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61 BugEye Suspension

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198686d

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Fellow BugEye Enthusiasts:

My first time on forum and am looking forward to communicating with other British Car owners.

My 1961 BugEye underwent frame-off restoration in 1991. Only a few thousand miles since then. I purchased it one year ago. My interest is in driving the car for pleasure, not showing it. Have participated in a couple 100 mile rallies and other shorter distance runs, as well as just driving it around my neighborhood.

After some improvements, adjustments, etc., it runs well and it looks good. It has a 1275cc engine, rib case transmission, and disc brakes.

Problem: Rear suspension is basicially non-existent. Smallest pothole or railroad crossing makes car feel like it is bottoming out. New leaf springs (1/4 elliptical type)? Newer age schocks such as Spax? Both?

Very much appreciate your advice, recommendations, etc.

Thanks in advance.
 
I'd suspect spring rate is too soft...

Are these stock springs, or some sort of aftermarket repro??

Are all of the leafs still there??

Shocks might have some small effect (stiffer would help), but if you are bottoming on small stuff your springs must be "soft"... or your shocks are "blown"... or both??

Q: Does it bottom out? OR does it just FEEL like it is bottoming??

Q: Have you disconnected the shock link to see of there is any resistance to motion? (they SHOULD be very stiff)

Q: any leaks from the shocks??

BTW: Peter Caldwell (Worldwide Auto Parts, www.nosimport.com) did a GREAT presentation on Spridget shocks dos&don'ts at the 50th....
He knows how to make these shocks work right!!
(that's where I'm sending mine for rebuilds from now on...)

-Bear-
 
I will second that motion for Peters shocks. Just installed the pair on the rear I got from the 50th celebration. Made a big difference.


leecreek
 
Welcome to the forum,

I am coming at this from the other angle.

Were the springs replaced during restoration?

How many Leaves are they?

Are they the original springs or the rally/hd version?

Does it feel more like a hop on hard cornering?

Well, IMHO your problem mostly likely lies with your springs and not your shocks. Heck I bet it feels like you don't even know if you have shocks or how stiff or soft they are. New BE quarter elepticals are just way to stiff for me and make your car look like a rat frog.

I have owned mine for many many years and one of the best things that I have ever done was to shed out some of the leaves. The profile of the car looks better and the handling increases so dramatically.

You will go from hopping across the lilly pads to sliding across them :wink:

BTW, sounds like you have a nice lil BE there, can we see some pictures :smile:
 
Bear:

Thanks for the good Questions. I reviewed my receipts. Found one from 1989 for 2 sets of leaft springs "LS 554 Leaf SPG Spridget (UKHM) cost of $168.15.

I don't know if they are the 15 leaf springs or the what I guess is the rally type of 10 springs. I'm really a novice at this, so I guess I simply need to get under Pandora and count them. Right?

Really appreciate your expertise on this.

dave
 
Bear:

Just looked at your message again. I'm fairly old and not too technically adept so I don't know what "IMHO" means.

The car does not "hop" around corners.......I can take corners fast.....fast enough to scare any passengers who have been with me. It bottoms out hard on any depression or "bump" in the road.

later,

dave
 
leecreek:

Two recommendations sounds credible. How do I tell if they shocks (rear) need rebuilding?

thanks,

dave
 
GeeBee1:

I think I just responded to you by wrong name. Sorry about that. This is a steep learning curve for me.

dave
 
Most likely the 15, IMHO = In my humble opinion
 
Disconnect shock from the link. Move the arm. Should be steady resistance both directions. Any sign of seepage or slop in arm movement => send to Peter C for rebuild. One of the ones I just replaced had some slop. The other had started leaking. Go figure...they were both OE and had 60 wt oil from 25 years ago...hahahah


leecreek
 
25 years?

Too bad they didn't make them to last! <LOL>

Gotta Admit, although Brit cars take a lot of grief for being "unreliable", these things do actually survive pretty well! In most environments the mechanicals do manage to outlast the sheetmetal!!

Can't imagine that the original designers/engineers EVER IMAGINED that we'd be still driving these cars after 50 years!!

:thumbsup:

-Bear-
 
I agree....

IF you have doubts about whether or not they need to be rebuilt, just call or email Peter Caldwell.

I spoke w him extensively at the 50th & he is a very knowledgeable, straightforward, & honest guy.

If he thinks your shocks are OK he'll tell you.
If he says that they need to be rebuilt, pay the $$ (worth every penny!) & get them done right (i.e. by Peter)!

I'd bet that a set of "Peter-built" shocks will easily outlast your car, & probably you & I as well!

:thumbsup:

-Bear-
 
Yeah, when we added the higher V oil in the 70's, seemed like the right thing to do. Results were on target, longivity was not in the plan then. However when we get the failure results from Peter C's, we will become enlightened!

On the road is our way of enjoying these special vehicles TODAY!!!

Steve & Jay
 
Bear:

Checked with Moss. Their replacement 1/4 leaf springs for BEye have 10 leaf springs......not 15 as in the origninal.

What is your opion of the ten leaf configuration?

I intend to check the rear shocks this weekend for leaks and will disconnect shock from link to check for seepage and slop in arm movement. If news is bad will check with Peter Caldwell at Worldwide Auto Parts as you recommend.

Actually I was hoping the springs would last longer than 25 years.

thanks so much,

Dave
 
leecreek:

I intened to check rear shocks this weekend for seepage and slop in in arm movement. Need to disconnect schock from link to do so. If there are problems, intend to follow your (and others) recommendation to send to Peter Caldwell.

Thanks for your help.

dave
 
GeeBee1:

Thanks for IMHO translation. Contacted Moss Motors...the 1/4 elliptical leaf springs they offer have ten leaves (leafs?), instead of the stock 15. Do you think this is a problem.

Can't recall if I mentioned that I found the receipt for replacement of the leaf springs in 1989......so they are 20 years old.

Since you're helping to enlighten me with translations: I have to ask.......what's the intent of the image of "Two fat ladies window shopping for a mantelpiece." As a retired English Prof, I've spent too much time trying to decipher that puzzle.

Sincerely appreciate your insight on BEye.

dave
 
Steve & Jay:

Thanks for response regarding rear shocks. Intend to check them out this weekend and will probably being following up with Peter.

dave
 
I have the ten leaf Moss springs from about 6 years ago they ride nice enough but the curve in them tend to put the car in a 70's Muscle car stance so some spacers's were added to level out the car dropped it about an 1" at the top of the rer tire looks much better. rides fine.
 
Chis:

thanks. Your solution may be what I need to do. Having lived through 70's and even 60's muscle car eras, I don't want my BE to "raked" like we used to do.

dave
 
New Moss springs, need to have at least 2 leaves removed IMHO :wink:

Good advice on disconnecting the shock link.

Use plently of lubricant before disassembly any of it and let it sit for a couple of days.

Two fat ladies is from a song by squeeze, pulling muscles from a shell.
 
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