Morris Minor Owners Club

What's the consequence of fitting a leaf spring the wrong way around? Reading in my older manual yesterday I saw that it is written that the side of the spring with two clips should be to the front of the axle.... to late and I've already fitted my new springs, with one the other way around.

Is this going to be a problem?

Not really - but i would turn it round, but only to make them both the same. If both had been 'backwards' I would say leave alone !

Well at least no one has replied and said it will end in disaster. I wonder how many other Minors have them the wrong way around. It was only the old Workshop manual that commented on the correct direction.

I queried the orientation about a year ago after realising that my traveller had one back to front. No one could say which way round they should be, and I never changed it!

You can easily take the clips off and put them both the same. I think there is no need to worry as long as the springs are in good condition, the only "back to frontness" as far as I can see are the clips. Having stripped down de-rusted and re-painted springs- they look as if there is no front or back to the spring itself- so could in reality go on the car either way round.

I haven't got Albert to hand at the mo to check but could the orientation affect axle tramp and explain why some cars are prone and others less so?

Hello all,

my initial thought was yes , it will be a problem as I thought the springs were asymmetrical about the mounting, i.e. the axle pad is not central.
However as others have fitted them back to front I must be mistaken otherwise there would be a few 'crabbing' Minors.

Alec

to late and I've already fitted my new springs, with one the other way around.

well ever heard of turning over a new leaf

So - does anyone know WHY the springs have clips on one side only ?? My guess is it IS something to do with limiting spring wind-up and hence axle tramp.

bmcecosse wrote:So - does anyone know WHY the springs have clips on one side only ?? My guess is it IS something to do with limiting spring wind-up and hence axle tramp.

The latest 7 leaf springs from ESM have four clips, two on each section either side of the centre bolt. So now I guess it's impossible to fit them incorrectly

I'm very dubious whether the clips would limit sideways movement but if so, then they should be at the front as the front mounting is the most rigid.
My best guess would be to limit axle tramp

Is 'Axle Tramping' a common problem on Minors??

My minor seems to 'axle tramp' an awful lot sometimes

It may just be me pushing the old girl to hard but it seems a bit OTT?

Could this problem be linked to bad damping or tired springs?

Yup, it's common, and yup, tired springs will make it worse

well looks like more money sucked in by the good old minor

Or just go easy on the right foot. Tramping can/will break a half shaft - so don't do it!

What exactly is axle tramping?

Is this when the axle goes to live under railway arches, begs money off the public/sells copies of big issue, spends it all on cheap wine, never washes and grows a long beard?

but seriously, what symptoms does the car display when the axle "tramps"?

Its basicaly when the wheel bounces up and down.

It is because of the torque through the wheel, it bounces back on itself.

it can be caused by:

1 Over-inflated tires
2 Unbalanced tire and/or wheel
3 Nackered shock absorber
4 Square/old defective tire

Symptoms are very clear!! The car shakes and there is a loud banging noise from the rear! You definetly will know when it happens and you WILL slow down!!! almost instinct!

I've never had that happen on a Minor. Juddering when moving away, 1st gear or reverse, yes, but thats a clutch problem.

Does it only happen with tuned cars with standard rear axle/ suspension?

Well I have a standard rear axle! I gues Gas Dampers would help and so would upgraded springs. It normaly happens round corners.

When the car rolls and the inside wheel becomes light the torque through the wheels causes it to bounce on the road! it is a shuddering noise that is quite loud!

If you easy of the acceleration then it will stop! It mainly occurs when you take a corner a bit to fast and then accelerate hard out of it!

I learnt to drive by my dad and was tought to do all the braking before the corner and then power the car round the bend. I have now got into a habbit of doing this and new cars can do it fine but the old morris needs to be taken a bit more steadily!

chickenjohn wrote:Does it only happen with tuned cars with standard rear axle/ suspension?

Nope, pretty common on standard cars too, especially when puling away with the front wheels turned, I guess 'cos one rear wheel is loaded more than the other.
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