TR2/3/3A TR3 Rear Leaf Spring Shackle Bushes Upgrade

[karls59tr]

Going thru my parts bin and found a kit that I ordered online some time ago and forgot I had. It consists of bronze bushings and large flat washers that go over the shackle pins to replace the rubber bushes.It seemed like a good idea at the time I bought the kit, in that it would provide lateral stability and prevent sideways movement, but now I'm wondering how it would affect the ride seeing as how there are no rubber components in the setup?(Well I know it's a buckboard ride anyway but.... Anyone have an opinion on this mod?

 

[TRDejaVu]

If that is the Joe Alexander kit, then I fitted it to my TR4. It should be noted that I replaced the mount on the other end as well and also stripped down, cleaned and applied UHMW tape to the spring leafs. After all that, the car rode tighter and smoother than before, although not modern car standard by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Moseso]

I've got that kit too. No problems. It DOES seem to make the car respond a little more consistently than the old rubber bushes.

 

[karls59tr]

Not sure if its the Joe Alexander kit. How difficult was it to install the kit? I'm assuming I should soak the old spindles and bushes with penetrating oil for a night or two before removal. Any unforseen difficulties in the change out? I think I'm going to leave the silent bush at the front of the spring because of the horror stories I hear about removal. One day when I lift the body off I'll tackle yjat job. Not even sure if the front bush can be removed with the body on?

 

[TR3driver]

Not even sure if the front bush can be removed with the body on?

Depends on whether you can get the pins out or not. I changed both of my front bushes recently, with the body on the frame.

Being somewhat dubious about the benefits of the bronze rear bushings on the street, I went with the poly ones from TRF, and stock silentblocs up front. Even with my low profile, sticky tires, evidence seems to suggest that the rear end doesn't move around enough to matter unless you are seriously into autocrossing or similar racing.

 

[Twosheds]

Sounds more like Ken Gillanders' kit to me. I put one on the TR3 racecar.

Didn't notice a huge difference either way, but I changed several things at once.

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Karl,

I have installed them on mine. Is this what yours look like?

Cheers,
David

 

[karls59tr]

David Yes that's the setup. Who did you get it from? Did you lubricate the spindle and if so what did you use?

 

[karls59tr]

Randall Did you have to jack the car body up as high as you could and then use the fabricated tool to remove the pin?

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

Bought it from The Roadster Factory. I believe they source it from ARE

https://www.the-vintage-racer.com/webroot/Chassis_Suspension/

I did it a little while ago but as I recall I had to ream the bushing a little bit and then before assembly I used a wheel bearing/axle grease on the spindle.

Cheers,
David

 

[TR3driver]

Randall Did you have to jack the car body up as high as you could and then use the fabricated tool to remove the pin?

I just put the car up on stands, as usual for doing any work underneath. High enough to get my impact gun onto the U-bolt nuts, but not particularly high as I recall. And my "fabricated tool" was just some bits of hardened all-thread, nuts, washers sockets, pieces of pipe, etc. Sorry I didn't think to take any pictures.

 

[Twosheds]

Sounds more like Ken Gillanders' kit to me. I put one on the TR3 racecar.

Didn't notice a huge difference either way, but I changed several things at once.

I'm wrong.

Ken Gillanders' kit used big fender washers, if I remember correctly.

 

[karls59tr]

Do you think there would be much difference between the fender washers and the nylon /urethane washers? I might have bought the Ken Gillanders kit as the washers you mention were in the bag with the bronze sleeves. Oddly enough I found a set of the nylon/urethane washers kicking around in the box as well!!! Maybe the urethane would have bit of flex...but is that a good thing?

 

[Twosheds]

Ken lists a stainless and nylatron rear spring locating kit: https://www.britishframeandengine.com/parts1.html

No photo.

This is the one I put on the racecar. I have to say that I forget if it was for the front or the back mounting!

I think it came in Racetorations packaging. But we've already found that my memory is failing, haven't we?

 

[TR3driver]

Don't know if the same would apply to the rear suspension, but Ken recently told me that he has quit stocking the Nylatron front suspension parts. Apparently, the fact that they last darn near forever has really killed the demand for them :laugh: