replacing van leaf springs - advice please

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sun May 18, 2008 10:29 am

ello chaps

So when I am putting the leaf springs back on my van, I presumably have to put the front end on to its pin thingy first, before the back end bolts back on?

Also, how are the shackle plates supposed to be positioned - do you have to get them sitting vertically, once everything is tightened up? or is the angle not so important? I'm assuming that the new springs will have a bit of a spring in them (...) and won't necessarily want to be forced to sit nicely bent in between their front and rear supports? in which case, I'm guessing that getting the shackle plate assembly vertical might be a bit tricky?

This "reinstallation is a reversal of the above procedure" lark is all very well, but is particularly tricky when the manuals don't give more than an airy gesture towards the arrangements on a van!

Advice welcomed, especially from van people!

wibble

Post by **aupickup** » Sun May 18, 2008 11:48 am

yes put the front part of the spring on first, then lift the spring up to the shackle plate also getting the middle ofthe spring located on the plate , then tighten lightly all the nuts, then lower the van so it settles then retighten the shackle plate nuts, that way the shackle plates find there own angle

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sun May 18, 2008 12:15 pm

ah!

Makes every kind of sense. Thanks au

Post by **callyspoy** » Sun May 18, 2008 10:39 pm

i am assuming this method is the same for a saloon? i am going to be fitting rear tele's during the week i think, but i did poly bush the rear not so long ago, but just tightened it up when it was in the air, so shall i loosen them off and do it as described?

Post by **aupickup** » Sun May 18, 2008 10:43 pm

yes should all ways be tightened up when car or van is on its wheels also the same applies to the front

Post by **RogerRust** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:19 am

It can be done back first. In fact I think is easier that way I've tried both ways. By the way before you ask the spring has two clips at the front and one at the rear.

Roger

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Mon May 19, 2008 7:43 am

The manuals say back first for saloons, but I figured that that would make the front almost impossible for a van?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:47 am

And impossible for a saloon too - which 'manual' gives this wonderful advice ?

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Mon May 19, 2008 12:29 pm

The best-selling one - Lindsay Porter. Although the order of replacement could just be down to the fact that they renew first the rear spring hanger assembly and then the front one, in their bodywork section - and give no instructions on replacement of the springs, in their mechanical section.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon May 19, 2008 1:22 pm

Well - it would be a real struggle to get the front one in after the rear had been secured! It's bad enough as it is.

Post by **Kevin** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:31 pm

It can be done back first. In fact I think is easier that way I've tried both ways.

And impossible for a saloon too - which 'manual' gives this wonderful advice ?

Seems to be one of those jobs that some prefer one way and others the opposite.

Post by **bigginger** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:33 pm

No question with the LCV - has to be front first.

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:41 pm

seems like it!

cheers for your advice, everyone

wibble xx

Post by **aupickup** » Mon May 19, 2008 6:11 pm

definately front first

Post by **M25VAN** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:02 am

Be carefull removing the front retaining nut, I had one shear off and I wasn't using alot of force, honest

. You can get replacement mounts but I don't suppose they are easy to fit.

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Tue May 20, 2008 9:37 am

You sheared off one of those castellated nuts?!?

Post by **chickenjohn** » Tue May 20, 2008 10:41 am

wibble_puppy wrote:You sheared off one of those castellated nuts?!?

I havent sheared one but I did strip the threads on the front hanger bolt on re-assembly (it was old and rusty anyway and too much was removed {all the rust} in the citric acid bath!- actually, thats reminded me of yet another part I need to order).

I would like to add my vote for front hanger first. I have also re-assembled the springs on axle first and jacked it up under the diff casing to get it in place, done up the front first then the rear. At the rear, it can be tricky compressing the spring and mount together against the springyness of the new bushes to get the first shackle plate on. I put the nuts on the other side and g-clamp the spring shacke bolt close enough to the chassis to get the shackle plate on the other side.

Post by **M25VAN** » Wed May 21, 2008 6:52 am

wibble_puppy wrote:You sheared off one of those castellated nuts?!?

Yeah, right at the bottom of the thread.

I'd just done the other side and was using the same amount of force. One side came off easy and the other completely!
Also don't forget that the van springs don't have the rubber pads on them, the spring bolts straight up to the axle.

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Wed May 21, 2008 8:53 am

thanks for the tips, chickenjohn

M25VAN wrote:don't forget that the van springs don't have the rubber pads on them, the spring bolts straight up to the axle.

Do you mean the pads which go on either side of the spring in the middle, where the U-bolts go? Why do they not go on the van springs?

Post by **chickenjohn** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:45 am

BTW, to clarify, I put the shackle plate on one side then used the clamp to squash the other plate on the opposite side in order to get the nuts started on the shackles. This was to compress against the rubber bushes- apologies, I mis-remembered in my previous post.

I used Bull motif superior rubber and tightened on the ground (easier with the wings off the car).

Whilst doing this the U clamp nuts were still a little loose on the axle allowing the springs a tiny bit of movement to help fitting. Thats my method anyway.