Rear Spring question ??

[Jerry]

I took the springs off my TR3A today and they look the same except one side has two spacers under the center bolt. Would this mean that I have one TR4 spring and one TR3 spring?? The spacers look removable, are they there for any other reason?

 

[TR3driver]

No, the spacers were used on the passenger side, to make the car sit level with only a driver. As I recall, there was some weird racing class that had that requirement.

Introduced at TS26904. Eventually discontinued early in TR4 production (probably some TR3B as well).

 

[Jerry]

OK , thanks. I guess I will start cleaning them up. Do you guys pry off the retaining clips, or heat them first?

Jerry

 

[TR3driver]

I pried them up cold, just the minimum required to slip the leaves out. Seemed to work OK, I was able to bend them back without breaking.

If they had broken though, I was planning to fabricate new clips with a bolt and spacer rather than just bent into place. Years ago, when I had a professional shop service the springs from my motorhome, that's what they did.

 

[bgbassplyr]

No, the spacers were used on the passenger side, to make the car sit level with only a driver. As I recall, there was some weird racing class that had that requirement.

Introduced at TS26904. Eventually discontinued early in TR4 production (probably some TR3B as well).

Are we sure that the spacer was on the passenger side on the right hand drive or on the driver side on a right hand drive car and never changed when the car was built as a left hand drive? Just asking.

 

[Jerry]

well, mine were on the passenger side. Left had drive car, no evidence of any changes to drive side.
Jerry

 

[TR3driver]

Unlike most cars & trucks, where the springs sit on top of the axle; on a TR3 the springs run under the axle. So adding a spacer lowers that side.

I've never owned a RHD TR3, but the parts catalog certainly lists them as "driver side" and "passenger side". I can't imagine why they wouldn't install them that way.