• Hi Guest!
    If you appreciate British Car Forum and our 25 years of supporting British car enthusiasts with technical and anicdotal information, collected from our thousands of great members, please support us with a low-cost subscription. You can become a supporting member for less than the dues of most car clubs.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

My leaf springs won't

Share this page

GregW

GregW

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Hi Everyone,
I installed new leaf springs a while back on my late BJ8 (axle over frame). So far, the springs don’t seem to be relaxing to a good ride height. Actually, the axle is still crushing the buffer pad. I can’t believe this is normal. The car has had its full weight on the tires for a couple of months now. Should I have lubricated between the leaves before I installed them? I bought the springs from Moss in July ’02. I seem to remember some problems with springs from Moss but I can’t recall the dates that happened. Any thoughts would be appreciated. (other than removing the springs and welding the axle to the frame). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif

Thanks,
Greg
 
Hi Greg, it is my experiece with the BJ8 rear springs that you may just have to let them bed in.Alternatively, You can remove the second leaf up from the bottom and run them that way until they bed in then replace that leaf.By the way did they come with any type separator between the leaves??---Keoke
 
Hi Dave and Keoke,
My car is a '67 (# 38555). I just pulled the wheel and I've got the 6 leaf springs. It looks like I've got the right parts. There are inserts between the leaves but I can't tell what the material is 'cause I had to paint them black when the labels wouldn't come off quietly. Once I get it on the road I'll keep my eye on them. If they don't settle down I guess I'll have them worked on.

Keoke- is there a shop that you would recommend here in town?

Thank you both,
Greg
 
NO Greg,I do not know of a good local spring shop.I took a set to warren spring in Alemeda years ago for rearching and they torched the top leaf Ticked me off to no end.--Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif----RE the separators wonders never cease /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Hi Dave, The BJ8 springs generally will settle,Bed IN, about 1/2" after installation and use of the car. Past experience seemed to indicate that it didn't make any difference what the source was they all had their problems. either they would not settle at all or they would settle too much---Keoke
 
Greg

Depends what is meant by the correct ride height. I'm sure you are aware that on the BJ8 Phase II the correct ride height..is ..well...err....not correct!.. Its too high. This was a fault in the sense that BMC did not have the money or the inclination to change the rear panels to fit the new ride height. So the car never looks right. The wheel is never centred in the wheel arch

Apologies to all you BJ8ers,,buts that the way it was.
 
You are spot on Derek,and if you do not get that 1/2" settle the springs will bend the frame under the axel-They kick just like a mule.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Nope Dave, they do not work out that way. From new a 1/2" bedding in comes out about right. You know Derek triggered me into thinking about shortening the bump stop boxes I will have to sleep on that a bit. If you are bottoming out ,hitting the bump stops,generally you are in the market for new springs or a lighter Mate. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ---Keoke
 
My springs did bed in slightly. Both front and rear. Last year I replaced every imaginable component both front and rear. Both settled. This happens every time I jack the car via frame and allow the suspension to hang. When I lower the car it is higher all the way around. A few miles and it settles again. With all new components the car is an inch higher now after two years of driving. 1960BT7
 
BH:
If you do not bottom out it is probably ok.I think Dave and I are in agreement but talking about two different distances.Im refering to the increase in the distance from the WW Hub to the wheel arch when new springs are installed.While I think Dave is considering the distance between the spring pad and the rear axel housing.Referenced, to that point the 1/2" dimension I used would reduce his 1.5" dimension.---Keoke----Spring pad=Rebound pad-- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I replaced the rear springs on my late BJ8 about six months age with Moss replacements. Now I have an inch plus & minus from the bumper on the frame up to the axle. Unfortunately I don't remember what it was immediately after the replacement. How about a few sand bags for a while. They would probably be quieter than Anthony's ex mother inlaw. BTW if the axle is hard against the stops you probably need more than a half inch of settling in the springs to get a half inch of space. How thick are your stops? Maybe they are too thick. Mine are about 1/2 inch thick including the plate.

Good luck
Walter
 
Dave we are not off track if the springs do not settle after a little use you got some bad springs.Further, as I indicated earlier sometimes you can force the springs to settle in by removing the second leaf up from the bottom.After she settles in you may be able to replace that leaf.--Keoke----Walter you might want to try this to increase the spacing between the rebound pad and the axel housing.--Whats on second /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
How about a few sand bags for a while? Walt! I tried that with a bad set of springs I purchased some years ago they did not budge an inch unladen. But no harm in trying---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Dave we are not off track if the springs do not settle after a little use you got some bad springs.Further, as I indicated earlier sometimes you can force the springs to settle in by removing the second leaf up from the bottom.After she settles in you may be able to replace that leaf.--Keoke

[/ QUOTE ]
Now What???
I don't have any trouble with my springs. Greg was the one with the spring problem. Your advice is apparently for him. Only "good springs" settle? I think it's time for me to take a long break. Bye
D
 
Back
Top