Anglefire Posted November 16, 2020 Report Share Posted November 16, 2020 I've decided over Christmas to replace the buttons in the rear springs, fit polybushes etc. However, I wondering if I should replace the complete spring. I have heard horror stories around the fact that they tend to sit too high and lowering blocks are needed. But the real question is suppliers - James Paddock do a new spring for about £90 (https://www.jamespaddock.co.uk/rear-leaf-spring-mk1v-1500-3) Or Canley Classic at some £235 https://www.canleyclassics.com/?catalogue=triumph-spitfire-mkiv/1500&diagram=triumph-spitfire-mkiv/1500-rear-suspension-road-spring Now Canley I know do good stuff - but 2 1/2x the price? Is it that much better? I might see if I can ring them in the morning and see what the difference is...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerguzzi Posted November 16, 2020 Report Share Posted November 16, 2020 Hello Mark I bought one from these people about 2 years ago. It sat a bit high at first but has settled now. This how the car sits now with luggage and probably a full ish tank of petrol.(somewhere in Spain or Portugal!) https://www.gbsprings.co.uk/heritage-car-springs/ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted November 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2020 Thanks Roger - I'll contact them - and local too which is handy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjit Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 Sitting high is just down to the spring being a) Needing to settle. b) Being new but compared to some tired, sagging 40+ year old one that's technically been sitting too low. Lowering blocks are normally a personal choice and down to people wanting their cars to sit lower/have more static negative rear camber than standard, rather than being to counter new springs being too high. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted November 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 This is mine (well last year) - front is a bit high (New springs and shocks) rear well low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 4 hours ago, Anglefire said: This is mine (well last year) - front is a bit high (New springs and shocks) rear well low. Put a six potter in that’ll settle the front! Nice colour similar to my daughters Mk2, hers is a Porsche colour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 4 hours ago, Anglefire said: front is a bit high the spring pad on the shocker cant be in the correct place , its one of the big variables of aftermarket shockers have you checked the fitted length against whats in the WSM ?? pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted November 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 The shocks are koni adjustable and standard springs. All came from Bastuck in Germany as they were the beat price at the time. The spring plate is fixed. As far as I know and remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 just thinking if the fitted length is as spec then the shocker pan is wrong nothing else raises the car ride height you dont have 1/2 ton of tools in the boot ??? Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted November 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 The boot does have some stuff in it - but not 1/2 tonne! I assume the fitted length is correct- I've not measured it! Presumably if I jack up the front and measure them that will give me an idea? Might have chance this week if I get the kitchen and breakfast room decorated during my week off......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted November 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 Unless the springs were supplied incorrectly - given it was over 2 years ago now, there is not much I can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 1 hour ago, Anglefire said: The boot does have some stuff in it - but not 1/2 tonne! I assume the fitted length is correct- I've not measured it! Presumably if I jack up the front and measure them that will give me an idea? Might have chance this week if I get the kitchen and breakfast room decorated during my week off......... No measure the spring length with the car on the ground, compressed length. Should be 8" I think (sorry, out of time to look it up....) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted November 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 Thanks Clive found this with a quick search and you are right. wonder if the issue with heights is the spec for the mark IV is softer and shorter. Though that doesn’t make any logical sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted November 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2020 I’ve finally got into the garage and measured the spring length. And it’s 8”. that’s between the two chrome seats I also measured from the floor to the arm. though that’s a bit more variable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted November 21, 2020 Report Share Posted November 21, 2020 So correct. How about lower seat pan to centre of lower bolt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 22, 2020 Report Share Posted November 22, 2020 so its looking like the spring pan is in the wrong place but its also worth detaching one end of the anti roll bar if its bent and many are you can get raised ride heights but would then expect the coil length to be a bit different side to side if the bars affecting this you dont have any leaning but any idea gives you something else to do Ha !!! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted November 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2020 Surely if the spring pan is in the wrong place, and presumably too high, the length of the shock is wrong below the bottom pan (as Clive has intimated) as the spring length is correct between the pans. Given the shocks are Koni I can’t see them being manufactured incorrectly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted November 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2020 Could it be that the bonnet being a Gt6 one has a different arch profile? I guess the measurement to compare with others is the floor to the top of the shock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerguzzi Posted November 22, 2020 Report Share Posted November 22, 2020 Hello Mark Do I remember you saying your bonnet is fibreglass? If so it would it be lighter? Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted November 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2020 No it’s a steel bonnet. The bits around the indicators are fibreglass - but they are small as you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted November 22, 2020 Report Share Posted November 22, 2020 My car. On Koni's. short 480lb springs and spacers which give 8" fitted length 6 years, 20K miles, and about 15 countries, not to mention trackdays and autosolos, have taken their toll on the cosmetics. And I ought to mention the gearbox is in for attention too..... (jumping out of gear at 6500+rpm in third, scary in a corner. Did it repeatedly at Goodwood) The rear arch height gives you an idea of how the car sits. Very stable at high speeds, corners/grips well. It was about 15mm lower, but speedbumps were sometimes an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted November 22, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2020 Not sure if it’s my phone but I can’t see the images ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted November 22, 2020 Report Share Posted November 22, 2020 I can't see them either. The URLs look dodgy - they're all on mail.google.com! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 22, 2020 Report Share Posted November 22, 2020 yes blanks to me also , but thats not unusual being a ............ dinosaur pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted November 22, 2020 Report Share Posted November 22, 2020 Can't see them either, Clive - it links to something called 'Service Log-in' html. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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