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MOTRS

FJ / FE / FC

1953-1960 / Sedan / Coupe / Australia

All FJ / FE / FC problems All workshop issues
Common Suspension and Steering

Sagging Leaf Springs

Symptoms

The rear of the car sits lower than it should. The car bottoms out over bumps. The rear end wallows and bounces excessively.

Cause

Leaf springs lose their temper over decades. Cars that have been loaded heavily (carrying passengers, towing, loaded utes) sag faster. Broken individual leaves also reduce spring rate.

Fix

Have the springs re-tempered (a spring specialist can heat and re-form them) or replace with new springs.

New leaf spring sets are available from suspension specialists ($300-600 per pair).

Re-tempering is cheaper ($100-200 per spring) but doesn't restore full original height if the springs are severely fatigued.

Cost mentioned in fix
$300-600 per pair$100-200 per spring

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Other known issues

Common Suspension and Steering

King Pin Wear

Vague steering, wandering on straight roads, uneven front tyre wear. Clunking over bumps from the front end.
Common Suspension and Steering

Steering Box Wear

Excessive play in the steering wheel, you can turn the wheel significantly before the front wheels respond. Heavy or uneven steering effort.
Common Engine, Grey Motor (132.5ci / 2.17L Flathead Six)

Worn Bearings and Low Oil Pressure

Oil pressure drops below 20 psi at idle when hot. Knocking noise from the bottom end, particularly under load. May also develop a deep rumble at idle.
Common Engine, Grey Motor (132.5ci / 2.17L Flathead Six)

Valve Seat Recession

Gradual loss of compression, rough running, tapping noise from the engine that gets worse over time. May develop a misfire.
Critical Engine, Grey Motor (132.5ci / 2.17L Flathead Six)

Overheating in Modern Traffic

Temperature gauge climbs or the engine boils over in slow traffic or on hot days.
Common Engine, Grey Motor (132.5ci / 2.17L Flathead Six)

Fuel Pump Failure

Engine stalls, won't restart, or runs inconsistently. Fuel starvation symptoms, the engine dies under load but may restart after sitting for a few minutes.
View all 17 FJ / FE / FC problems