Finished leaf springs + question

[100DashSix]

I recently finished putting new leaf springs in my MG, and it now rides at the proper height (and then some). I'm thinking of submitting an article on how to do it to BCF or the MG Experience; would anyone be interested in it, or is it considered too minor of a job to explain?

Yesterday I noticed the steering wheel points a few degrees off center; thinking I needed an alignment, I took it to a shop, only to have them very quickly tell me I need to replace the kingpins. (I should've checked myself, and saved a few hours.)

My question: should I redo the front suspension while replacing the kingpins? The whole shebang or just the bushings? Springs? I haven't noticed a problem with the front ride height, though I do hear some small klunks coming from the front...and the more I listen, the louder they seem to get!

This is a pity; I have to rebuild the carbs too.

 

[Bret]

Seems logical to do everything while it's all apart. Any sort of clunking noise from the front end could mean any number of things (lots of recent treads about this) and it’s a good guess that you should spend a little extra money now and save on the added frustration & extra $$$ of having to revisit the issue(s) later on.

 

[Tom_Fisher]

[ QUOTE ]
I recently finished putting new leaf springs in my MG, and it now rides at the proper height (and then some).

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi:

FWIW, I put new leaf springs in my 69 MGB about 2 years ago. It bugged me that the rear end stuck up too much - it had a raked look. Just the other night, I got to thinking about it (plus I heard about this from another MGB suggestion) and did something about it.

I removed the bottom two leaves from each rear leaf assembly and placed them on top of each leaf sandwich. It was a lot of work (about 4 hours) but the net effect was that it lowered the rear end about an inch.

And now my car looks a whole bunch better - it actually sits level all the way around.

Sorry - I don't have anything to offer on your front suspension question.

 

[100DashSix]

The car's back is a little over level, last time I measured it, but not high enough to warrent altering the springs, fortunately.

I got the springs from BritTek, btw, and they seem to keep her tail up just the right amount.

 

[Nunyas]

Good to know that BritTek's springs are ok. I was looking at my rear leafs when I was having exhaust work done and noticed the driver's side leaf is looking a little beyond tired... I know I'm gonna have to replace 'em, but I'd hate to replace them with new leafs that'll counteract the effects of 1" lowering blocks. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

 

[100DashSix]

After checking earlier today, Nunyas, I found that both sides are high by only 0.25". Immediately after I replaced them (less than a week ago) both sides were about an inch.

This is the second kit I've gotten from BritTek (the first was the Peco exhaust) and I'm very satisfied with both. If I do my front suspension, I'll almost certainly use them again.

 

[tony barnhill]

New rear springs will usually 'settle in'...on the front suspension, my advice is to drop the entire beam & redo everything...if you just do new kingpins, you'll regret it later....