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Rear Suspension Problem?

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Mike964

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I just got my 59 BE on the road after a long restoration. Since the car was not running when I started, this was my first ride.

After owning several big Healeys, I am supprised how "hard" this rides. It bangs over over every bump like there is no suspension. I don't remember the big Healeys being this rough.

Since I have never driven a BE before, I have no comparsion. The springs are orginal for the car the lever shocks have been rebuilt and I do not see any leaking.

Any suggestions?

Mike
 
Mike964 said:
The springs are orginal for the car the lever shocks have been rebuilt and I do not see any leaking.

Any suggestions?

Mike
Click to expand...

Original springs? May have gone soft.
Although the shocks are rebuilt, test that they actually work.
Leave no stone unturned. :jester:

Rubber bushes or poly?
 
I've always thought the BE <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline">does </span></span>ride rougher than the Big Healeys.
 
Keep in mind too that there are different spring lengths and spring rates for the front. For example, if a disc brake upgrade was done and someone used or swapped springs from a later car (especially a rubber bumper car), that could make the ride harsher. Poly bushes and old tires will contribute too.
 
I have both and my BE does ride much rougher than the big Healey. One really gets a feel for the road in a BE.

Charlie
 
I agree that the road being felt is a good thing and a feature of spridgeteering and that you don't get the same in the larger, heavier and softer riding cars.

However the ride shouldn't be "harsh". I've had a harsh ride in my Midget and then replaced bushings and shocks and wheels and tires.
Now the ride is "lively" but not "harsh".
 
For determining the acceptable spring load, put two fingers on top of the rear tire of a BE and see if they fit under the top of the fender mold... If not you have tired springs that need a "lift" If OEM's maybe a redo at a spring shop...
Sagging spings keep hitting the rubber bumper more often than the design called for.. Not the shocks fault
 
Oh, and make sure you have the rubber bits installed and they are in good order.
My experience has been that these wear away with age.
 
I did the two finger test and I do have "three finger" of clearance.

I will check the oil in the shocks next. All bushings were new.

What weight oil in the shocks?

Anyone have experience with new springs from Moss or VB? On the big Healeys new springs usually ment the rear end was jacked way up!

Thanks

Mike
 
20 wt in the shocks.

Bugeyes are not comfy cruisers. I have a semi elliptical Midget and and Bugeye. I drive the Midget when I want a comfortable cruise, and I drive the Sprite when I want to carve up the corners.

If ride characteristics are paramount and handling low on the list then you may be disappointed.

It is possible that the car has a decent ride height but weak springs. My bugeye was like that and it was hitting the bump stops on the least little dip in the road. I bought the Moss springs and removed a few leafs and installed some lowering wedges. It is sitting at a proper ride height and only contacting the bump stops on the big bumps/dips in the tarmac.
 
Well Mike..with the tire test done then start from the beginning...is it the correct shock..arms are different lengths and there's only one that correctly fits the BE.(others will fit) The oil should be shock oil.. a small expense to get it right... If the rear shock is bad it will probably leak all over the shock.. and floor. (it's upside down) Hard to find an outfit that does rebuilts RIGHT. I'd put my first few hundred in the shocks before going to springs... That being said you need all new bushings at control arms and spring end...spring box has to be solid and the spring has to be secure to it. Lots of stuff... With that..really hard to imagine a big H riding softer than a little H..haha
 
There IS a place that does first class shock rebuilding. Peter C. at Worldwide Auto Parts makes them better than new. Many Forum users have his shocks. They are on my Sprite.
 
Spring load and shock valving is an engineering and testing science not an art in my mind..and the OEM shocks atest to this..As I mentioned in an earlier blog, the factory even had different spring loads for the drivers and passenger side... switching off depending on whether domestic or export! It's a 1300lb car! and adding all the weight involved is a larger percent than on say a 1 1/2 ton vehicle. Soo.. to put together different combinations and expect the same results is... expecting much to much... I personally feel take a OEM spring and have a good spring shop reconditon to factory spec's (they have the tools and machines) and get a OEM shock to spec's and bingo the ride will be fine..
 
I got fork oil from a motorcycle shop they have different weights.
 
I did the WAP shock purchase from Peter C and the difference was amazing-I strongly recommend their shocks-awesome customer service too!
 
I just got out my list of parts for the BE and I found I had all 4 shocks done by World Wide back in 06 so they should be good as I just got the car on the road.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

Mike
 
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