julesdingle

Ok, I'm understanding my limited knowledge of such things- I don't feel too confident adding more shims although I suppose I could just add 1 more at a time and check handling. My first reaction is to put the wider TR wheels from the rat car on the convertible to see how it handles as people complain Herald steering is too heavy. For the 'floaty' ride on bends I may just add some paving slabs to the boot. Ideally it would be good to just drive another restored vehicle to see how it should ride- and also have someone take mine out for spin [if you want a day out in Wales PM me!]

I'm reliant on the garage who got a book out and lasers  [mirrors on the rear wheels and laser aiming towards the rear] and did the adjustments - a slight tow in I believe- all the spacers went back in in the right order - the main issue is the 'feel' - and the bigger issue is the roll on bends- I just don't know what normal is given I started with a car with very worn bushes and tight springs to something that is almost as good as new. but thanks- I will read up just in case the alignment is inaccurate.  

So.. 13/60 convertible, completely stripped and rebuilt - MOT pass and have been taking it out with the top down enjoying the first sunny days. The rebuild - all new rubber bushes [Canley Classic parts], all new bolts, new springs and new standard shocks all round- rear spring were stripped, greased and assembled with new plastic spacers. Sailed through its MOT- but I feel I'm sailing when driving it any faster than 30mph. the steering is very light to the point uneven tyre pressure  will mean it drifts to the left or right- the alignment is double checked. And slight bends at any speed feel like I'm going to roll over. My other Herald- with old springs and old rubbers drives with a lot more certainty- just point it and go, and bends don't have the roll. So what have I missed? or is this the original drive? thanks in advance- I am very reliant on experience to know what is good, normal or something up.

490 wrote: ...which does exactly what it says on the tin and left them…. white :) I usually just clean mine with car polish, which if applied when the bumpers are fresh or new, keeps them that way. I bought the 'back to black' expecting it to restore the black vinyl of the dash and it turned out to be clear. Old skool polish left everything white residue so I may try it next I polish.

I bought the 'back to black' expecting it to restore the black vinyl of the dash and it turned out to be clear. Old skool polish left everything white residue so I may try it next I polish.

caustic soda in a large long tank [i used a plastic tool chest] removes paint and grease and bleaches them white left in over night- doesn't seem to be a problem one year on. then sprayed with clear silicone 'back to black' vinyl restorer and hooked the top over the lip and then pushed/squeezed the lower rut over the bottom lip.

caustic soda in a large long tank [i used a plastic tool chest] removes paint and grease and bleaches them white left in over night- doesn't seem to be a problem one year on. then sprayed with clear silicone 'back to black' vinyl restorer and hooked the top over the lip and then pushed/squeezed the lower rut over the bottom lip.

The rear suspension is now cleaned, blasted [not spring], de rusted, and dismantled on my work bench- and I'm amazed at what passes MOTs, the n/s shock goes in with squeaks, grinds and jerks and doesn't return, the  o/f side does but on this side the bush is perished- haven't pushed out all the bushes yet [waiting for the new year and a bench press xmas present] but they look original. As this is my pet car I'm going to blow the cash on the swing spring [um.. xmas late gift to me!] and overhaul the old spring for my next Herald [like dogs if you have one you might as well have um..4, at least a spare, a saloon perhaps for winter].

Fitting the Canleys spring conversion is [as i understand it] what Triumph did to fix the problem- as opposed to some of the other adjustments which seem to come with mixed opinion- and certainly simply insuring all the bushes, bolts, and brakes are tip top [which will happen in the rebuild] is essential to get it back to factory spec so I know at least what it is supposed to feel like. In an ideal world I would rebuild the spring and try that first and then the swing spring [which i will do on my next herald! i really have fallen in love with them] I am not mucking about with poly bushes- on the landrovers I have had I tried switching once from factory rubber to very expensive poly to improve handling and it was a waste and they wore out. In an ideal world i would be able to compare a 'new' Herald to mine just to get the feel. although it is nearly this that got me into Heralds A young friend got into classics but complained the handling of his Herald was  nothing like his last newish car- and it was really bad- the steering rack bushes and clamps were actually loose, so new bushes and tight nuts and completely new drive- but it did me a chance to admire the engineering of the Herald. Driving style........ I would not want to bring any shame on the Triumph community with boy racer goings on- and as for braking on bends going down hill I am not even getting past 30 mph on the little country lanes around me- but being 8 inches off the ground feels fun when compared to the 4x4- and also my neighbours hammer their APCs around the corners although you can see over the hedges  in a 4x4 I should have put a smillie face with my comments about braking down hill on bends! But I will certainly take up the offer of a few 1000 miles driving - as soon as the car is fixed thanks everyone for the input.

JohnD wrote: The importance in real life road motoring was exaggerated by the Press at the time, and by rivals ever since, but except in extreme use, competition and as you say, braking on bends (TUT!  NEVER brake on bends!! Do it befoe you get there! Slow in=fast out! ) it doesn't happen. ... Is yours a Spitfire?  Any of the above will work on GT6s/Vitesses as well. JOhn Never brake on bends- good advice - however the joys of Welsh hill roads and lanes and being in a  convertible 13/60 which is only 4 ft wide is hammering it around bends and those exist on the up hill and down- which is frequent place to meet tractors, 4x4s, and and those in their armoured personal carriers - so there is quite a lot of braking on bends going down hill. The swing spring mod from Canleys is affordable so I might as well go for that- unless anyone thinks spending £30 on 1/2" plate is as good.

This single rear spring malarkey is new to me having had sensible arrangements in other cars So the old spring is out and perfectly restorable   or Canleys upgrade for £250 - with a thicker roll bar are there other alternatives? a lowering block is a cheaper option but I don't want to muck around too much with the ride height as I live on a farm in Wales- fabulous country roads but there has been the odd noise of grounding out if I hit some of rough bits of road. and I have experienced the little twitch too many times with the need to brake on down hill bends so something needs to be done. what do you recommend? for a safe ride money is no object! [within reason]