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Re: [Healeys] rear height

To: rjmc46@att.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] rear height
From: Dave Russell <rusd@sitestar.net>
Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2007 13:08:58 -0600
Hi RJ,

A couple of questions - Did the car sit the same way before you replaced 
the rear springs? Did the new springs both have the same contour/ 
uncompressed height before installation? Have you put some miles on the 
car to get everything settled? Any binding on spring ends hardware or 
the leaves being stuck together with paint  can cause problems. Driving 
it over some healthy bumps for a while can help settle & free things. It 
will all change as springs take a final set & bushings free a bit.

Even the front springs can cause a tilt. The usual measurment is from 
the ground to lower  wheel opening lip at the wheel center line. Around 
27" for all four corners on late BN1's through early BJ8's. 26" on the 
front of early BN1's, & 28" on late BJ8's. This is of course assuming 
that there is no actual frame/body sag from a rust weakened structure. 
The BN1 went through several different rear spring configurations before 
settling on the final.

You could try interchanging the two rear springs.  For comparison here 
are the specs on my replacement springs. They have been installed for 
three years & have "settled" about 3/8" with no indications of settling 
any more:
Free length eye to eye = 34.5"
Free camber, eye C.L. to top = 4.5"
Both eyes double wrapped, seven main leaves plus end wraps.
Leaf thickness = 0.160" each
Springs marked DAUR/9661, 1B8929X, 14/10/2003, Made in UK, Moss # 021-581

It's really hard to get these cars leveled mechanically & visually. 
There is no  definite measuring point since the cars were rather crudely 
built.   Side to side frame height to ground near the drivers seat 
location can give a rough clue. My BN2 shows about 5 1/2" on both sides. 
The most visual cue is the bumpers being level with the ground. There is 
quite a bit of adjustment room for the bumper end heights.

With matched springs, side to side, I ended up lowering one front spring 
pan with 1/2"spacers, & slotting the bumper bracket mounting holes to 
level both bumpers.  It now "looks" level  but careful measurements 
would show variations in the frame/suspension heights.

Good luck to you.

Regards,
Dave Russell
BN2

rjmc46@att.net wrote:

>I put new leaf springs on my 55 BN-1. Both springs ordered from AH Spares. 
>Both same part number. The drivers side is a inch and a half lower than the 
>pass. side.  Any thoughts without replacing the springs.
>RJ
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