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Rear springs

Skip & Lynne

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I started pulling the rear end out of the parts car tonight and as I was sitting there looking at it it looked as if the rear end was canted front to back and when I measured the distance from the brake drums to the frame one side was an inch closer to the rear of the car than the other. Are the springs different length front to back and someone installed them backward somehow?
 
Hey Skip do those springs have grease fittings on the end??.---Keoke
 
I haven`t looked for that Keoke but I just slipped the rear fenders back on and the left rear tire is only about 3/4 inch from the fender but the right side is about 2 inches from the bottom of the fender. It looks like the rear end is canted. Skip
 
OK I don't know at this point were the error may be. However, do not be surprised if you find that the body is not square on the frame.Maybe one of the center spring bolts sheared off---Keoke
 
Hi Skip,
I think the grease fitting would be in the frame shackle mount, not on the spring eye. Don't know about the newer cars. My BN2 measures the same from center bolt to spring eye on both ends, 18". It's possible that the axle is not seated over the spring center bolt. Measuring from front spring center to axle should tell a lot. I would expect about two inches from bottom of fender to tire on both sides. The late BJ8 could be different. I think there were about three spring variations, BN1& 2, BN4 thru early BJ8, late BJ8. I'm sure someone will measure one.
D
 
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Yes I looked for the bolt and it`s still there I guess the body isn`t true with the frame.

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The bolt may be there but it is possible that the head of it which locates in a hole in the top of the spring hanger may have sheared off.You will have to remove the :U: bolts to be sure.Keep a jack under the spring leaves until you get the U bolt nuts off then carefully lower the jack. the head of the bolt is a pin shaped affair about 3/4" long aand ~1/2" in Diameter.
 
Thanks Dave I measured Lynnes car and the springs appear to be of equal length but something is different on this one I am going to measure to see if the rear end has shifted some how
 
The springs on my 64 BJ8 have the same arch but there is 3/4" difference in the first spring with the attachment eyes, all other springs are the same length. I was told that it should not matter as long as the springs are the same length from center to the fixed (front) end of the springs. The 3/4" will only change the angle of the rear shackle. Hope this is true!

John
 
Had a landrover once, and apparently with some english cars the springs were set so that the drivers side was higher than passenger side so as to allow for a level ride with only driver in car!
 
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