T-Type (TC/TD/TF)

1945-1955 / Roadster / United Kingdom

All T-Type (TC/TD/TF) problems All workshop issues

Common Chassis and Suspension

Front Suspension Wear (TD/TF)

Symptoms

Clunking from the front end, vague steering, uneven tyre wear. The car may pull to one side under braking.

Cause

The TD and TF use independent front suspension with coil springs, wishbones, and lever-arm shock absorbers. The wishbone bushes wear, the trunnions (lower pivot points) wear, and the lever-arm dampers lose their effectiveness.

Fix

Replace wishbone bushes, trunnions, and any worn ball joints.

Rebuild or replace lever-arm dampers (specialists like Armstrong or Frontline Developments offer rebuilt units).

Trunnion kits: $100-$200 per side.

Damper rebuild: $200-$400 per pair.

Cost mentioned in fix

$100-$200 per side$200-$400 per pair

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// More T-Type (TC/TD/TF) problems

Other known issues

Common Chassis and Suspension

Kingpin Wear (TC)

Front-end shimmy at speed, wandering steering, clunking over bumps, and uneven front tyre wear.

Common Chassis and Suspension

Leaf Spring Fatigue

The car sits lower than normal, particularly at the rear. Ride quality is harsh. The chassis bottoms out over bumps. Handling feels wallowy and imprecise.

Minor Engine, XPAG/XPEG (1,250cc/1,466cc Inline-4)

Oil Leaks, Everywhere

Oil weeps from every gasket surface, rocker cover, timing cover, sump, rear main seal, and anywhere two castings meet. The area beneath a parked T-Type will have oil spots. Some engines leak enough to require topping up between services.

Critical Engine, XPAG/XPEG (1,250cc/1,466cc Inline-4)

Low Oil Pressure (Worn Bearings)

Oil pressure drops below 40 psi at cruising speed when warm, or below 15 psi at idle. A knocking sound from the bottom end, particularly under load, confirms the diagnosis.

Common Engine, XPAG/XPEG (1,250cc/1,466cc Inline-4)

Dynamo (Generator) Failure

The charge warning light stays on above idle, the battery goes flat, and electrical accessories dim. In some cases, the dynamo seizes and the drive belt snaps or glazes.

Critical Engine, XPAG/XPEG (1,250cc/1,466cc Inline-4)

Overheating

Coolant temperature climbs above normal, particularly in slow traffic or on hot days. Steam from the overflow. In severe cases, the engine boils over.

View all 15 T-Type (TC/TD/TF) problems