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GT6 new shorter springs and shock collar fit GT6+

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19_again

Jedi Warrior
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I'm trying to fit new springs and shocks to the GT6, but the collar on the new shocks doesn't fit inside the top coil like it did on the old shocks, the new shocks are also considerably shorter but I recall something about shorter shocks being beneficial. Do I need to send these springs back to VB?
Sorry about the photo links, my brain can't wrap itself around the picture thing today. They show the old fit, as well as the poor fit of the new springs.
Mike


https://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-7/1317492/NEW%20SHOCK%20COLLAR%20BAD%20FIT.JPG

https://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-7/1317492/DSCF0015.JPG

https://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-7/1317492/OLD%20VS%20NEW.JPG

https://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-7/1317492/2009-165-15-9-6-2-DSCF0016.JPG
 
Hi Mike.

Those springs look like they have a pretty significant difference in length. After my spring issue I'd make sure you can actually lower the car that much.

OLD%20VS%20NEW.JPG
 
Tom,
It wasn't my intention to lower the car, but having read something about shorter springs I didn't pay too much attention upon receiving them 6 months ago. It may have been something about the mg that dealt with lowering the car. In any event, VB didn't offer a different set of coils for this car, they list the same set for all years of the GT.
 
Shorter springs will lower the car and reduce it's center of gravity, which in turn improves handling. Too short and you'll grind the tires on the wheel wells and other more nasty stuff.

If the new springs are correct for the car then the old ones look HUGE by comparison.

How did the car sit with the old ones on the right installed?
 
Seemed to sit fine, but I wasn't looking for whether it was too high or low. The old springs would still have to compress enough to satisfy the length of the shock, I can extend the shock enough to fit the new spring but the old spring would nbeed to compressed in order to attach the shock. Something about this seems painfully obvious, but I can't grasp it!
 
IMHO the springs have been mislabled. They look more like front springs for a TR3-4-250-5-6.
 
I think I'll contact VB with dimensions and see what they say. I bought them quite a while ago in anticipation that I would need them eventually.
 
According to VB they are the correct ones insofar as they are the shorter ones for greater control.
https://www.victoriabritish.com/icatalogsg/full.aspx?Page=22.
has anyone had experience with these or is there even a need for "greater control"?
Some guys will buy anything!!!!!!!!!GEESH.

One issue still remains however and that is the fact that the bottom collar of the shock does not fit within the radius of the spring.
 
I had the exact same problem with the same springs from VB. They assured me they were the correct springs, but I had the same questions you're now facing. Ultimately I ended up sending them back and having my existing springs shortened by a local shop. They worked great. I was wondering if the VB springs had been incorrectly labeled as well.
 
So call me gun shy, but unless the original spring is really soft I have a hard time seeing the car sitting properly based on the sheer difference in height with the new one guys.

I could be totally wrong, I've never done this on a GT6, but maybe you should ask the Triumph email list or similar for some measurements before putting everything back in....
 
My guess is the shorter/fatter springs would have the car setting somewhat lower but not much. They likely have less "compressibility" than stock ones, resulting in a tooth jarring ride. Unless the car is intended for track-only use, for all the hassle of finding matching shocks or modifying the existing platform, I'd keep the stock ones and press on.
 
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