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How saggy is too saggy?

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Luke_Healey

Luke_Healey

Jedi Trainee
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My 66 sprite seems to sag as soon as I sit in it. I'm tipping the scales at about 150 pounds at the moment.

Is there some sort of fix to make the car ride more level? Is there a way to tell when the coil and leaf springs have given up the ghost?
 
Luke_Healey said:
Is there a way to tell when the coil and leaf springs have given up the ghost?
Click to expand...

yes, when you weigh 150 and it sags when you get in :devilgrin: sorry couldn't resist. I know you can refurbish your shocks and some switch springs left to right to try to level the cars - doesn't seem to work real well
 
Be careful ordering springs from Moss or VB, we talked about this a while back, they were shipping the wrong length for a long time it seems. Mine were too long, car rode too high, I added spacers under the bottom spring plate. Wonder if you could add a few of those spring stiffener things to take out some springyness.
I had some (probably still do) that you stuck between the coils and turned with a socket/wrench and they took up some "slack". Maybe those are a really bad idea, don't know. Just saying.....for $5 and 10 minutes it might be all it takes.
 
Yeah, I'm interested to hear all ideas. The hind end does sort of feel like a full diaper when I'm driving the car aggressively. Any tips on getting it back to stock performance is welcome.

Maybe stock performance IS saggy. I don't know, so I'm all ears.
 
Back end I've read you need to get the springs recurved at a shop and replace the "plastic" pieces in between the leaves. New springs are junky ones from China using cheap steel. I've read..... Might try just replacing that plastic first.
Are those Peter C dampers the adjustable type?
 
No, my Peter C ones are just rebuilt stock units. The only difference is that they don't leak :wink:

My car was 'rebuilt' in the early 1990s. It could have chinese springs for all I know. I'll get under there and investigate.
 
Mine was "restored" (I use the term loosely) in '86/87 and has the wrong springs. I found a tag on them with a VB part number that still matches what is supposed to be a spring for my vintage but my rough free length measurement showed it was too long.
 
I guess coil springs you source decent used ones or be sure to get the right length, or go to someone besides Moss and VB.
Leaf springs I've read you take out, take to a spring shop, have them recurve them and you put new material between them.
Just what I've read here. Never had to address it. I'll shut up and wait for smarter people to show up.
 
LH: For fronts see above advice, for rears I rebuild them. Remove middle locater bolt and the first clamps at each end. Slide the second longest leaf out then the rest come out easily and you can leave the calmps intact. I replace the plastic with MDS filled poly carb from Mc Master Carr. Most of the sag comes from the worn plastic. If the 2 clamps break when you remove them you will have to tack them with a welder when you replace them. Don't bend the tabs any more than you have to and hope for the best.
Also, the 65 66 cars have one leaf less than the later cars. You may want to source some later springs. That alone will help.
I started rebuilding them after seeing what junk was on the market.
If you get really fed up with them I'll happily take your car off your hands!!!!!
KA
 
I too suffered from the left side sag since I put "new" springs from Moss on Little Blue in 2003. The stock springs were sagging very low even though the car had only 14000 miles on it but let's face it she was 38 years old.
I recently got new rears from Winner's Circle and they are stamped "made in England" which is encouraging even though I have read comments to the effect that these may be made with crappy Chinese steel??
I will have them on my car within the week and will report what happens.
The Winner's Circle also had lowered racing springs but I opted for stock 1965 parts. Their sales guy claimed they are the best. He also recommended going with the solid Delrin busings on the shackles which I am doing. He really poo pooed the use of the urethane from the usuual suspects and said they (W'sC) will come out with an improved material this spring for pads and bushings. Something to do with how the raw material is mfgd??
 
Definitely report back. I'm interested to hear what you think about them. I have a ton of body roll when I'm cornering and the back end just seems like it sits lower than it should.

I'm afraid to attempt to rebuild mine since I don't own a welder. I forgot to look under the car last night. I'll get around to it tonight since I'm putting new front brake pads on mine after work.
 
Tom Rynne said:
I will have them on my car within the week and will report what happens.
The Winner's Circle also had lowered racing springs but I opted for stock 1965 parts. Their sales guy claimed they are the best. He also recommended going with the solid Delrin busings on the shackles which I am doing. He really poo pooed the use of the urethane from the usuual suspects and said they (W'sC) will come out with an improved material this spring for pads and bushings. Something to do with how the raw material is mfgd??
Click to expand...


Tom R. Yes, please report back. There seems to be quite a bit of conflicting information on this issue.

Thanks,

dave
 
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