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Gentlemen, I can promise you this will be the most disgusting job you will do on your car. 'Er indoors will not be rushing up to give you a big hug anytime soon after you have done this. But, I am told the results are worth it (smother, quieter suspension), and this is a job best done when you have just fitted new springs so don't have to do all the rust removal. I have seen previously pictures of Jensen's with the rear springs covered by zipped leather "gaiters" as a means of keeping them greased and free from rust, but I have never seen them for sale, so whether they were made by the owners or were a factory option, I don't know, but this article covers the other method... Denso Tape.
Denso tape was used as a punishment when I was an apprentice. If you were cheeky to the gaffer you would find yourself wrapping things in Denso tape quick smart. It was disgusting. So much so I have put off doing the rear springs on my car for several years. Denso tape had a smell and consistency of Satan's own cesspit. It was unspeakably vile. But then Steve Payne told me he had done his car and it wasn't too bad. So much so he showed me a bit of let over tape, and it was nothing like the stuff I used to use back in the day. I think whatever was in the original has now been banned under the Geneva Conventions, and the modern stuff is just hideous rather than fatal. So, with gritted teeth I set about it... You need to jack the rear of the car up as high as you can so you can access both sides of the rear springs easily. Place you axle stands under the chassis tubes so the axle hangs down and opens the leaves of the springs as much as possible. Obviously make sure the car is secure and not likely to fall on you, etc, etc. You will need the following: Denso tape
Motorbike chain lube and grease
And wire brushes
You will need to brush the surface rust off of the springs and get the metal as clean as possible. Use a screwdriver to clear our the spaces between the leaves.
Once everything is clean and as dirt and rust free as possible, you can then spray the springs with bike chain lube, making sure you spray into the gaps between the leaves.
Once the springs is totally coated in chain lube, you can smear the sides of the springs in good old fashioned axle grease.
You can then start to wrap the springs in Denso tape.
The best method is to cut strips about 18 inches long and wrap them in sections, making sure you overlap the last section with the new so there are no gaps. Once the springs are wrapped from shackle to shackle you "smooth" the overlaps with your hands so seal the edges of the overlaps, and then use cable ties to secure the tape in place.
As I said, a horrible job, and best done when new springs are fitted, but it will give a smoother quieter ride and prolong the life of your springs, especially in wet climates like England.
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