Rear Springs

[David53]

I have pulled the back axle from the car and sent it off for refurbishment - the noise from the pinion bearings had become very bad and diff was starting to whine

My question is - while I have it apart is there any point in having the rear springs reset? The car sits a little lower than spec at the back, but I have adjusted the torsion bars to even it out. Is this something you would recommend having done?

[kennatt]

the rear shackle will eventually hit the chassis rail as the spring settles lower and stretches out,so yes re set or replace, now that you have it dismantled why do it again in a couple of years time.

[David53]

Thanks for the advice. Not having ever had this done before, do I quote them the specs from the manual?

[mike.perry]

If you have the original 7 leaf car springs then it is probably worth getting them reset or if not possible replace them with the later 5 leaf springs. Do not replace them with 7 leaf Traveller springs

[David53]

Thanks Mike. They are the original 7 leaf springs. What does the firm need to know in order to reset them?

[mike.perry]

I think that David McCullough had his springs done. Try looking for old postings or PM him.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Yes i did! It was a great job as the old springs had become almost flat and hardly moved at all and was especailly bad on all the road humps they keep putting down. I just told the local spring works how much I wanted the car to be raised up by and they adjusted the springs by that amount. I had them raised by 1 1/2 inches.

[bmcecosse]

It's not just anywhere that can re-temper springs. Do you have a place local to you that knows what they are doing ?? All seven leaves will need to be retempered - not just the main leaf - so make SURE they really do know what they are doing.....

[David53]

There are a number of suspension places locally that list resetting as a service. But with the springs off the car what specs do I need to supply for them to set them correctly??

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

If you contact the place thats going to do them they will let you know. The place I took mine too are used to working with huge lorry springs and more industrial sizes than the minor but simply asked how much higher I wanted the car to sit. If the spring is very settled the shackle will be sitting further back (like 7 oclock position, once the spring is higher it will be more like 5 oclock) allowing more movement in the spring and the shackle. hope that makes some sense

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... retempered

[David53]

I'm really not sure if it's justified. These are the measurements from the bottom edge of the body (back of rear doors and front of front doors) in centimetres after I set up the torsion bars a few months ago:

FR = 24.5
BR = 24.5
BL = 24.0
FL = 23.5

So my distance from the back of the rear doors to ground is 24 to 24.5 cm. I think this is about right? Anyone care to measure their car and check for me?

[kennatt]

my ser11 with new springs is 27cm but a better way is to look at the rear spring hanger it should be slightly pointing backwards from the straight up and down,5 oclock on the offside or your nearside down under(Thats with the axle in of course the height and angle will be different without that weight)

[David53]

Thanks. Can't check the hanger as back axle is out. But if you have 3 cm more height with new springs it would indicate mine is too low. I would have to raise the front again to match.

Had a quote today of $300 AUS to reset the springs (about 190 pounds). An awful lot to pay unless it's really needed...

[bmcecosse]

It's NOT needed! Car handles better slightly low anyway. How much clearance was there from top of bump stop to the 'bump' plate on the chassis leg? You need to have about 1.5" or it will constantly be sitting on the stops. It's often a good idea to trim about an inch off the top of the bumpstop so the suspension has room to move without bashing the stops - but do retain the taper shape.

[mike.perry]

Workshop Manual Page R16 gives the following dimensions above ground level
C/l front and rear of torsion bar = 10 11/16 ins
Front spring hanger = 10 9/16 ins
Rear shackle top pivot = 15 7/16 ins
Allowances should be made for non original spec tyres

[David53]

Found a nice fellow in our local club who will reset them 1 inch higher at a good price, including all new rubbers etc. Figure it's worth it while I have it all apart.