Darren Groves Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 As part of my list of winter jobs I was thinking about a new rear leaf spring. Any recommendations or places to avoid or just a matter of shopping around for the best price with the usual culprits? Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 They're probably all made at the same place anyway, so it comes down to reliability of the seller rather than any vast difference in the spring... This lot however don't have Herald springs advertised, I've e-mailed them asking if they made any but got no reply. Might be worth another enquiry? http://www.gbsprings.co.uk/heritage-car-springs/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 Hello Darren Have you tried Fitchetts or Canley classics? Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Groves Posted October 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 18 minutes ago, Andrew said: Hello Darren Have you tried Fitchetts or Canley classics? Andrew All the usual traders list them, just wondering if anyone had experience of who's supplying good quality items or rubbish. Thanks Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 Got mine from Paddocks. That's when they told me I had been running for 10 years with a MkIII spring on my MkIV spitfire. Now it has the correct spring, the bodywork is sitting about 3 inches higher and a much better drive..... wonder why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AidanT Posted October 13, 2017 Report Share Posted October 13, 2017 Have a look at this thread Details of BBC Aidan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Groves Posted October 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 On 10/13/2017 at 3:48 PM, Andrew said: Hello Darren Have you tried Fitchetts or Canley classics? Andrew Just in case anyone is thinking of getting a rear spring from Fitchetts, they no longer sell them.... Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 Roger used GB on his 1500 drop him a line and see how its going , certainly very much cheaper http://www.gbsprings.co.uk/heritage-car-springs/ Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 See my post further up, they don't list Herald springs and didn't reply to my e-mail enquiry a few months ago, so I can't confirm if they sell them or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 There was a batch of badly made rear springs, I still have one lying around in a shed. The ring on the end of the second leaf is far to big and touches the brake pipe where it leaves the rear brake cylinders on a Vitesse. One of the suppliers mentioned list the same spring for the swing axle and rotoflex Vitesse. I ended up using the best of my old springs after rebuilding it with new poly buttons which I cut from a sheet of polyurethane from eBay. Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 When my new spring was fitted, the garage used the bushes that came with it from the suppliers. I am shortly going to replace the rear UJs so will have to disconnect the bolts. Is there a better bush to go in the spring eye or will the ones supplied be as good a anything else. Might as well do the job properly when I put it back together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 4 hours ago, 68vitesse said: There was a batch of badly made rear springs, I still have one lying around in a shed. The ring on the end of the second leaf is far to big and touches the brake pipe where it leaves the rear brake cylinders on a Vitesse. One of the suppliers mentioned list the same spring for the swing axle and rotoflex Vitesse. I ended up using the best of my old springs after rebuilding it with new poly buttons which I cut from a sheet of polyurethane from eBay. Regards Paul There weren't badly made springs, they were correct for certain models and incorrect for others - suppliers were selling one-size-fits-all for some time. The larger eye version is for Spitfire 1500, I converted my GT6 to swing spring and used a S/H spring only to find it hit the rear brake hose. I bought a proper late-GT6 spring and it was a lot smaller, so nowhere near the rear hose. Of course I had to replace the rear wheel cylinder and hose too due to the damage that the spring had done whilst driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Groves Posted October 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 11 hours ago, Pete Lewis said: Roger used GB on his 1500 drop him a line and see how its going , certainly very much cheaper http://www.gbsprings.co.uk/heritage-car-springs/ Pete 8 hours ago, Colin Lindsay said: See my post further up, they don't list Herald springs and didn't reply to my e-mail enquiry a few months ago, so I can't confirm if they sell them or not. Will give them a buzz tomorrow. Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 Still say the spring is badly made, it is not a swing spring, the eye of the second leaf should be a tight fit to the bottom and top of the first leaf eye. It would probably be ok on a Herald as it has smaller rear brakes but as the spring eye is not properly supported could lead to fatigue failure of the main leaf. Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unkel Kunkel Posted October 15, 2017 Report Share Posted October 15, 2017 I bought a ( Spitfire Mk1V) spring recently from one of the “big name” suppliers. Apart from it arriving promptly and being well packaged, I was disappointed: The first inkling it might be different to the one I was replacing,was the way the carrier struggled with it to the door - It weighed so much more than the old one! The lower leaf was over 10mm thick, the original being 6.8 mm(pict) The thicker lowest leaf meant that the swing “box” can not close down on the diff recess.I don’t know how significant this- but it doesn’t look right(pict). The “buttons ” / spacers - two were completely misplaced from their recesses and also” squigded” / torn. The central stud (which locates the lowest leaf in the diff) threaded and bolted end was excessively long so that with its securing nut it obstructed the sleeved bolt that goes between the lowest and the 2nd leaf in the “swing box”.Attempts at fitting this shattered the sleeve and bent the bolt(Yes , I know, it was silly to attempt to fit it..) I suppose I could have shortened the stud bolt ;replaced all the buttons ; ignored the size differences of the leaves and the weight but I think something unless something is advertised with information about it being different,even if it is upgraded from the original, then it is reasonable to assume that what you will get will be reasonnably “like for like.” I asked the firm if they could give further info./ discuss / confirm it was OK for me to use. Certainly what followed was a rapid and civil reply, but there was no engagement in a discussion about the issues, only the suggestion to return it. I opted to clean up and refurb.my old spring and return the “new” one. From the internet, for less than a tenner, I got a length of UHMW polyethylene rod ( better than Nylon or Teflon ,apparently).I did find it very” stringy” and a bit frustrating for an amateur like me to turn but finally produced some “buttons” for the spring. Have yet to fit it on the vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bonnett Posted October 16, 2017 Report Share Posted October 16, 2017 My recommendation would be to go direct to Owen Springs in Rotherham. They make them and you cannot do better than a Sheffield spring. In addition to the standard springs they will at no extra charge uprate to your specification. Nice people to deal with too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted October 16, 2017 Report Share Posted October 16, 2017 The replacement spring on my GT6 is a Heritage Spring from GB Springs - no issues with it a couple of years in. Gully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 16, 2017 Report Share Posted October 16, 2017 The gap under the swinger box bottom plate is ok , it has to clamp the fixed leaf , just a thicker leaf leaves a bigger gap All the swinger conversion kits ive seen have a bracket and short bundy to relocate the wheel cly hose away from the eye Or it clatters through the brake pipe. On my Vit6 saloon the swinger was a compete waste of time ,with no ride travel and bottomed shockers. Agree a std fixed spring should have a much tighter rolled eye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 16, 2017 Report Share Posted October 16, 2017 Darren. Is your spring just worn or another issue ?? Regards. Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Groves Posted October 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2017 9 hours ago, classiclife said: Darren. Is your spring just worn or another issue ?? Regards. Richard. I have a collection of rear end noises and it looks a little saggy, so I've decided to replace bearings, UJ's and spring as part of my winter 'to do' list. On 10/16/2017 at 7:12 AM, John Bonnett said: My recommendation would be to go direct to Owen Springs in Rotherham. They make them and you cannot do better than a Sheffield spring. In addition to the standard springs they will at no extra charge uprate to your specification. Nice people to deal with too. Owen Springs quoted £189+VAT & Shipping. On 10/15/2017 at 11:23 AM, Colin Lindsay said: See my post further up, they don't list Herald springs and didn't reply to my e-mail enquiry a few months ago, so I can't confirm if they sell them or not. GB Springs I spoke to yesterday morning and waiting on a call back. Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waynebaby Posted October 17, 2017 Report Share Posted October 17, 2017 Darren, From my experience on my GT6 I found that a new rear spring made the wheel camber excessively positive (I think this is quite common) After a year of driving around with two bags of sand behind the seats to counteract the rather alarming lift-off over-steer I've decided to fit a 1/2" lowering block. You might want to consider buying one now and saving yourself a job later on. Wayne 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 17, 2017 Report Share Posted October 17, 2017 always, always, recheck the rear wheel toe after a spring change or adding a spacer most important if you dont want bump steer , bunny hops and side stepping back end . just need two of these and a tape measure across the beams . aim for 0- 3mm max toe in preferably laden most specs ask for 150lbs on each seat some gt6 specs are given unladen Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted October 17, 2017 Report Share Posted October 17, 2017 6 hours ago, Waynebaby said: Darren, From my experience on my GT6 I found that a new rear spring made the wheel camber excessively positive (I think this is quite common) After a year of driving around with two bags of sand behind the seats to counteract the rather alarming lift-off over-steer I've decided to fit a 1/2" lowering block. You might want to consider buying one now and saving yourself a job later on. Wayne Mine had a half inch lowering block fitted with the new spring. After a couple of years and a bit of settling, I'm thinking it could be removed now, but like everything else on a rotoflex back end that's painful just to contemplate! Gully 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted November 25, 2017 Report Share Posted November 25, 2017 (edited) Hi Question.? My 13/60 came with the "swing" Axle conversion. Having stripped and Cleaned the Spring I have reassembled it as it was removed. However I have a sneaky feeling that the Bolt through the "Bridge" Clamp Is being crushed. (pic 1). I note in the Picture posted by Vanadium 23. There is a plate under the "Bridge" Clamp?, which was not there on mine. So Question?, do I fabricate a plate,? what thickness is recommended?. I have a stud which holds the lower spring to the Axle, which was VERY proud. I used a thin nut and Shortened the stud, which improved things BUT the cross bolt is badly bent. I am tempted to remove that bolt all together?. But unsure at this juncture as the that wisdom?. Ie; it is there and should have a purpose?. (see Pictures) The Canley "swing" picture shows a Plate? Which suggests to me that this is not a Canley Product So Who?. Browsing the Net I see this on U-Tube (Pic grab), which appears to show the same setup but without the Cross bolt and Tube?. (on a Spitfire). Edited November 26, 2017 by PeteH More Information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 26, 2017 Report Share Posted November 26, 2017 Ive never seen one without the first leaf plate fitted btween the leafs It was the worst modification I ever had on my Vit6 far too much body roll. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now