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Leaning -- Springs?

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SaxMan said:
Yikes!!!! When they went to put new tires on the Sprite, the right rear leaf spring was shorn in half. Only one leaf was keeping the entire suspension from collapsing. I guess that would explain the 1.5 inch difference in ride height! Looks like this might get a bit expensive before all is said an done.
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Wow, and I thought I had problems with a little lean! For the record, I didn't get a chance to swap the rear springs on my Sprite last weekend, so I'm still leaning, and the jury is still out on whether this will fix my problem. Maybe next weekend...
 
Spridget rear's benefit greatly from poly bushings in the shackle's, while you're at it. IMHO.

Kurt.
 
With the "quality" of later Springs vs. original could SaxMan benefit/be better served getting rear springs out of a Part Car. Thoughts anyone? And we'll need to send him advice on how to keep spring shackles loose until he gets his car back on the ground. Otherwise wierd effect wit hrear end way up too far in the air IIRC.
 
Saxman
Remember that there (at least) 3 types of 1/2 eliptic springs-
'64 - '66 (often very soft)
'67 - '74 (best)
'75 on - (too tall for a '69)

BillM
 
Good point Bill! The 64 - 67 are 5 leaf the 67 - 74 are six leaf. If the right rear spring is broken I would check that the shock is good and suspect the PO of dumping the clutch at high RPM. Can't imagine what else could break them.

Kurt.
 
Usually that causes Axle Shafts to break before Springs go. But good tip on Springs and differences.
 
Right now, the car is sitting on the ground on all four tires, with a block of wood in place of the leaf spring on the right rear to maintain the proper ride height. I'm sure the shocks will need to be replaced, but I'll wait until I get the car back in my hands to do that. I ordered the springs and hardware from Victoria British. So far, my experience with them has been positive, but I haven't had to order anything of this nature yet, either.

With 44 years of history behind it, any number of things could have happened along the line to damage the springs. The PO is a very conscientious guy and I think he's horrified that this happened to me so soon after I bought the car. I know getting into a vintage LBC that you have to expect the unexpected. I just didn't expect the unexpected to happen so soon. I am very thankful that someone up there was looking after me, though.
 
Jim_Gruber said:
Usually that causes Axle Shafts to break before Springs go. But good tip on Springs and differences.
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Guess that's right, Jim. Next guess would have to be lots of pot hole's??


Kurt.
 
It looks like the parts will get to the repair shop tomorrow, but they may not be able to get them on the car before the weekend.

The longer I think about it, the more I believe that the spring breaking may have been from improper storage or jacking somewhere in the car's life. The odometer reads 07000, which could mean 107,000 or 207,000 (or maybe 307,000, but I don't think that is feasible). I'm more inclined to believe the former over the latter based on the general condition of the vehicle, but even at 207,000, that only means an average of less than 5,000 miles per year. I would venture that the car spent some time in storage. If whomever did store it had it up on stands, either allowing the suspension to "droop", or perhaps even on the leaf spring assembly itself, it may have weakened the structure sufficiently to cause it to fail down the road. Does this theory sound like it will hold any water?
 
Improperly jacked could do it, but I would think it would happen when the car was jacked up, not at a later date. But who knows.... Pot hole is a possible answer, but the rear axle is the far more likely to go, as compared to the springs. What strikes me as odd is all of them going at once. It's a mystery.
 
longbridgehealey said:
Improperly jacked could do it, but I would think it would happen when the car was jacked up, not at a later date. But who knows.... Pot hole is a possible answer, but the rear axle is the far more likely to go, as compared to the springs. What strikes me as odd is all of them going at once. It's a mystery.
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The car is missing you and acting out. :wink-new:
 
Parts came in today. Car should be ready Monday (Fingers crossed!)
 
longbridgehealey said:
Improperly jacked could do it, but I would think it would happen when the car was jacked up, not at a later date. But who knows.... Pot hole is a possible answer, but the rear axle is the far more likely to go, as compared to the springs. What strikes me as odd is all of them going at once. It's a mystery.
Click to expand...


I doubt they all went at once. Chances are they broke one-by-one until the 2nd to last one went and it became apparent. I don't think jacking would either as the spring is already taking the weight of the car on it anyway. Jacked up droop is doubtful too, that's the springs natural shape. Hanging a diff is much less stressful than supporting the back of the car.

Old springs sometimes break (new ones too). It all comes down to flaws in material or processes or just plain stress. Some people live to 100, some drop dead at 20 with no real rhyme or reason. Amount or rust and/or wear on the broken ends will tell the tale.
 
Good answer :smile:
 
Here is a picture of the broken spring before it got tossed into the dumpster. The other spring was in decent shape and it is back in my garage as a spare.


Broken Spring by onyxsax, on Flickr

Thoughts on how this may have happened?
 
Old tired British Steel.
 
Maybe I should get a bumper sticker "The parts breaking on this car are of the finest British quality"
 
Hey we're just glad you found this before the other two leaves let go. Next step to improve handling will be a set of Peter C.'s shocks all around, front sway bar, and a front end rebuild. If you think this made a difference in driving you won't believe how much better it still can be.
 
Ok, sways...lets have a discussion as to dia. I tried running a 3/4's and took out the frame mount on the right side I guess hitting a chuck hole...
 
The wishbones on later RB cars are substantially heavier than on earlier cars. Bet that was part of your issue. If buying new substantial difference with the wishbones MOSS sells for <$150 vs the BMH ones at $200+.
 
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