Javelin rear axle lower links

[David Morris]

Hi there,

I am busy replacing the lower links that locate the rear axle on our Javelin, DCB 246. The part number of the complete link is 50261 and there is one on each side. I am fabricating replacements that are, hopefully, much stronger than the rather flimsy Jowett originals. I believe these links are common to the Jupiter as well? I am not impressed by how these links survive 60 years of mud and salt and recommend that all Javelin owners have a look at yours and perhaps give them a gentle tap? You may find they are paper thin although outwardly looking ok!

They are illustrated in Fig. 63 Chapter 8, on page 86 of the brown Maintenance Manual. Looking at the illustration in the Manual, and in particular at the enlarged illustration in the top R/H corner of the page, there is a spacer, about 1/2 inch long, that butts up against the silentbloc bush at the axle end of the link. and helps to fill the gap between the two 'ears' attached to the axle casing.

Remembering the discussion on this forum some time ago about the gap between the rear tyres and the rear wings, I am curious about the actual or 'correct' position of these spacers.

In the illustration in the manual, they are shown 'inboard' of the rear links on both N/S and O/S, ie towards the centre of the car. This does not correlate to what I found on DCB 246 or NKJ 452, our green Javelin. They seem to be fitted either outside of the links or inboard, in a random pattern. Is this another example of 'juggling' at the factory to 'make things fit' on the assembly line, as I suspect NKJ 452 has never had these components taken apart in its 60 odd years.

I suspect the correct position of these spacers is important to the transverse position of the axle and hence the resultant gap between the tyres and the wheelarches? I doubt that the upper links will contribute much to the position of the axle, as they are mounted on the torsion bars and sit in quite soft rubber mountings. The Panhard Rod is also mounted in quite soft rubber bushes.

I would be very grateful if any Javelin owners could have a quick look under the rear of the car and let me know whether your spacers are either 'inboard' or outboard', or a mixture of the two between N/S and O/S?

By the way, these spacers do not appear to be mentioned in the Parts Book, page 22, but they are essential to the fitting of the lower links on the Torque Arm Pin, part 50470.

Many thanks,

David

[David Morris]

Hi all,

Just had a further search at a later Parts Book and, yes, Jowett's did update their drawings and subsequently show these spacers. They are called 'Spacing Collars' with a part number 52585.

I really would be most grateful if either Javelin ( or Jupiter) owners could let me know if yours are either fitted 'inboard' or 'outboard' or a mixture of the two? I suspect, pragmatically, that they get fitted in a position that seems to provide the 'best fit'', depending on how things align when fitting the lower links? There is not much flexibility down there to provide you with an option.

Many thanks,

David

[robert lintott]

David , I had a look at my Javelin E2PD 22752 D . The spacers are inboard of the yoke on both sides . I am sure the axle has been off the car at some time so this may not be as per factory. However the Maintenance Manual seems to show them inboard as well . As you say the spacers are not shown or listed in the 1951 parts manual but are shown in the 1952 edition as part no. 52585. this could have been an error or maybe the spacers were added for 1952 , prior to that the arm would have been free to move on the pin , which seems unlikely ?

However your other car is a 1950 I think with spacers fitted.?

I doubt if the positioning of these spacers really affects the location of the axle . The transverse stay is much more rigid and adjustable to keep the axle in place sideways . The lower links are torque arms to prevent the axle winding up and moving fore and aft during acceleration and braking . In fact when the body rolls relative to the axle --as it does---the arms are subject to a twisting force which is accomodated in the rubber bushes at each end which means the bushes should be fairly soft . Being a tube the arms themselves would not twist. The upper arms which fix to the torsion bars at the front end are flat plates which can twist to allow for the relative movement . If one of the torque arms fails --as was reported earlier -- it will result in some "rear wheel steering "as the wheel moves fore and aft .

When I measured my car to check the wing to wheel clearance it was clear the differences each side were caused by different wing shapes and could be cured with a stay each side from the chassis to the wing edge aft of the wheel, to pull or push the wings into shape . I have not yet made them up! Best regards Bob

[David Morris]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for checking your Javelin. Yes, both our Javelins have the spacers, although as you say these seem to have been omitted from the earlier parts book. I have now fitted the new links and the position of the spacers became clear when assembling the links onto the car. I found that whether they are outboard or inboard of the links seems to be settled by the fit of the links. Both my spacers are now inboard, as shown in the manual. The links and their rubber bushes are sufficiently rigid not to allow the option of having the spacers outboard, even if I wanted to place them there.

I suspect the factory fitted them where they were most 'comfortable' decided by the relative alignment of the links and the chassis. The fact that one of my spacers is in a different position with the new links is probably due to distortion in the original links. They are not very strong.

Incidentally, my replacement links have been fabricated from round steel tube, as per some replacements I purchased from JCS some years ago for NKJ 352, but with much more substantial 'wings' cut from unequal box section steel tube, to wrap around the chassis connections.

We shall see how they perform in service?

All the best,

David