'Pepping-up' Saggy Rear leaves?

[dunketh]

My suspension seams a little low for my liking.

The car sits the same height fornt and back but when I have some 'larger' relatives in the back the diff housig tends to catch bumps in the road.

Is there any easy way to put some life back into old leaf springs?

[Kevin]

Is there any easy way to put some life back into old leaf springs?

Replace them if they have gone flat its not worth having them re-tempered as a replacement kit from someone like Bull Motif is only around a £100.
Are you sure its the Diff thats hitting the floor and not the bump stops, and also check the condition of the rear shockers.

[simmitc]

the diff housig tends to catch bumps in the road

The springs won't alter the gap between the diff housing and the road, only (as Kevin suggests) between the housing and the floor of the car. The gap to the road is governed by the diameter of the wheels + tyres. Are both rear bump stops in place? The rubber can (particularly modern ones) have a habit of coming off.

[jonathon]

Although not an total cure, we have produced two versions of extended rear shackle plates. This will lift the rear by upto 1 1/2" The best thing to do really is to replace the springs and check the 'dampers' (shockers) tut tut but as a safe short term fix its perfectly acceptable. Pm me for prices.

[bmcecosse]

New springs are not expensive - and you could fit 7 leaf Traveller springs - but some consider these too hard. Longer shackles are easily enough made at home if you have a decent leccy drill! Whatever extra distance you put between the holes will lift the car by half that amount (approximately). So add 2" and raise the car 1". Ifr you make them really long (which I honestly don't advise) then a bracing bolt and spacer tube in the middle is a really good idea.

[dunketh]

Okey doke, cheers for the info.
Never even considered the idea of longer shackle plates... seems obvious now.

I'm going to replace the springs I think. I always planned on replacing all the suspension components with new ones as I've no idea as to the age/condition of the ones fitted

I don't know 100% what hits the floor but on cornering with 'heavy' folk in the back something clonks drain covers etc.. Nothing shows any signs of being 'clonked' so who knows??

[Onne]

If you do get new springs (about £25 a piece) also get some new U-bolts. I recently replaced mine, and three out of four snapped.

I might also be nice to get the poly bushes, and new bolts at the front and the back, including the new plates at the front

you'd need:
Metal Plate-Locating-Front Pin x 2
Rear Road Spring-5 Leaf Saloon/Convertible x 2
Rear Shackle Bush-Polyurethane x 12
Rear Shackle Pin x 4 (these tend to rust solid to the bushes)
Rear Spring Front Locating Pin x 2
U-bolts, saloon x 4


Onne

[doobry]

If you get new shackle pins - don't forget to ask for new nuts
Most of the time the parts you buy come without the nuts - this is pretty infuriating.

[Onne]

nuts and bolts for the front plates too, they are a strange size

[doobry]

nuts and bolts for the front plates too, they are a strange size

I think i replaced them with M5 ;-)

[Onne]

I got free nuts and bolts.

[minor_hickup]

If you are getting a metallic clonking it may be the top of the near side rear shocker fouling the exhaust.