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MG MGB Technical - Shorten shackle? - Rail damage

I have a friend who apparently has some hidden damage to the left rear chassis he didn't know about. This shortens the leaf mount eye-to-eye by approximately 3/4". Does anyone know if shortening the rear shackle will help alleviate the problem and let the spring stretch out to its proper length? Correcting the frame is not an option as the car is fully re$tored.
Thanks for any feedback or experience with this as many of our cars carry the damage of rear-end accidents.
Samuel Sullivan

Shortening the shackle will make it worse as it will bow the leaf spring and reduce travel. Hate to say this but he should get the chassis repaired.
John H

A longer shackel might work
Peter

Yes, it's a longer shackle that is required but the best thing it to put the car on a dozer and pull the leg to the correct length. If the leg is short how does the boot floor, rear wings and rear panel fit?
Iain MacKintosh

Unfortunately the car has been totally restored but I guess he never had the chassis and alignment of it looked at. To repair the frame stuff he'd have to have bodywork and paint again. Not gonna do it. I was suggesting a panhard rod but don't know a source since Doug Jackson retired. And I think that lowers the car by an inch.
Samuel Sullivan

If the eye-to-eye distance is 3/4" out but the eye-to-ground distance is correct then increasing the shackle one side will raise the ride-height that side as well as give different suspension movements side to side, which will feel weird at the very least. Raising both shackles would get the same ride height both sides but you would still get the dynamic differences between the sides. Correcting the eye position is the only answer, and you may be able to do this by grinding off the existing eye and welding on a new one, which will greatly localise any damage and rework. Probably easier on an RB than a CB.
Paul Hunt 2

Well you might just find that the leg will pull without any effect on surrounding panel work and paint. It just depends on the damage. The best way would be to get a body builder to have a look at the situation and advise you as to the best course of action. Bear in mind too that the leg can be pulled by anchoring on to the rear bumper bracket mounting bolts and exiting the chain through the hole for the bracket. I say this because the damage is obviously at the 'open' end of the body and there will obviously be some flexibility in the structure before outer panels and paintwork sustain any damage.
Iain MacKintosh

One other alternative, have a new main leaf made for that spring that is 3/4" shorter eye to eye. This would keep everything else in alignment as well.
Bill Young

Good ideas, thanks all. The car is going to go to a shop to be assessed. I personally think it will never be right unless the damage is corrected.
Samuel Sullivan

This thread was discussed between 05/06/2007 and 07/06/2007

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