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Drivers side rear spring shackle on the '66 TR4A I'm starting to sort out...

driversidespring.jpg


I tried bending the down with a hammer and just annoyed it without any movement on the shackle arm...
 
That's not a shackle, just a clip. It's only purpose is to keep the leaves lined up, so I wouldn't call it a major issue. But a big C-clamp would probably be strong enough to bend it back down where it belongs (I used the jaws of my vice, but of course that was with the springs out of the car).

I would be more worried about all the rust showing between the leaves. It will at least make the car ride hard, and may lead to broken leaves.

DSCF0007_reduced.jpg


IMO to do it "right" you should remove and disassemble the springs to clean and lubricate them. I went a step farther and took TeriAnn's advice about putting sheets of UHMW polyethylene between the leaves. So far, it seems to be working very well.
 
This just goes to show you how much how much more maintenance is required on them there fancy solid axle TRs.
From what I can see of the frame and the trunk...looks like a solid TR4a.

Happy New Year everyone and lets all hope the USA can shake off this economic funk.
 
TR3driver said:
IMO to do it "right" you should remove and disassemble the springs to clean and lubricate them. I went a step farther and took TeriAnn's advice about putting sheets of UHMW polyethylene between the leaves. So far, it seems to be working very well.
Click to expand...
Or short-term, perhaps you could simply do what the factory recommended, which was to paint the springs with used motor oil or gear oil!
 
Thanks guys! Yes, it appears that I got lucky with this one. Rich C actually tipped me off, so he's the brains in the outfit.
 
I had one break when I tried to bend it back into position. One side of it had broken long ago, and the other was bent up, probably by the movement of the spring allowed by the first break.

Rather than face the Promethean task of removing the spring, I fashioned a clip using 2 Stanley 'mending plates' and a couple of bolts with nylon bushings and locking nuts.

TR3%20Spring%20Clip.JPG


Several years later appears to still be doing the job of holding it until I really have to get at the springs.
 
Andrew Mace said:
Or short-term, perhaps you could simply do what the factory recommended, which was to paint the springs with used motor oil or gear oil!
Click to expand...
FWIW, the broken spring above HAD been painted with motor oil before I put the car on the road. It may have already been broken at that point, but I did not see the crack while painting it.

IOW, the oil will prevent rust, but it won't remove existing rust.
 
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