Pointers On Driving A 30's Jowett

[AlanBartlett]

Suspension oil, the suspension seems to be a little, jumpier than it was, how do I service or replenish the fluid? Do I just pour it into the resivoir places?

[Tony Fearn]

Hi Alan,

There should be Luvax shock absorbers on your car. If there are, then they are filled with special Luvax hydraulic shock absorber fluid (thick type).

Don't just fill them with engine oil or similar it will ruin the rubbers.

They all have a hexagonal nut on the top of the casing. The front ones are easy to sort if you remove the wheels, but the rear ones, (at least on my short saloon), have a couple of plates on the inside floor just in front of the back seat, under the carpet. Unscrew these and the filler holes should be apparent.

The fluid is rather thick and viscous so take your time when filling.

Make sure that all the shock absorber bolts are tight and that the rubber 'grommets' where the lever meets the arm of the shock absorber going to the spring plate are not worn and loose.

Tony.

[AlanBartlett]

Hi Tony,

According to the pitmans book Its heavy filtrate sae 40 fluid, but this is mainly talking about the Jowett 8, would it still apply for the jowett 7?

Cheers Alan

[george garside]

[quote="AlanBartlett"]Hi Tony,

According to the pitmans book Its heavy filtrate sae 40 fluid, but this is mainly talking about the Jowett 8, would it still apply for the jowett 7?

Cheers Alan[/quote]

there is a reprint of service bulletin for luvax dampers in technical section of jowett talk. It details adjustment etc (there is an adjuster inside uner the filler plug/
george

[AlanBartlett]

Rather than start a new topic thought I would add to this one.

I took the car out today for a new years day run to a local classic meet, 60 mile round trip, and exceptional reliable(didn't even to need to lift a spanner) performance, always seems to be improving. Actually had me amazed, as hadn't really used it any distance in a while. Just a few shorter runs around the village.

But my main question was the rod brakes on pre wars, how responsive are they? could they be? should they be? Ive set them up several times recommend by the book. And it just seems no matter how hard I push on the brake pedal, it never really seems to stop the car. Ive always gotten used to the habbit of slowing the car down with engine and clutch, and using the brake for the last part. Of late it seems to be less and less responsive. Just seems they ease on, not really lock the wheels at last minute when youve slowed the car down. Is there any other method of setting them up or adjusting them?

Now I know they are not as powerful as modern brakes, but this to me seems a matter of safety more than anything else, even if you put the brake on even to slow yourself down it doesn't seem to slow the car down that noticeably.

[Tony Fearn]

http://jowett.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2135

and also in the Jowetteer mag.

Tony.