Rear Leaf springs and front suspension Q's

Post by **AndrewSkinner** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:35 pm

Q1) Im sorry I know this was discussed before but I cant find the thread.

I have a 2 door saloon and am buying new springs for it. I quite often have 4/5 people in it and am thinking of fitting a tow bar for LIGHT use.

Is it worth fitting the 5leaf or 7leaf?

Will the 7leaf make the car horrible when there are just 1-2 people in it?

Why did the early saloons come with 7 leaf?? were they heavier?

Q2) I have taken appart he front suspension and am going to fit ALL new bushes and need the pin that goes into the shock absorber?

What parts will I actually need?

Post by **aupickup** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 8:42 pm

top trunnion pin

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:38 pm

If it was me - I would definitely go 7 leaf. If you find them too hard you can always take a leaf out! Why do you need the damper pin - as Mr G points out, 'top trunnion pin' ? These don't usually come to any harm.

Post by **AndrewSkinner** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:52 pm

My top trunnion pin got stuck in the old dampers when I took them out. With nice new shiny dampers to go in I thought I might aswell get new pins!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:07 pm

Ah so! Probably the only way to shift the old ones will be heat - and a big hammer.

Post by **AndrewSkinner** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:15 pm

yeah that was! i removed one but damaged the thread in doing so!

they are only £3.90 so ive ordered 2 new ones! bmcecosse have you ever towed with a morris? and if so what is it like??

Post by **DAVIDMCCULLOUGH** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:03 pm

I put traveller springs into my saloon and found it sat much too high at the back and made it even bouncier! It sat so high it looked the front had been lowered...... The earlier cars had thinner leaf springs, that why there were 7 of them.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:03 pm

Yes - I used to tow University sailing dinghy all over West Scotland - car loaded with students too! Also towed my racing Mini (on home made trailer) to events all over Scotland ! It gets there - although I did once rip the centre plate out of the clutch trying to get the Mini out of a field on a steepish hill. But it was the earlier 948 engine (bored to 998 and somewhat modified) with the smaller diameter clutch. And since neither of these trailers had any brakes - my large diameter 9" Wolseley front drums were put to good use! They never faded - but road adhesion under braking was the problem (crappy tyres!) - was once pushed right through a red light with all 4 wheels locked!

Post by **AndrewSkinner** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 1:51 pm

bmcecosse wrote:They never faded - but road adhesion under braking was the problem (crappy tyres!) - was once pushed right through a red light with all 4 wheels locked!

haha love it!! Had simular problem with towing my speed boat with a crosa

will have to wait and see what the morris tows it like!! Lukily it is fairly local

Just ordered all the parts this morning and was advised by a company starting with 'b' that the 7leaf springs would cause bad breaking and tyre wear due to the weight not being shifted about properly??

Thanks DAVIDMCCULLOUGH that was my other convern! I did not want the morris to sit high. I like it looking low

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:16 pm

The Traveller has 7 leaf springs - it's hardly any heavier than the saloon - the extra leaves are there to allow it to carry extra load - which is what you are planning on doing. It doesn't have 'bad braking!' - where do they get these ideas from ?? As I said before -if you find it too hard - you can easily take out a leaf or even two ! Your choice - I would get 7 leaf.