Soggy bottoms are not just the preserve of the Great British Bake Off. As a consequence of bouncing along lanes and roads worse even than today’s pot holed surfaces, an 82 year old Austin Seven can also suffer a sagging rear end.
This year the time came to address the problem, with a new set of springs. So far I have only fitted the rear set, the main culprit for Mildred’s problems.
Come some nice spring (no pun intended) weather, when I can once again comfortably sit in the drive without risk of my own soggy bottom, I will replace the front one too.
These pictures show the dramatic change before and after, with Mildred now sitting about 5cm higher on fresh, taut springs:
In between these 2 pictures was about 7 hours of pushing, wrenching, levering, heating and bolting. With new pins, nuts and bolts replacing the old parts.
All in all, very satisfying. For those interested, there are a few more detailed pictures below of the chassis rail after removal of the old spring, the new pin compared to old, and the new spring being eased into place, with the pin not quite in alignment yet and in need of some persuasion.
Was it all the diverse (often large and heavy) old objets and bygones, collected from the various rural/country shows that Mildred attends, that we’ve crammed onto Mildred’s back seat, that was the straw that finally broke her springs?
Hmm, fair point. It might have been the 56lb weight bought at Battlsbridge Autojumble that was the last straw, either that or the cobbler’s anvil and lasts from the Aldham show. Just think how many things we can buy now without worrying.