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TR4/4A Front Coil Spring Packing Piece

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KVH

KVH

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This is an old subject, but I believe the consensus here is that the "long" coil spring can by used with no packing piece, correct? MOSS shows an unavailable packing piece, Part 117, above the coil spring, but my other TR does not have such a piece. Any info on that issue? Do I need to use one?

Packing Piece.jpg
 
If you have the long springs do not use the packing piece on a TR4A. If reusing short springs use the packing piece. Or get some TR6 springs (which I believe are the only ones now available as replacements). You can also buy GoodParts springs which will lower the car some and or buy his spacers that go with his springs to adjust ride height. If you use his front lowering springs only (with no spacers) you will have difficulty adjusting the camber without some modification to the upper A-Arms or the inner mounting (Item 1) to move it outward to compensate for the shorter springs and too much negative camber. Visualize those airbag guys who slam their cars to the ground and end up with excessive negative camber.
 
My new springs are 10.25" long; most literature I find seems to say "no spacer" with 11" springs, but that's .75 inches longer than what I have. I'm leaning toward just using the springs with no spacer because I recall one of the Big 3 telling me that would be fine. Did I perhaps not get the right message?
 
Who supplied you the new springs? I think I still have a set of original non spacer TR4A springs in a box somewhere that I can measure but it will be the weekend before I can get to them. If 11" is correct and yours are 10.25" either they are the wrong springs or you have the performance ones that will lower your car. You will have the camber issues I mentioned above with the 10.25 springs, again if 11" is the correct stock spring length.
 
The old stock rear springs out of my 4A measure 11 1/4". The front springs measure about 9 1/2".
 
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Do not forget spring rate as this will also affect your ride height and ride comfort.
Commonly available ranging from 300 to 450 lb/in.
 
Hi

I have some notes on this which may or may not help

Stock TR4A came with long springs (10 ¼” unfitted).
Stock TR4 came with short springs (9 ½” unfitted).

Aluminum spacer/Packing piece came thick or thin accordingly. I appear to have a 1" packing piece but don't know what that means.
Stock spring rate is 312 lb/in

My car is a 1966 TR4A and I believe the suspension is completely stock original. With 15" wire wheels and 165/80-15 tires at 35psi, ride height from ground to lip of front fender is 28 1/4". Visually, I think it looks high. Someday I would like to pull my front springs and measure the unfitted length

Bob
 
I wonder if you could take a quick look under the "hood" of those coil spring turrets to see if you have one inch aluminum spacer up there? I do on one car, but not another. Too big a hassle? Maybe? If you can, I'd really appreciate it. thx
 
10.25" sounds right to me... but I do not have any reference to back up this "gut feel".
 
I just measured the front springs I took out of my TR4A. They are 10.25 long so those 11 inch ones are not correct. They may be rear springs which are longer. Can't measure mine as I gave them away.
 
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