Rear Leaf Springs

[delwin]

Would appreciate some help as slightly confused by the references to 5 leaf 7 leaf springs etc on various posts, and best way to check rear springs. They're fairly flat on my 4 door saloon, the car has hardly been used in the last 50 years.

Going slowly - 15mph - over speed humps the car seems to bottom out on the bump stops. Does anyone have the correct measurements of the height of a 4door saloon unladen between the top of the axle and the chassis rails?? I think the springs have lost their springyness but it maybe that there is a simple mod I can do so the car doesn't hit the bump stops so easily.

It sits level and seems to handle OK but I have got it on radials, rolls a bit (well quite a lot) if driven at my 'normal' speed into a bend !!

Thanks

Dave

[MarkyB]

The first thing to do is replace the oil in the dampers with something thicker, plenty of posts about it, just search.

[philthehill]

Dependent upon the year of the car and which variant the number of leaf springs varies.
Count the number of leaves making up your rear spring and it will be either 5 leaves or 7 leaves.
Attached is a diagram of the ride height of a Minor taken from the Morris Minor wksp manual.
Whilst it refers to the MM your Minor will not be too different so long as the car is measured on level ground.[frame][/frame]

[delwin]

Thanks for the advice,

Have got workshop manual and had seen the MM diag but wasn't able to find one for 1000 so this helps.

Dave

[kennatt]

The easy way is to look at the rear spring hangers,if they are close to the chassis rail,there may even be a mark on the rail where they have been hitting it,then the springs have flattened,Idealy with good springs the hangers should be pointing down and slightly to the rear with the car unloaded,life can be extended by cutting down the bump stops,but eventually the shackles WILL hit the chassis rail and cause damage.Others have made up and fitted longer rear shackles,but allthough this may prevent them hitting the leg can't see how it improves the handling so not something I would do. .
If you are going to change its better to fit new old stock ( very Rare ) there has been some talk over the years that the new aftermarket springs very soon flatten again,some have had their's re tempered , and second hand ones,well ,who knows. Its a bit of a long but not very technical job to do ,so its better getting right first time.
The ones I fitted were too stiff,handled like a sports car but very harsh ride,so I took a leaf out and stored it,after 5 years they have settled a bit ,so next job is to refit. GOOD LUCK with it.

[bmcecosse]

Cut 1.5" from the rear stops - and SAE 40 oil in the dampers after flushing out the old of course... It will be fine - or at least much better!