Front Suspension S1

buchies · Post by **buchies** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:34 pm

Hello All,

I am new to the forum and have recently purchased a 1963 S1 3.8 FHC which I am in the process of going through and servicing/upgrading parts which are in need of attention.

We are currently looking at the front suspension and I have two questions I am hoping someone can help with.

1. Books I have read state that the Front Upper wishbones should be nickel plated. I have also read however, that nickel plating can result in Hydrogen Embrittlement which could lead to failure of the wishbone. Have any of you experienced this and has baking after performing the nickel plating helped if so?

2. What treatment/colour, if any, should the Upper and Lower Fulcrum shafts on the S1 be?

Thanks,
Philip

christopher storey · Post by **christopher storey** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 11:13 am

All parts of the originals were cadmium plated , which is now difficult because there are only a couple of places in the UK which do it because of cadmium toxicity , and even if you can get it done it is ferociously expensive . I was quoted about ?500 for my various front suspension components . Nickel plating does not IIRC result in hydrogen embrittlement to any great extent ( any chemists among us may correct me on this ) , chrome being the worst for that, but it is not terribly durable against salt . I went for zinc nickel plating, which is a relatively new process and is much more durable in our climate , but it does not look as nice having a slightly purple tinge to it

PeterCrespin · Post by **PeterCrespin** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 1:39 pm

Hydrogen embrittlement is not really an issue apart from chrome plate. Even then it's mostly only a risk of failure on high fatigue parts such as springs and spokes. Plating of any kind is not an issue with heavy section cold-malleable parts like wishbones, which is why straightening bent ones is perfectly safe if you do it carefully and not to excess.

vipergts · Post by **vipergts** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 1:44 pm

Mine were nickel plated.

I understood that there was a problem with embrittlement but chose to ignore.

I have yet to hear of any dodgy moments

Actually I'm wondering whether I did infact have them Cad plated??

Post by **1954Etype** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 4:14 pm

Nickel plated mine - 20k miles on with no problems. ClassicJaguar of Austin nickel all of their restos with no reported issues.

norman m. macleod · Post by **norman m. macleod** » Tue Nov 29, 2011 4:51 pm

Peter is correct....there is no issue with hydrogen embrittlement, except with Chromium plating, and then only on thin sections. I am satin (flat) chroming mine on top of a heavy copper plate. However, we so not have a salt on roads type problem down here.......
Norman

buchies · Post by **buchies** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 12:32 pm

Thanks all for your detailed responses.

Philip

Larry Wade · Post by **Larry Wade** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:15 pm

Hi guys,
Some materials are much more sensitive than others. As a rule, 300 series stainless steels, aluminum, aluminum alloys, copper and copper alloys tend to have very low rates of embrittlement (not zero but not far off either).

For a nice summary article look at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_embrittlement

I wouldn't worry about this unless your plater is totally incompetent.

Best regards,
Larry

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
	Hide post links

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
	Hide post links

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
	Hide post links

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
	Hide post links

Link:
BBcode:
HTML:
	Hide post links

The 'E' Type Forum

Front Suspension S1

#1 Front Suspension S1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8 hydrogen embrittlement