Rear Spring Bracket Question

[JPSmit]

It probably makes no difference at all but when re-attaching the bracket on the front of the rear springs. Does the bolt that goes through the bushing point in or out?

 

[HSLDmark]

It was pointed in on the one I took apart.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Make sure you've got the correct sized bolts in there. Bugsy"s DPO used the wrong size bolts and it allowed the front spring hanger to walk about and wore a three quarter inch long v shaped groove to be worn in there and allowed the rear axle to move about. Certainly made for some interesting handling characteristics. The whole axle and spring mount was moving around on me. Could not see the problem until springs were removed for re-arching.

 

[GB1]

Jim:

It probably felt like a BE with 1/4 Elipticals hehehe.

That is kinda how they feel if you have never driven one, a great bit of fun.

Patrick

 

[bugimike]

Jim:

It probably felt like a BE with 1/4 Elipticals hehehe.

That is kinda how they feel if you have never driven one, a great bit of fun.

Patrick

Was there something wrong with your BE Patrick? I can't imagine a BE feeling like that! Stiffer maybe, but not loose and squirrely!
PS: for anyone doing work on the quarter elliptics, years ago I had made up my own design (see attachment) of spring plate that eliminated the U-bolt set-up in favour of 4 grade-8 straight bolts. Much easier to remove/install!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif

 

[Jim_Gruber]

What was even worse was the POJ(Piece of Junk) Spring Mount Brackets I received from one of the usual sources. Captive Nut on the end of the bracket was huge and far too thick to go up into the body cavity. I needed to remove better than 1/4 of an inch of the captive nut with an angle grinder on both sides in order to get it to fit into place.

Driving with the axle shifting around made for some interesting RH Turns. You'd go into a turn, body would roll, and just before apex of the turn axle would shift and you'd go more than just a little bit more. Amazing how axle shifting underneath you can make for a scary handling car. Add the bad shocks, worn out front end components, worn rack and steeting gear, trashed tie rod ends and bushings and it was no wonder that Bugsy would change lanes upon hitting a tar strip. It was scary, scary, scary to drive Bugsy. Now that I've cured an alignment problem in last few days that I didn't know existed for the past 5 years Bugsy has turned into an impressive cornering machine.

 

[jlaird]

Sprites and midgets should corner on rails like nothing before or since.

 

[GB1]

Nothing was wrong with my BE, it just felt like one of those 4 wheel steering thingies going on in the back, until I got used to it. I had always driven 1/2 elipticals before (spridgets).

Also softening up the springs and putting a panhard in the back is /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif

Patrick

 

[jlaird]

In fact been thinking about a panhard in the rear for some time. I know, I don't need one really but it's cool to say.

Have a sway bar, stock for the front one of these days.

Hay, I can call that my suspension up grade project. Cool.


Oh yea, clock is still running and keeps good time.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Jack,

Since fixing my alignment issues this week Bugsy my '68 is now cornering on rails. Still got a camber issue I'm working on but things have defnitely changed in the handling department.

 

[jlaird]

It is absolutely amazing how a BE corners, even stock. It will just scare the pants of someone not use to it.

Not to mention that it is a heck of a lot of fun. Now when My seat belts get here............

 

[bugimike]

Nothing was wrong with my BE, <span style="color: #FF0000">it just felt like one of those 4 wheel steering thingies going on in the back</span>, until I got used to it. I had always driven 1/2 elipticals before (spridgets).

Also softening up the springs and putting a panhard in the back is /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif

Patrick

THAT <span style="color: #FF0000">sounds</span> like something was wrong, as they do <span style="color: #FF0000">NOT</span> <span style="color: #33CC00">normally</span> feel that way!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif

 

[bugimike]

What was even worse was the POJ(Piece of Junk) Spring Mount Brackets I received from one of the usual sources. <span style="color: #FF0000">Captive Nut on the end of the bracket was huge and far too thick to go up into the body cavity. I needed to remove better than 1/4 of an inch of the captive nut with an angle grinder on both sides in order to get it to fit into place.</span>
Driving with the axle shifting around made for some interesting RH Turns. You'd go into a turn, body would roll, and just before apex of the turn axle would shift and you'd go more than just a little bit more. Amazing how axle shifting underneath you can make for a scary handling car.

That was why I drew up the above and had the machined pieces made!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thumbsup.gif

 

[GB1]

Oh yea, clock is still running and keeps good time.

Jack that is great news.

This is what I had done suspension wise.

Rear - I softed up the rears springs (took out 3 or 4 leaves), shimmed them down about a quarter of an inch, then wedged the passenger side down 1/4" (so that they are even when I am sitting in em) and of course the panhard bar (speedwell).

Front - New CB Midget springes, shimmed the height down 7/8" 's, offset trunion bushings and he had a stock Midget anti sway bar in him.

The handling is unbelievable.

Patrick

 

[jlaird]

As it should be Pat, LOL

Yep, think I am on the right track.