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MG MGB Technical - Replacing Leaf Springs - your DIY Experience

Hi. I am about to replace my saggy leafsprings and rear dampers at the weekend. I wondered if I am better jacking up the rear axle at both sides to do both sides in 1 jacking operation, or if it is best to jack up one side of the car, do one side then repeat at the other side. Not sure what kind of access is needed at the front end of the spring to do what I have to do. It's the sort of thing you only realise afterwards so the benefit of your experience would be highly valued.
Graham
Graham Moore

GRAHAM jack up the rear end and put it on jack stands (both sides) just in front of the spring eyes. Then work on one spring at a time. Disconnect the shocker and axle restraining strap first with the axle weight on the jack.
When assembled leave the shackle pins loose until you can take the vehicle weight on on the jack. Then go over and tighten. Denis
Denis4

Basically as Denis says. Use penetrating oil on the rebound strap nuts, the pins can shear.

With the spring partially jacked up you should be able to work the bottom plate attached to the damper drop-link out from under the spring once the U-bolts have been removed. Then disconnect the rear shackle, jack down, and finally remove the front bolt. They are heavy (the springs, not the bolts)! On two cars these came straight out, but on a third I had to cut through the bolt alongside both sides of the eye with a cutting disc in an angle-grinder. Sounds tricky but there is plenty of room for the thinner cutting discs and it only took a few moments.

When refitting fit the front bolt then jack the spring so its rear eye slides along the bottom of the chassis rail until you can get the shackle refitted. Then jack up further to refit the bottom plate and rebound strap. Check that the rear eye of the spring has dropped down from the chassis rail and the shackle is pointing more or less downwards.

Full story at http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/suspensiontext.htm#rearsprings
Paul Hunt

Here's how I did it, on Paul's website.
My spring broke and I replaced it, with another old spring. After a while I replaced both with new ones, using the same method.

http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/saga29.htm

Herb
Herb Adler

I fitted new rear springs to my GT and the ride is such that the rear pitches up quite hard when you go over bumps, I have telescopic dampers and have tried different settings but it is still uncomfortable. The ride has got slightly softer with use but I have now done over 1000 miles and t is still not nice. I am considering taking one or two leaves out, what do you think?
Cheers Mike
M G Bennett

Many recent rear springs have been of suspect quality, but unless you are a suspension guru, I should not remove 2 leaves -they weren't THAT bad. I'd suggest you need to discover whether it is the springs or the dampers.

The following is thoroughly dangerous: Disconnect the bottom of the telescopic dampers and tie them up out of the way. Select a bit of quiet straightish road and drive it gently. I would guess that you will have a beautiful soft "wafty" ride. Gloriously comfortable and totally useless for general use! If this is the case then the springs are fine and the dampers need changing for some with softer settings. Gaz set at 0 have no damping at all; most people find 4-6 about right for Roadsters-you might want a bit more for a GT. Gaz have a knob that you simply twist to adjust.

If the "undamped" ride is no better, then the springs may be at fault. There were different rated springs for different models -Roadster/ GT / RB, so you could simply have the wrong ones. But before you take them off I would be inclined to try to force Waxoil/ engine oil between the leaves, and for what it's worth around the bushes in the chassis rail and shackle. (Oil and rubber don't mix, but after years of road grime it probably won't make much difference!)

What year car? I can't remember whether GTs had an extra leaf or a longer 2nd leaf, but someone will be along who does.

Good stuff here: http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/suspensiontext.htm#rearsprings

Michael Beswick

Thanks Michael there is plenty to work on there.
M G Bennett

What's the ride height? If that's more than normal then it's the springs. If it's normal but hard then it's the dampers. Some telescopic dampers are very hard.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 08/05/2014 and 20/05/2014

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