Howard Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Can anyone assist with the following problem which has been passed to me while Rob Pearce continues his recovery. "Hi Howard. I have just replaced the rear spring on my early 1972 mk4 spitfire. But now the rear wheels seem to kick out a long way at the top, the spring is the same length as the old floppy one. Can you give me some advice please. Cheers Vic Ayres." Many thanks Howard 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 I replaced the rear spring on my 1500 with one from a reputable supplier, but ended up with a high ride height AND positive camber. The only solution seemed to be to fit a lowering block to bring in back closer to the original position/alignment. They might have some luck pushing back to the supplier, but I doubt it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Yes that and the old trick of bags of sand in the back for a couple of thousand miles to flatten the spring out a bit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 It seems to catch many people out, that they should not tighten all the bolts to the moving parts of the suspension, until the car's weight is on it. With tight bolts, the bushes grip the parts and hold them in a lifted position. Get under, loosen all the bolts, then bring the car down. To make access easier, support the car with axle stands under the wheel uprights, so that its weight is on the suspension. Bounce it a few times then retighten. CARE! Pile the rear wheels under the car, as a safety measure while you are under, or else bouncing! I'll be surprised if the ride height doesn't improve. John 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Ayres Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Thanks for everyone's response. I will try them at the weekend and let you know the outcome. Cheers.Vic Ayres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Wade Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 2 hours ago, yorkshire_spam said: I replaced the rear spring on my 1500 with one from a reputable supplier, but ended up with a high ride height AND positive camber. The only solution seemed to be to fit a lowering block to bring in back closer to the original position/alignment. They might have some luck pushing back to the supplier, but I doubt it. I had exactly the same issue & came to exactly the same solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Wade Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 3 hours ago, Howard said: Can anyone assist with the following problem which has been passed to me while Rob Pearce continues his recovery. "Hi Howard. I have just replaced the rear spring on my early 1972 mk4 spitfire. But now the rear wheels seem to kick out a long way at the top, the spring is the same length as the old floppy one. Can you give me some advice please. Cheers Vic Ayres." Many thanks Howard Assuming the old one was just giving a low ride height, it would probably be the best option to rebuild the original one with new buttons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Ayres Posted October 11, 2023 Share Posted October 11, 2023 Thanks Amy, the old spring has done 100000 miles and is VERY sloppy, so I think it is past a rebuild. Hope to have good results at weekend. Vic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martins Stag Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 The other think I did was greased or copper slipped between the leaves to soften it a bit.... My 1500 replacement didn't have any buttons.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Ayres Posted October 12, 2023 Share Posted October 12, 2023 Thanks mate. I will do that as well while I'm at it. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Ayres Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 Hi all. Firstly, thankyou all for your advice. I have tried it all but to no avail. So I have now come to the conclusion that I have been supplied with a rear spring for a late mk4 spitfire, which is longer than the early mk4 which I have. Will contact Rimmers to see if they can help. Thanks again for your advice , Vic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 Think there was only one length of swing spring for the Spitfire. However I suppose you could have got an uprated one or one for a GT6 - the latter was 6 leaf rather than 5... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocita Rosso Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 19 minutes ago, glang said: Think there was only one length of swing spring for the Spitfire. However I suppose you could have got an uprated one or one for a GT6 - the latter was 6 leaf rather than 5... Early Spits were not swing spring 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Ayres Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 Hmm! Mine have only got 5 leaves. I had read somewhere that early mk4 had a shorter axle than later and 1500 models. Oh well, think I might try repair kit for old spring over the winter months. Fingers crossed that will work. Thanks everyone. Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 It could be true about the first mk4 but I dont think they would have had swing springs then. I think your spring will settle in time and use but needs a spacer block to really get it how you want it now. Its not a major investment and you might even get it in without removing the spring again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 24 minutes ago, Vic Ayres said: Hmm! Mine have only got 5 leaves. I had read somewhere that early mk4 had a shorter axle than later and 1500 models. Oh well, think I might try repair kit for old spring over the winter months. Fingers crossed that will work. Thanks everyone. Vic. Shorter drive shafts(axle) same spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Ayres Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 That's worth try glang. Cheers. Thanks for info Alex, at least I now know the spring is correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 22 minutes ago, Alex said: Shorter drive shafts(axle) same spring. So they had swing spring with short shafts? Take it the swing spring is the same length as the fixed type then so when used with longer shafts the upright angle must change? Vic, the biggest block will lower the car by 1" but you will need the 4 longer studs and then, as I say, later the car will probably lower itself more.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Ayres Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 Thankyou. That was going to be my next question about what size block to use. I will go for a 1 inch block and hope that sorts it out. Blooming frustrating though. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 When I fitted my new spring(2004) my car sat high. I fitted a 3/4 and it lowered it a lot more than 3/4 inch. Now my car is very low Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Ayres Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 So I guess a 1/2 inch block would be sufficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 1/2 or 3/4 I would think will be enough. depends how low you want to go 🤷🏼♂️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Ayres Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 Not too low, at my age the poor old back needs a bit of comfort. Lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glang Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 Its not really the height is it but the wheel camber that youre trying to achieve? Certainly a 1/2" spacer wont need longer studs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Ayres Posted October 14, 2023 Share Posted October 14, 2023 All joking aside about the old back, it's the camber that needs sorting cos the wheels are really kicking in at bottom, so much so the brake pipes haven't got much slack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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