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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - 4 new springs, rear is now 4' taller than front

i have installed 4 new springs on my 1978 MGB with complete Energy Suspension Poly Bushes throughout car. the springs are part # F.> 5-6506 & R.> 5-5545 from V.B.. the new front coils were 1/2 to 3/4" shorter than the old ones. the new rear leafs were shorter eye to eye than the ones i took off. measured from center of wheel to the bottom of chrome mldg, the front is 14" and the rear is 18" . i expected the front coils to be compressed some and the rear to have streched some but the difference is TOO MUCH. any ideas on different years rear springs to drop the rear 3", i expect V.B to exchange if i can specify one. share your experiences and solutions please.
kelly stevenson

Are you sure your rear spring shackles are not pointed forward? Four inches sounds like a lot to me for it to be just springs that are too stiff.

Pete
Pete

the shackles are not perpendicular to ground. they are slightly facing forward. i would think they should be pointed toward the rear. this seems to indicate the springs have too much arch and will not relax enough to get the ride height down. the a/m springs have to strips between the leafs. maybe too much friction?? or the spring too difficult to compress. thanks for reply.
kelly stevenson

I bought "lowering" springs, front and rear from VB a couple of years ago for my 79 roadster. The fronts were fine, lowering the car to the height I expected, but before I put them on, I noticed the rears had exactly the same arc as the old springs, even with me standing on them on the garage floor. I brought the new springs to a local spring shop and had them rearced and lowered 1". After putting them on the car, the rear is still about an inch too high.

At that point it was too late to return them, and I'm waiting for the opportune winter to take them off again and have them rearced again.
Allan

Kelly, measure the spring along the top of the main leaf and compare to the old springs. They should be the same length. Direct eye to eye measurements vary due to the arch of the springs. If they're not the same along the main leaf then they won't ever settle to proper height without re-arching. Leaf springs are supposed to support the vehicle because of the temper of the steel, but also internal leaf to leaf friction can cause them to stand high untl they are used a bit. If they don't have the plastic leaf to leaf strips installed I highly recommend installing these. It will make the ride a lot smoother and handling more linear without sacrificing ride height if the arch is correct to begin with. Speedway motors http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/aspx/paging.yes/dept_id.365/display_id.2079/qx/Product.htm
has a product which works pretty well although it's a bit wide for a MG spring.
Bill Young

HI Kelly, I made the same mistake and bought rear leafs for my 74 gt from VB because they were cheaper. The rear was 3" too high. It does not matter what you try they will not setle down to where you want them.
They took them back, and I bought a set from the Bee Hive. They fit fine. I know of several other people that have had same problem.

Regards Paul
P Harrington

thanks for all the replys and info. seems like i will keep the OEM springs, both end, and only add the poly bushings. SAFETY FAST
kelly stevenson

An advantage to fitting lowering blocks is that the shock abs' links don't have to be shortened, the bottom mounts stay where they were, it's the axle that moves.
Peter

Kelly,

I read all those horror stories over the years about just what you are experiencing. So, when I finally convinced my Dad that the sagging leaf springs on his '63 B had to go, I told him to order them from Bob @ Brit-Tek.

http://www.brittek.com/rearsuspensionkit.html

They went on without any problems. I even got the front bolts out without cutting them. Most importantly, the car sits right. We had replaced the front springs a few years earlier from Moss.

Not to say that I am ecstatic about the quality of parts from Moss Motors these days, but Victoria British is not on my vendor list.
Carl Floyd

Carl
I also got my rear leaf springs from Britek and they have been just fine --I can also vouch for their fast honest and helpful service.
Sorry I missed seeing all of you in IN--but planing on the TN get together next year
All the best --Gil
Gil Price

Yeah, we missed ya, Gil. Look forward to seeing ya in TN 06. Stop by and pick up Dale on the way down. :)
Carl Floyd

This thread was discussed between 29/07/2005 and 03/08/2005

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