upgrade front suspension, grommets and sway bar

[dfesmire]

What would you recommend for a anti roll bar upgrade and bushings for my 1959 100-6? Any other recommendations for the suspension to make it better/safer?Could you give me some idea and where to find this?
Thanks, Dennis

 

[Keoke]

HI Dennis I would not recommend upgrading the roll bar on a street car. However, Poly bushings from Tom's Import Toys can improve the wear and tear over the rubber ones.---Fwiw---Keoke

 

[Dave Russell]

Re: upgrade front suspension, grommets and sway ba

Hi Dennis,
I agree with Keoke. A heavier front anti sway bar will cause more understeer (push) unless accompanied by a compatible rear bar. It won't help handling unless you want more understeer/slower reaction. All it will do is make the ride harder. Heavier bars & adding a rear bar are great for specialized action such as auto cross & tight circuit racing. They do make the car harder to handle & do present some unexpected surprises, especially in the wet.

If you are determined to do it, Denis Welsh has many bars in almost any size that you wish. In any case I would not suggest going more than 1/8" larger than your existing front bar.
Go here:
https://www.bighealey.co.uk/
D

 

[Gray_Cat]

Re: upgrade front suspension, grommets and sway ba

Good morning everyone, at least it is in LA.
Quick question related to this string: my 55 BN1 does not have sway bars at all. Reading this post and answers it sounds like going with a stock set up would be best (and planning to use poly bushings). I'm not going to auto-x or anything, just street driving.
As always many thanks!
Roy

 

[Dave Russell]

Re: upgrade front suspension, grommets and sway ba

Hi Roy,
The four cylinder cars were about 300 pounds lighter on the front end than the sixes. This means that they don't tend to understeer as much & can benefit from a slightly larger front sway bar without causing understeer.

The Fours originally came with 1/2" front bars. The 100M's were supplied with a heavier 5/8" bar. This bar is readily available from several sources. See this Moss listing:
https://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=28887

You would need the 5/8" bar, item #34, plus the associated rubber mount bushings, links, etc. Items # 29,30,33,34,35,36, & possibly the plates #28, depending on how much of the original is missing. The poly bushing substitute would be ok.
This 5/8" bar is pretty much a "standard" upgrade on the Fours.
D

 

[zblu]

Re: upgrade front suspension, grommets and sway ba

I've got the 5/8th fitted now, dont notice any difference, altho I'm still running all in

 

[Andrew1]

I second the motion on the poly bushing set from tom's import in washington. I just completed the job over the past month and the product is great and tom was of much help on the phone..... however, it is a huge and tight job if the original steel/rubber bushings are there in the inner a-arms, and although there is some improvemnent in ride, it's a big job including sawsall, torches bandaids. if the original bushings seem ok..... consider leaving them and investing in uprated shocks.... they seem to make a bigger difference for me.

-andrew- bj8

 

[anthony7777]

adrew,ive done many of these front end upgrades,and yes it its a bit tight,and yes the newer bushes are great,how and where did you employ a 'saws all?

 

[Dave Russell]

Re: upgrade front suspension, grommets and sway ba

[ QUOTE ]
and although there is some improvemnent in ride, it's a big job including sawsall, torches bandaids. if the original bushings seem ok..... consider leaving them and investing in uprated shocks.... they seem to make a bigger difference for me.
-andrew- bj8

[/ QUOTE ]
If anyone is interested - The following quote of Jim Hockert, a fairly knowledgeable Healey guy. Things are not always as they would seem to be:
____________________________
Bob:
I believe that changing out the OEM type suspension bushings for a harder
material is not beneficial to the car or driver in the case of big Healeys.

The reason is that the design and manufacture of the front suspension
causes the bushes to bind as the suspension travels up and down. That is
the reason that you hear squeaks, clunks and thumps when poly bushes are
installed. They bind up, then release with a 'pop'. That is also why the
ride is so harsh with poly bushes.

The castor on the front suspension is built into the chassis by having the
horizontal centerline of the rear suspension bracket one-half inch closer
to the top of the chassis than the horizontal centerline of the front
suspension bracket. This provides two degrees of positive castor for the
suspension. Unfortunately, in the manufacturing process, the brackets are
installed at a 90 degree vertical angle to the chassis instead of 88
degrees. In addition, the shock tower is 90 degrees vertical to the
chassis instead of 88 degrees. Thus, both the upper and lower A-arms do
not travel in plane with the castor angle causing the suspension to bind
slightly as it works. The OEM rubber bushes absorb the binding and
actually snug up somewhat in a tight turn.

The best solution, absent blueprinting the suspension and changing the
angles of the brackets, is to replace the rubber bushes with OEM type
bushes as a regular maintenance item.

Best regards.
Jim Hockert
BJ8 Rallye
Dallas, TX
---------------------------------------
D

 

[Andrew1]

Hi Anthony:

Actually the Sawsall worked out really well, after a few false starts with a torch and a hand keyhole cutter with a metal blade.

Here was the problem. The inner A-arm links had the original rubber bushings with steel sleaves. In this case, the bushing and the special pins were completely ceased, except one. No amount of careful prybar work, penetrating oil, nor a special threaded rod insert against the pin and the body member would free the bushing and A-arm pin! Next came the torch, and a try to burn out the bushing's rubber.... could not handle the smell and fire was getting close to brake lines and the rad.

My father's construction sawsall, with an extra long metal blade, gave just the correct amount of reach and was narrow enough to get inside the bracket that seats the pin and bushing. After a few minutes cutting...boom the pins were cut allowing the assembly to come out and the pins are about $14 each from Moss going back in.

With a sawsall, count on bending the blade a few times, until you can guage the clearances.

Hope that helps someone.

- Andrew -

 

[anthony7777]

andrew1,gess ive been very lucky with all the ones ive encountered,had some stuborn pins but nothing i couldnt nock through with some help from a hammer,sounds as if youve done a 'smashing job'cheers!