Morris Minor Owners Club

I believe that it is possible to fit rear springs the wrong way round,How do you tell which way is the right way and what effect on the suspension does it have if both are wrong way.Obviously I can see that one wrong would effect the handling but what if both are wrong

I think we had a thread on this subject recently, and came to the conlusion that they can befitted either way round with no ill effects.

Fit them with the two straps to the front. This offers better resistance to wind up.

well they are the right way round I ask because since I fitted the new springs along with pollybushes,It feels as though the back end is kind of hard and harsh.Could be just the effect of new springs and polly bushes. Feels as though I need to put some sand bags in the back to settle it down.

According to some sources, leaf springs will soften a bit in the first year (although I guess that depends how much you drive!)
I'm not sure if that's really true or not but that's what some people have said.

I had a new spring 'soften' on a Land Rover - it softened down to completely flat on the way to Timbuktu!! The other one of the pair was perfectly ok.

A bit strange getting a harsh ride on new springs. When springs get old and lose their camber, the ride is harsh as the suspension bottoms out a lot.

Usually new springs make the ride feel smoother. I changed to Polybushes on the rear a few months back, and if anything the ride felt a little firmer, but more positive.

Did you tighten the eyebolt nuts with the cars wheels on the ground? I suppose it's possible you have induced suspension tightness if you did up the eyebolt nuts while still on axle stands.

did them on axle stands,would this cause the stifness surely the spring can move on the bushes to settle into the right position. Will redo the bolts later,and re tighten just as an experiment,easy as all new bolts etc.Interesting theory .

Are the new springs still 5 leaf - or have you fitted 7 leaf ? Probably the old springs were quite knackered, new are bound to be better - for a while.

New springs (5 leaf) are quite hard when you put them on, I'm sure mine have softened slightly.

5 leaf bm the old ones were so bad that the shackle at the rear was hitting the chassis.Will live with it for a bit and see.Still might get a bag of sand under the rear seat

kennatt wrote:Still might get a bag of sand under the rear seat

When I had a BSA and side car. I used to swap my girlfriend for two sand bags to balance the unit when I dropped her off at home. Looking back it was a good deal!

Aaargh!

have just trial fitted axle and old springs to newly welded springhangers and rear chassis legs. Everything has lined up perfectly and passenger side is great, but on driver's side, the top of the spring is hitting the underside of the new chassis leg. Any ideas?

Great NEC show - as usual MMOC club stand was fantastic - liked the train set too. Also saw a 4 door moggy modelling a chassis tilter. I desperately need one of them if I'm going to do a good job of the rest of the underside. If anyone has one, or a car roller, etc. for sale/hire, please let me know. New ones are very expensive though I see someone selling plans for one on ebay.

Happy moggering!

The springs will contact here if you do not cut back the flange on the chassis leg. Just trim back a radius'd recess in this flange about 2" long and 2/3 its depth to allow for the travel of the shackle plate at different loadings.

stagg with my old springs they were so weaked that they were quite flat and obviously therefore lenghened so that the rear shackle was contacting the chassis on bumps and pot holes.If after doing as jonathon suggests you still have the same problem then new springs are required,I would change then anyway if you are doing a rebuild.Not that expensive.

Thanks guys, a great relief that i've not done anything stupid in lining it all up! I probably will replace the springs as part of the rebuild.