would want, with no signs of splitting. The inspection sticker on the windscreen says 'Spring 72'. If only the wood had held up so well!! Bud
Bud Krueger

I don't understand why rubber continues to be such a problem! How hard (and/or expensive) can it be to make decent rubber? I've been messing with MGs since 1995 and rubber has always been substandard. I'm sure we'd all gladly pay more for something OE quality!
Rob Edwards

Gents,

Consider that many current cars use similar rubber boots. The boots covering CV joints flex continuously at a rate determined by axel rotation and last for many years. Obviously good materials are available. For those not interested in originality it might be possible to find a modern replacement if one or more of us is willing to search. I'm looking.


Safety Fast

Jim Haskins

1953 TD
J. M. Haskins

I also want to know why current rubber is not as good. I totally agree with Jim. Today's cars have flexible parts in everything and I am not seeing these deteriorate. How had can it be to change your formula to something that will last.

Just about done with replacing the front bushings on the B. Wait till you see how bad the material got at 5 years. Pictures soon.

I replaced them with superflex out of England. We will see how long the poly's work.
Bruce Cunha

Hi folks,
Perhaps the main difference is that our old cars used real rubber for those parts, or at least an extremely high % of rubber content with some other additives/fillers, etc. "Modern" cars use essentially plastic compounds of some sort or another. Rubber ages, oxidizes, etc., particularly if there's any ozone or even sunlight around. Plastics - well, who knows what's in there. Some last, some don't so well. I'd think the new replacement parts are of the plastic variety, but again, who knows what the Asians do, except probably cut costs.
for what it's worth - about what you paid.
Al
A W Parker

I spoke to Abingdon Spares- the ones they supply are from England, and they had not heard of problems with them. Also backordered at the moment. George
George Butz

Here is what a V8 MGB front suspension bushing looked like after 5 years. (no exposure to any fuel or other solvents. No winter weather. About 15 thousand miles on these

Bruce Cunha

Here is the other side


Bruce Cunha

Oh, and those were the good ones. Here is the driver side.

Bruce Cunha

I replaced the front suspension rubbers with parts from Abingdon Spares this past summer. Pictures are on my website at on-going maintenance.

The rubber parts replaced Moss rubber that had been in service less than three years, and installed about 5 years. I recommend Abingdon Spares for rubber parts. Not sure what to recommend for the MGB... although I was giving Moss a shot on that.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

I agree with the above comments! Now on a more positive note, I have been rebuilding/restoring MG's since the late 60's and without suppliers like Moss I could never have continued as new parts were just not available and used parts were pretty bad!

Someone from Moss used to check out the various postings in the past and would respond so perhaps if these postings are still being reviewed someone from Moss could respond and let us all know what they are doing to correct the quality problems.

Brian
Brian Smith (1950 TD3376)

Hoping to avoid doing this again, I went with the Superflex out of England. Not sure why they are not available through any of our MG suppliers here in the US. They are much more expensive and that could be why, but the quality is very good. They have stainless inserts that slip in beautifully. The bushings fit perfectly and assembly was really quite easy.

When I rebuild the TD. I will most likely use these again.
Bruce Cunha

Bruce, is it that company were you talk about?
http://www.superflex.co.uk/
How do you order them? have you provide the size of the bushings?
Guenter
Guenter

A couple years ago, I had trouble with my enclosed trailer's valve stems crapping out. It turns out they came from China, and the Chinese rubber compounds are poor and did not include ozone resistant chemicals in these valve stems. I verified this through a trusted tire dealer here. At this altitude, the ozone issue is especially bad. Maybe that is what is going on with the rubber parts you mention. I just put "new" rubber parts on a TF. They are from Moss but were bought in 1980 by my Dad and put in a closed box. This will be interesting,too! They showed no flex or cracking issues. Mike
MW Davis

I have a Moss rubber parts kit that was probably purchased in the mid-70's. They have been boxed up all these years and are still soft and look good as new but not sure how they will fare after exposed to sunlight.
Richard Taylor TD3983

I bought my rack boots from Abington Spares. I called them as they were about twice what Moss wanted and they said theirs was from England and they looked good. My thinking is you get what you pay for. I just got them in November.

Cheers, David
David Honness

Guenther

That is the place. Their web page is a bit difficult to navigate. Here is the MGB page. For other MG's you start with the BMC logo on the main page and then drill down. I just wrote to them and told them exactly what car I had.

As I understand it, they do make other grades for various racing needs. I told them I wanted a firmness adequate for good road driving.

I got a wine colored purple material. Won't be able to say how they feel for a few more months, but given the condition of my old bushings, improvement will not be hard.
Bruce Cunha

This thread was discussed between 07/01/2012 and 12/01/2012

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