Morris Minor Owners Club

Just finished my MM 2 door saloon and it looks very high at the back. Probably looks higher because of the large radius rear wings. My manual doesn't give any dimensions, any ideas? The original springs have been replaced with what was already fitted ie 7 leaves, although I see the later cars have only 5 leaves.

The springs you fitted, are they by any chance for the traveller? I couldn't find replacement springs for my saloons, so I ended up with the later 5 leaf springs.

I was impressed with the extra ride height at the back though after fitting new ones.

What is the distance between the bumpstop and the body?

What is the distance between the bumpstop and the body?

should be about 2 inches space.

seven leaves do sound like a traveller, and would make it sit high at the back.

All early saloons had 7 leaf leafsprings. Which are NOT the same as the traveller ones, those are thicker

Hi, I have non original bump stops, but the distance between the bodywork bump pad and the top of the axle tube is 6 inches, the distance from ground to top of wheel arch is 28 3/4 inches. Are you saying that the 7 leaf traveller springs are different to the early 7 leaf assembly?
Alan

Do you know how thick each leaf is from each?

Yes, the 7 leaf traveller springs are thicker. I will try and measure my Series MM today, that is on its original springs as far as I can tell.

I'm pretty certain the original saloon 7 leaf springs were 1/4" & the Traveller ones are 5/16"

Rog

"pretty certain"? Not like you, Rog

You should be able to just get your hand vertically between the top of the front wing and the wheel. If the car looks level, front to rear then that is about right.
I fitted traveller rear springs to my MM once. I took them off PDQ when I had to apply some rapid opposite lock around a roundabout!!
I know 5 leaf are not original but if thats all you can get !!!
I reccon my MM corners better than my traveller which is probably due to the stiffer rear springs on the traveller.

Just been out to measure the leaf thickness and they are 1/4 thick, so it looks like I might have the correct replacements, just as well as I bought them years ago, it just looks high at the rear.

I missed your posting Mike while I was out measuring, but from what your saying I think my problem might be that the front is too low! I can't get my hand in vertically only horizontally! and as a result it is not parallel to the ground front to back I think I need to have a proper measure of the front first and then go from there. (I still think the back looks too high though!)

bigginger wrote:"pretty certain"? Not like you, Rog

Just covering my bases

Now I will muddy the waters further

Have now found the info in Tech Tips Manual & this confirms my thoughts - ie early - 1/4" & later - 5/16".

However, "Original Morris Minor" states changeover point being December '58 (chassis no 680464) when leaves were changed from 7 x 7/32" to 5 x 1/4" on Saloons & Convertibles.

Rog

So, as I see it now we have three thicknesses! Looks like my originals may have been 7 leaves of 7/32 (long since deceased) which I have replaced with the 7 leaves of 1/4, I think they must be 'set' differently as that's only '7/32 different in total' , which I don't think I would notice!

I have just reset the torsion bars to give the factory settings at 1 5/8 inch lift across the wishbone. Now when I measure to the wheelarch in a line going through the centre of the hub I get 26 1/4 inches.

However the car drops about half an inch along the length of the cills so I guess the back springs are a bit flat.

This is in the garage on a level floor On the road you'd probably not notice.

Just popped out to garage to have a measure and the 1 5/8 dimension is actually measuring 3/4 ! so things will obviously need adjusting, will keep you all posted! and thanks for all your help (s)

Just had the front suspension apart to set the ride height (slight adjustment both sides) put it all back together and guess what, it's hardly any different! I think my torsion bars must have 'softened' with age and consequently settle lower than designed, the 1 5/8 dimension measures about 7/8 now but I do get 26 1/4 to the top of the radius on the front wings and 28 15/16 on the rears.