BT7 Rear Suspension

[Healey Nut]

So I have started reassembly of the car. Take a look at the pic. Rear axle in the car, rear springs mounted, fibre plate on top of spring rebound rubber on top of axle. The square plate that the U bolts go through has a hole in the centre that the pin holding the spring stack together goes through.

It won’t fit through the hole as the nuts are to large to fit through. So do I remove the nuts, install plate with flat washer, and secure the plate to the spring or ? (Sorry, the pic is sideways.)

 

[gonzo]

Please clarify. The plate holes are too small to allow the U-bolts and pin to pass through? To install, compress the leaf spring with C-Clamp or bottle jack, the offer up the plate to U-Bolts and nuts and tighten evenly until the pin eventually passes through center hole. Good luck.

 

[gonzo]

Correction. Mount the plate, then use C-Clamp or bottle jack to compress spring until U-bolts can pass through. Then spin on lock washers and bolts and tighten. What is it? 40ftlbs of torque?

 

[Healey Nut]

Thinking about this some more .
The springs I have for this car are new , they came from Marty at Jule (yes I got them years ago) as he recommended them to use with his superstructure.
They have to use BJ8 bushings at the clevis hanger end of the spring . The BJ8s have bigger holes in the spring base plate .
So my choices are get BJ8 spring base plates or just drill the existing plate slightly larger to allow them to fit over the spring stack pin .
That seems to be the way to go for me .
thoughts anyone ?

 

[Healey Nut]

Please clarify. The plate holes are too small to allow the U-bolts and pin to pass through? To install, compress the leaf spring with C-Clamp or bottle jack, the offer up the plate to U-Bolts and nuts and tighten evenly until the pin eventually passes through center hole. Good luck.

No the hole in the centre is too small for the spring stack pin .
see additional post above .

 

[John Turney]

Thinking about this some more .
... just drill the existing plate slightly larger to allow them to fit over the spring stack pin .
That seems to be the way to go for me .
thoughts anyone ?

That's what I would do.

 

[Healey Nut]

I think that is my path right now , once I get my parts from AutoFarm which include a lowering kit for the front and rear suspension I will look at it further but It shouldn’t change the plate below the spring as it’s a spacer that fits between the spring and axle and longer U bolts .

 

[John Turney]

Don't lower the front too much or you will high-center on dead squirrels. I originally used the DWM lowering kit and had to raise the front a bit to get out of the driveway. You will also need to install guards for the anti-sway bar mounts.

 

[Healey Nut]

The kits lower the car 1” front and rear , Tks for the tips .

 

[gonzo]

I've been looking for a rear lowering kit and the AutoFarm tip is appreciated; however, in reality the 1 in drop would not allow the car to clear the driveway. I may just order a set to experiment with.

 

[Healey Nut]

I've been looking for a rear lowering kit and the AutoFarm tip is appreciated; however, in reality the 1 in drop would not allow the car to clear the driveway. I may just order a set to experiment with.

Time to regrade the driveway

 

[John Turney]

I ended up using some 7/16" (IIRC) nuts between the lower A-arms and spring pans to lower my front end. That results in about a 3/8" lowering of the front. I didn't lower the rear.

 

[steveg]

Looking good, John!

 

[Healey Nut]

I ended up using some 7/16" (IIRC) nuts between the lower A-arms and spring pans to lower my front end. That results in about a 3/8" lowering of the front. I didn't lower the rear.

View attachment 68974

That’s basically what the lowering kit for the front is , manufactured spacers to place between the A arms and spring pan together with longer fasteners and also a spacer disc to put between the rebound rubber and spring pan to maintain its height relative to the bump stop .

 

[John Turney]

That’s basically what the lowering kit for the front is , manufactured spacers to place between the A arms and spring pan together with longer fasteners and also a spacer disc to put between the rebound rubber and spring pan to maintain its height relative to the bump stop .

The DWR manufactured spacers are about 3/4" high, so the overall lowering was ~1" to 1-1/4". I just took pity on my oil pan.

 

[Dandare]

@ John Turney, that is a superb looking vehicle!

Danny