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front suspension

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Lin

Lin

Jedi Knight
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As per shop manual, I have the control arms, swivel axle, and shock installed. I inserted the two inch block between the shock and the mount to raise the assembly to normal load position, and then tightened the lower fulcrum pins and inserted the split pins.

The manual then calls for installing the spring, and lowering the car, then removing the two inch spacer.

Since I am assembling the car from scratch and I will not be lowering the car to the ground for a while yet, can I remove the 2" spacer before installing the spring? Otherwise it seems to me it will be very difficult to remove the spacer with the force of the spring on it. I suppose that I could just leave it until I am actually ready to put the car on the ground.

Your thoughts?

Thanks.

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye
 
I'd leave the spring out until you're nearer to putting the car's weight on the suspension. If you install the spring now and leave the suspension at full droop, the bushings may get a set and like it that way; when you start using the car, the bushings may have a very short life.

Or, were you thinking about installing the spring AND leaving the spacer in place to prevent it from going to full droop?

An alternative would be to install the spring/wheels/tires and put blocks (I like 6 x 6 x 24 treated lumber) under the tires to maintain your working height. Then the weight of the car is on the suspension and it's still off the ground to work on.
 
The spacer helps to set the lower bushings at ride height, so it should stay until you put weight on the front end. I'd put the springs in and leave the spacer. It'll pop out when you lower it down. You may have to bounce the front end a bit.
 
Randy Forbes, or others: would this principle of having the bushings getting a "set" also apply to vehicles whose bushings are not being replaced?
i.e. I have my car on jack stands (at the frame) where it has been since I stopped driving it sometime in November, I have it up to clean stuff, replace stuff and generally put things in proper order, I hadn't considered I might be doing some harm...
 
Well Dar 100, it would benefit the suspension to support it in some way. Either put blocks under the wheels or put the jack stands securely under the spring pans.--Fwiw-Keoke
 
Thanks everyone. I decided to go ahead and put the springs in place and I will leave the 2" spacer blocks until I am ready to put the car on the ground. Thanks for the advice.

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye
 
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