Front suspension and oil pan

bugedd

Jedi Knight

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• Apr 13, 2015

• #1

The car had a high front ride height, so today I took it apart. Attached are pics of the springs, which are the same length as stock, with a 1" thick rubber bushing that was at the top of the spring between it and the car. I don't recall this rubber bushing/spacer on my old car, and don't see it in any schematics. Did someone put that there to up the ride height? Is that supposed to be in there?
And the oil pan is something I've never seen before.....

 

JPSmit

Moderator

Staff member

Silver

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• Apr 13, 2015

• #2

looks like someone installed a toilet flange because they couldn't find the correct rubber isolator.

 

OP

bugedd

Jedi Knight

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• Apr 13, 2015

• #3

I looked at Moss' schematics, and I didn't see an isolator. Is there supposed to be one, or spring on metal, or??

 

smaceng

Jedi Knight

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• Apr 13, 2015

• #4

I looked at the Mini-Mania parts catalog for the Sprite, and it does not show a rubber isolator for either the top or bottom of the spring.
BTW: If you can find one of these catalogs, they are great....listing for original p/ns and great illustrations.

 

Jim_Gruber

Yoda

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• Apr 13, 2015

• #5

Why don't you simply ask John. Looks to me that you have some special oil b
pan and there may be some trick involved with suspension.

 

OP

bugedd

Jedi Knight

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• Apr 13, 2015

• #6

That oil pan goes with the theme of the car. The rear end has a welded in panhard bar, nicely done. The front wheels have spacers shimming the front wheels out a 1/4". I'm assuming someone put the rubber spacers in to stiffen up the front end. Someone loved to rail that thing in its past life. It was nice to get under it today and look things over, the sheet metal is pretty clean under it.

 

BlueMax

Jedi Warrior

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• Apr 14, 2015

• #7

Installing the rubber isolators would not stiffen car spring rates, Sprites/Midgets never used rubber isolators on spring seats. I suspect their was some tire rub and needed to raise ride height to stop rubbing as well installing front wheel spacers. The oil pan appears to look like a Winners Circle 6qt but the drain plug is in a different place. It could be from Tom Coby's Speedwells shop?

 

JPSmit

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Staff member

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• Apr 14, 2015

• #8

bugedd said:

I looked at Moss' schematics, and I didn't see an isolator. Is there supposed to be one, or spring on metal, or??

Click to expand...

Let me quickly add that I couldn't remember if there was an isolator or not - but, have been working on the front end of the Vauxhall - which does have one

 

N

nomad

Yoda

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• Apr 14, 2015

• #9

BlueMax said:

Installing the rubber isolators would not stiffen car spring rates, Sprites/Midgets never used rubber isolators on spring seats. I suspect their was some tire rub and needed to raise ride height to stop rubbing as well installing front wheel spacers. The oil pan appears to look like a Winners Circle 6qt but the drain plug is in a different place. It could be from Tom Coby's Speedwells shop?

Click to expand...

Your suspicion's are the same as mine...looks like a method to raise the front to avoid tire rub.

Kurt.

 

OP

bugedd

Jedi Knight

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• Apr 14, 2015

• #10

K, thanks guys. I'll put her back together without them. I can't see why there would be tire rub on the car, its no different than my last car. Perhaps wheel offset or something like that

 

Trevor Jessie

Yoda

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• Apr 14, 2015

• #11

or it had different wheels at one time.

 

BlueMax

Jedi Warrior

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• Apr 14, 2015

• #12

Track on a Bugeye for the front is 3' 9 3/4" rear is 3' 8 3/4'. Unless someone had used a wheel with not enough off set or the wheel is wider than 6" shims wouldn't be needed? I think I ran into that issue once before myself, I'm using a 1/2" spacer on the rear of my car so that front and rear are the same track with no tire and wheel extending beyond wings at the top.

 

N

nomad

Yoda

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• Apr 14, 2015

• #13

When I was running 165/80's on stock rims I had tire rub when turning in and out of parking lot's with sharp entry ramp's. Can't seem to find them anymore so I'm now running 155/80's.

Kurt.

 

OP

bugedd

Jedi Knight

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• Apr 14, 2015

• #14

I got the Moss 340lb springs on it, seems to have good clearance but it much harsher, especially the input at the steering wheel. Kinda thinking of putting those rubber isolators in to see if I can reap the benefit of better handling but a bit of cush from the isolators.

 

BlueMax

Jedi Warrior

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• Apr 15, 2015

• #15

Increasing ride height will only introduce more body roll. If you want a softer ride, change springs rates and work the body roll with different sway-bar thickness.

 

N

nomad

Yoda

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• Apr 15, 2015

• #16

bugedd said:

I got the Moss 340lb springs on it, seems to have good clearance but it much harsher, especially the input at the steering wheel. Kinda thinking of putting those rubber isolators in to see if I can reap the benefit of better handling but a bit of cush from the isolators.

Click to expand...

I really like the 340# springs but have only fitted them to square bodies. BE might be a little too light in the front.

Kurt.

 

Trevor Jessie

Yoda

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• Apr 15, 2015

• #17

Does the car have polyurethane or nylatron bushings?

 

OP

bugedd

Jedi Knight

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• Apr 15, 2015

• #18

They are poly on the anti sway bar, but the rest I believe are rubber. I'll climb under it tonight to check it out. The rear of the car has the lowering wedges in it as well as the S-shaped leafs, so the goal was the level the car out. The 340lb springs accomplished it, just a bit harsh. I don't know if perhaps the stock springs with a spacer kit for the spring pan might lower it enough?