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mission impossible uprated leaf spring


steve.lm

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i have been left a spitfire 1500 r reg by my grandad. it needed alot of work mechanically as been sitting for the last 4 years.
i have enjoyed myself working from the front end back but i have come across a nightmare that doesn't make sence to me.
i got a competion rear leaf spring basically as i'm not that small and i didn't want the car doing a fred flintstone when i got in. i bought it new but for love or money can i get the spring clamp to line up with the distance tube and the bolt that goes through the clamp.   i have checked with supplier and it is correct part.  i have clamped spring and clamp in vice , i have even put a rachet strap around spring to give the impression that some weight is on spring. i have elongated hole in clamp as much as i wish to and still no joy. the supplier sold 4 last year with no returns so some how they must fit. i am not a qualified mechanic but have worked on cars for years. what i can't work out mentally is how a clamp designed to take a standard spring is supposed to take an uprated spring with an extra leaf in it. any help, thoughts on this subject would be greatly appreciated . thankyou for your time. steve in portsmouth  

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Welcome to the forum Steve.

I changed a diff today and the spring was a bugger to get the diff studs to line up and the get the spring to sit low enough to get the bolts on. But they went on.

Post a few pics and some may be able to assist, shame your not closer I would have taken a look.

Rob

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I had this problem when I replaced the rubber pad in my leaf spring for a competition polybush one - I did overcome it eventually but am a bit vague as to exactly how. The problem as I remember it was that obviously the clamp is a solid box, so once the sides meet the base plate it will not compress the spring any more and allow the bolt hole to align properly. I believe I might have wedged a screwdriver temporarily between the bottom plate of the clamp and the bottom leaf to effectively allow the leaves to compress a bit more when I did the clamp up and the bolt hole to align. But then this was a standard leaf spring rather than a competition one... Sorry to be a bit vague, but is was something along those lines...

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To get mine on I used the 4 studs and a load of brass nuts to compress it. Still had to wiggle the through bolt sleeve with a screwdriver and hammer it through.

To get the actual spring on I finally did it by taking out the fuel tank which made it significantly easier to get the studs into the diff.

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4326 wrote:
I had this problem when I replaced the rubber pad in my leaf spring for a competition polybush one - I did overcome it eventually but am a bit vague as to exactly how. The problem as I remember it was that obviously the clamp is a solid box, so once the sides meet the base plate it will not compress the spring any more and allow the bolt hole to align properly. I believe I might have wedged a screwdriver temporarily between the bottom plate of the clamp and the bottom leaf to effectively allow the leaves to compress a bit more when I did the clamp up and the bolt hole to align. But then this was a standard leaf spring rather than a competition one... Sorry to be a bit vague, but is was something along those lines...


i have done the same with chiesels still 5mm to go, thanks

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Paul_Garvey wrote:
I've a 'heavy-duty' swing spring and had the same problem - did the same as swifty - screwdrive but added in lots and lots of swearing which may have also helped.


done loads of the swearing bit which has yet not helped :)

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2053 wrote:
Not sure if this is part of the issue but check the stud lenght also, these that go on the 6 studded diff are shorter than the 4 studded ones as I found out when I upgraded my spring

Dirk


have thought about that could be the next issue if i ever get this spring together. thanks

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1381 wrote:
To get mine on I used the 4 studs and a load of brass nuts to compress it. Still had to wiggle the through bolt sleeve with a screwdriver and hammer it through.

To get the actual spring on I finally did it by taking out the fuel tank which made it significantly easier to get the studs into the diff.


thanks for the advice was that an uprated or standard spring?

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Nick_Moore wrote:
You may need a shop press to compress it enough. I put bits of 4x2 under mine in the press and it broke the wood before the holes lined up. Steel blocks solved the problem.


was that an uprated spring? was thinking about getting a standard one but if i am going to experience the same with that i may as keep going with this one. i just can't get that you use the same clamp when you have an extra leaf to get in.    

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My spring was a Canley Classics swing spring specifically rated for a Herald. The original rubber pad had worn to a sliver, and once replaced with a urethane pad it needed a serious amount of pressure. Which was the perfect excuse to buy a small 8T shop press ;)

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5938 wrote:


thanks for the advice was that an uprated or standard spring?


I've been told it was by the previous owner (he seemed to think it was for a GT6), though wouldn't know the difference to be honest. All I know is it sat a lot higher than Spitfires did out of the factory!

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