Radiator Mountings

[Griffer]

Hi All,
I've just removed the radiator from my 4.x and found that the two side mountings have no rubber pads and bolt straight down to the body.Both my bolts were not fully tightened so there was a bit of movement which seems odd,the bottom locating pins have grommets pushed over the pins to act as cushions when in position. If you do the side mount bolts up tight the radiator goes solid.The rad was replaced by a now defunct dealer about 5 years ago.
Is this right, or is there something missing here, I've always known rads before to be slightly flexibly mounted but as the rad mounts to the body rather than chassis maybe thats OK? Any info appreciated.
Griffer

[Guillotine]

i have a feeling that it is directly mounted at the mid mount originally, but when my s/steel rad was fitted as an ugrade, it was mounted on rubberised fittings. these are gearbox mounts and provide a "solid" mount with some play for anti-vibbration.

seems to work fine.

[tvr4ever]

Griffer said:

Hi All, I've just removed the radiator from my 4.x and found that the two side mountings have no rubber pads and bolt straight down to the body.Both my bolts were not fully tightened so there was a bit of movement which seems odd,the bottom locating pins have grommets pushed over the pins to act as cushions when in position. If you do the side mount bolts up tight the radiator goes solid.The rad was replaced by a now defunct dealer about 5 years ago. Is this right, or is there something missing here, I've always known rads before to be slightly flexibly mounted but as the rad mounts to the body rather than chassis maybe thats OK? Any info appreciated. Griffer

Early Grifs had the rigid mounting, it's better to use a flexible mounting method though.
The flexing of the body combined with the expansion of the radiator gives a lot of stress on the radiator.

Fred

[Griffer]

Thanks guys, will try rubber mounting pads.

Steve

[aitkindrum]

steve
another thing to consider, on my griff the rad kept failing. eventually after much skinning of knuckles found that both pins were at slightly different heights. this meant when tightened there was a inherent twist or stress in the rad leading to premature fail. solved using spare washers on one side coupled with the rubber mounts.
ada

[simpo two]

aitkindrum said:

on my griff the rad kept failing. eventually after much skinning of knuckles found that both pins were at slightly different heights. this meant when tightened there was a inherent twist or stress in the rad leading to premature fail. solved using spare washers on one side coupled with the rubber mounts.

I had exactly the same - and got through 3 rads in as many years. Eventually Heliox spotted the problem very kindly sorted it out for me: cheers mate!!!

[Griffer]

See what you mean, when the rad is laid in position the drivers side does not sit flat, though the passenger side does.
Will use spacers and pads to even it up.
Thanks all for your replies.
Steve

[Toffer]

My radiator had a tiny leak and I decided to have it replaced. The new one was mounted on different thickness rubber washers...

The independant who replaced the radiator said that flexing was a very common reason for the unit failing.

By the way the replacement is excellent!