72six Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 I have reinstated the front suspension and found that it is at full extension on both sides making the body way up over the wheels. The springs just seem to be too powerful and require a lot of compressing to fit. I can move the suspension up and down without the spring in place, and have confirmed that I have the shorter springs on the front with the taller ones on the rear. I would appreciate any suggestions on what is wrong. Many thanks Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 Hi Martin, I know it sounds silly but have you got the engine in place. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stanpartmanpartwolf Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 Dampers in? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Cobbold Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 Have you rolled the car to and fro? Lowering it off jacks means the tyres touch the groundn in the full droop position and they cant spread out sideways to relieve that until you roll them. Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
72six Posted October 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 Thanks for the rapid responses. Yes the engine is in, it's the same with the shocks in or out, and I have pushed it backwards and forwards and sat on the wings, all to no avail. Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ragtag Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 (edited) Pictures might help if you can post? Edited October 20, 2013 by Ragtag Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Cobbold Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 Need more info. New springs? What did 'reinstate' involve? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianhoward Posted October 20, 2013 Report Share Posted October 20, 2013 (edited) Martin Ali spacers present/installed? When I rebuilt my first TR (a TR4 twenty odd years ago), and upon fitting the springs, that too was sitting far too high at the front... I disassembled the springs again to take the ali spacer that was originally fitted to the car (presuming they should be there), but the new springs must have been longer and consequently the spacers were not required. I didn't keep the original springs during the full rebuild, just purchasing new ones, so was unable to compare length... Cheers Ian Edited October 20, 2013 by ianhoward Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 It may need a drive down the road to settle the suspension properly, after surgery, seen this on a good few Trs. Dont think a few bounces up and down is going to settle it. Cheers Guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 Did you tighten up all the mounting points with the suspension hanging? If so slacken them off, then place a trolley jack under each trunnion and get the weight of the car on the suspension, then tighten - on each side. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
72six Posted October 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Many thanks for the replies to date. I have remounted the suspension items that were dismantled only renewing bushes etc, there are no spacers for the shockers and the new isolators are both thinner than the old ones, all the mounting nuts are untightened and I can raise and lower the suspension by hand if the spring is not present, the stud on each lower arm is facing down and is inboard, if I jack up the suspension with the spring in the whole car goes up. I just cannot sort out what the problem is. Thanks Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Many thanks for the replies to date. I have remounted the suspension items that were dismantled only renewing bushes etc, there are no spacers for the shockers and the new isolators are both thinner than the old ones, all the mounting nuts are untightened and I can raise and lower the suspension by hand if the spring is not present, the stud on each lower arm is facing down and is inboard, if I jack up the suspension with the spring in the whole car goes up. I just cannot sort out what the problem is. Thanks Martin I have sent you a PM re photos Cheers GUY If i jack up front suspension from under the pan, the suspension rises to a point then the jack will start to lift the car off the axle stands Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark69 Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Just a stab in the dark. I have just put my front end back together new bushes trunnions tracked ends and antiroll bar linkages , have no engine or gearbox in at the moment and i am unable to connect track rod ends to the steering rack due to the angle, would this by any chance have anything to do with your problem. Could the track rod end be locked somehow. Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stanpartmanpartwolf Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 IMHO it can only be incorrect springs, given that your suspension articulates freely without them. Rubber bumper (pardon me) MGB front springs sometimes appear as uprated TR springs & some of the TT recommendations are, frankly, complete nonsense. Could you post any specs here, perhaps? Leave antiroll bar links slack in the wishbone brackets, nuts on just a couple of threads; you should then have a chance of poking them through the bar eye & fitting the cups, bushes and nuts. BTW if using rubber A/r bar-radiator tray bushes- lubricate liberally with brake grease or the bar will not work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted November 1, 2013 Report Share Posted November 1, 2013 (edited) Chaps Heres a few photos just received from Martin Well i think your top arms are the wrong way round, theres a picture in this thread http://www.tr-register.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/23241-upper-wishbone-arms/ Cheers GUY Edited November 1, 2013 by Jersey Royal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Cobbold Posted November 1, 2013 Report Share Posted November 1, 2013 Yes, there'll be too little castor trail with them fitted Martin's way. But I dont see that solving the spring length problem. Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted November 1, 2013 Report Share Posted November 1, 2013 (edited) Martin Measure your springs for length and diameter also Heres standard spec Front springFree length – 10.03 inches (261mm)Wire diameter - 0.5 inchesSpring rate – 312 lb in Number of working coils – 5 ¼ And Rear springFree length – 10.92 inches (278mm)Wire diameter - 0.5 inchesSpring rate – 349 lb in Number of working coils – 6 3/4 Cheers GUY Edited November 1, 2013 by Jersey Royal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 (edited) Definitely top arms the wrong way round which wont be doing his trunnions/uprights a lot of good.Best check the trunnions are the right way round as well. Stuart. Edited November 2, 2013 by stuart Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stanpartmanpartwolf Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 If that suspension articulates, then the entire suspension (except steering arms) has changed sides. If it has somehow been forced together, i.e. lower suspension correctly handed & upper wishbones transposed, then it will barely move. A mechanic of mine once fitted two lots of LH suspension to a 4A & it very nearly ended up in the ditch within yards of leaving the workshop. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
72six Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Many thanks Guy for posting the pics which has lead to my error at the top being flagged up, and thank you everyone for your replies. I will check the spring info and change the arms around. Cheers Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Many thanks Guy for posting the pics which has lead to my error at the top being flagged up, and thank you everyone for your replies. I will check the spring info and change the arms around. Cheers Martin Hey Martin, A picture is worth a thousand words. If you need anymore pictures put up, just e mail me as before and will be done Good Luck Guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
72six Posted November 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 Thanks for the spring info Guy. My rear spring is 10.25 inches, 265 cm, just a bit more than stock, the spring wire is 0.5inch, which is the same as stock. I counted the coils by standing the spring up with the ends facing away from me giving 7 coils on the nearside. Is this the same as 5.25 complete rings? I don't know how to measure the compression rate. Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted November 6, 2013 Report Share Posted November 6, 2013 Thanks for the spring info Guy. My rear spring is 10.25 inches, 265 cm, just a bit more than stock, the spring wire is 0.5inch, which is the same as stock. I counted the coils by standing the spring up with the ends facing away from me giving 7 coils on the nearside. Is this the same as 5.25 complete rings? I don't know how to measure the compression rate. Martin Not sure to be honest Martin. Think you count the total coils and take off two, but could be wrong. Spring rate , again think thats a measurement on how much load required to deflect the spring by 1 inch ? dont think theres an easy or safe method for a DIY measurment. Have you measured the length of front spring and compared it to stock size? For you its just good to know the free lenght of both back and front springs , once car is completed and driven, suspension settled, then look at the ride hight. Just my opinion. Cheers GUY Cheers GUY Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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