The 'E' Type Forum

Yesterday, with 2 friends, I put the rebuilt rear suspension back in
my newly rebuilt bodyshell. I used the v blocks that had come off
before the rebuild and which, significantly, had been off the car
for about 20 months . We had just got it all in and done up the
nuts, and were congratulating ourselves and about to go off for a
well-deserved lunch when there was a nasty crash and the left side
collapsed! The v blocks both had debonded in sudden and
spectacular fashion about 5 minutes after installation

I have seen the warnings about this but never thought it could
happen to me!! Be warned, it can and it did . Fortunately we had put old tyres underneath so there was no damage, but it was still a salutary lesson never to leave the IRS totally unsupported. The irony was that I had replaced every other rubber item on the car, but kept the v blocks because of the general perception that the original metalastiks are so much better than the modern rubber

Many thanks for posting this, Christopher. I've heard of this happening, but had never seen it "up close and personal." That rear suspension is deceptively heavy and it could have been a lot worse if someone had a body part under there. Nothing like a first-hand account to make all of us work a little more safely. Glad to hear there was no damage and especially no injuries.

Christopher

Close call. It could have been worse if they had failed on the road as you would have had rear wheel steering and probably terminal over-steer! Worth remembering all rubber parts deteriorate with both age and exposure to the elements. Even with limited use they have all probably reached end of life after 10 years on the car.

Glad you werent hurt Christopher....