5 leaf or 7 leaf spring

[moggyadventurer]

Good evening all

Just been reading a topic which got me thinking, shock horror.

What benefits are there to fitting a 7 leaf spring on a saloon rather than the traditional 5 leaf?

[chrisryder]

7 leaves = better handling + worse ride

My 4 door has 7 leafers on the back, as does my sisters 2 door. Both of which seem to take off over speedbumps!

[bmcecosse]

Stiffens up the rear - some say it can then be better balanced by fitting a front anti-roll bar. But yes - it will give a more harsh ride, although a softly sprung 5 leaf will crash onto the bump stops very easily - which will also be 'harsh' ........ I would go 7 leaf if the car is to be driven 'sportingly' and/or heavily laden. But if just for 'touring' with 2 up - 5 leaf should be fine, but do cut an inch off the rear bump stops to reduce the bottoming - and in all cases, fill the dampers with (much) more viscous oil.......

[chrisryder]

Was it Colin Chapman who extolled the virtues of 'soft springs, firm dampers'?

[bmcecosse]

Oh yes - BUT - with long travel suspension - which a Minor does not have, especially at the rear.....

[mike.perry]

There are 2 different 7 leaf springs, the early thin 7/32in ones fitted to all cars up to 948? These were replaced by 5 leaf 1/4in springs, and the 7 leaf 1/4in springs fitted to the Traveller which ride too high especially on the Series MM/2 and in my opinion spoil the handling