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MG TD TF 1500 - Lowering blocks??

Today as I removed my 1952 TD rear axle housing I found an extra piece sandwiched between the spring and the axle housing. It is a cast iron piece very purposefully made and fits into the ruber pieces and regular spring locating plates and rubber pads very neatly. There is one on each side and each has a cavity cast into it to locate over the spring center bolt.

When I look at my 1958 BMC parts book that is specific to the TD (does not include TF) I do not find this piece listed. Therefore I'm thinking it is something the previous owner put on. Judging from the hardness and brittle nature of the rubber pads I'm guessing it was many, many years ago.

Is it likely to be a modification to make the rear sit lower? I really don't want to re-install them if it was not an original part. I'll need to find shorter u-bolts to put things back together.
ACD Davis

When you say "one on each side" do you mean each side of the spring or the car? Lowering blocks would only be on the bottom, and were usually (in the 50's) made of machined aluminum.

Tom
t lange

These are normal. They are centering plates. They do show on the regular illustrated parts list - item 15.

Maybe this link to the Moss Motors catalog will work :

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=47417
Dallas Congleton

Lowering blocks would only be on the bottom, and were usually (in the 50's) made of machined aluminum.

Tom
t lange

Thanks for the responses, but the blocks I'm talking about are not item 15. That plate is there also and actually there are two on each spring connection, top and bottom, sandwiching the rubber pads.

The cast iron blocks I'm talking about are 1 1/2 inch thick and 4 inches long. They have an arced surface on the side that sets on the spring. They sit on top of the spring and item 15 goes over top of it. They space the axle housing an additional 1 1/2 inches above the top of the spring and the u-bolts are also 1 1/2 inches longer than some originals I just found. The cast iron spacers (one on each side of the car) have the recess cast in for the spring center bolt and a corresponding cast round protrusion on the top to seat in the rubber pad and the item 15 plate shown in the Moss catalog.

In my mind they were made to effectively lower the rear of the car 1 1/2 inches.

Thanks,
Allyn Davis
ACD Davis

somebody wanted their car to run even lower?? i feel like i'm looking up at kids on their three wheelers as it is. LOL! regards, tom
tom peterson

Allyn,
I am curious to find out if your front springs are also lowered,,,,or does the car have a '50's rake

SPW
Steve Wincze

No the front springs were not lowered. One was broken and I got two used original ones and replaced both, and the unbroken one was the same length as the two used ones. The car did always look low in the rear to me. And in fact I was assuming my rear springs were "tired" and I would have to have them re-arched. But now I know why and there isn't anything wrong with my springs.

I was looking on the "Original mg td" website today and found out exactly what I have. They are Arnolt lowering blocks. I've attached a picture of the Arnolt ad.

ACD Davis

...not just used in the 60's.....

gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

I also have a set of the blocks that came on a 1950 TD rat rod in very sad shape.

Gary
gl krukoski

This thread was discussed between 02/01/2011 and 06/01/2011

MG TD TF 1500 index

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