I'm a bit of a lurker myself, but since I'm in a similar predicament to yours
(broken main leaf on right), I'll tell you what I've discovered.
Stock 6-leaf springs are for roadsters and will give you a "stock"
(relatively smooth) ride and "standard" ride height. Stock 7-leaf springs
are for GTs, are a little stiffer when used on a roadster (designed to carry
the extra 200-300 lbs. of the GT), and will raise the ride height in the rear
about an inch and you will need a lowering block to make the car level
(unless you like that Pro-Street Dragster look). There are performance
6-leaf springs available for roadsters that are similar in stiffness to the
stock 7-leaf springs installed on a roadster, but with a 1" lower ride height
than the stock 6-leaf spring. Using the performance 6-leaf spring, you will
have to lower the front of the car to make it (the car) level. Lastly, there
are performance 7-leaf springs. These, used on a roadster (theoretically)
will give standard ride height, but will ride stiff as hell. I understand
that the performance springs (6 or 7 leaf) cost $30-35 more a piece than the
stock springs.
For my money, I'm going with the stock 6-leaf springs even though I intend to
autocross my '71 MGB roadster. I've upgraded all of the bushings, changed to
a 3/4" front sway bar, and put on a rear tube shock conversion, but I'm just
not willing to give up any ride height, or make the rear of the car any
stiffer than it is now with the tube shocks.
Sometimes you have to make compromises if you wnat to enjoy the car on
potholed streets.
Regarding the idea to change out only the broken spring, its likely that the
other rear spring has sagged or suffered similar stress to the broken spring.
I'm going to retire the pair.
Lastly, for our Hokie colleague, I'm a nut for sourcing MG parts, but the
only fiberglass leaf springs I'm familiar with are on Corvettes. Anybody
else heard of these for MGs?
George
Hokie Too (Class
of '83)
'71 MGB Roadster
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