[Healeys] Leaf springs

[Stephen Hutchings]

Luckily I didn’t damage the brake line, and I wasn’t far from home.
Thanks for the info…I’ve ordered the new springs, and we’ll see whether I have to do some adaptation.

Stephen, BJ8

> On Jul 14, 2025, at 11:11 AM, <sbyers at ec.rr.com> <sbyers at ec.rr.com> wrote:
> 
> My BJ8 and I were a hundred miles out from Conclave 2009 in Ontario when I braked for a stop and the pedal went slowly to the floor.  I discovered the upper leaf on the right rear spring had broken (bad/rough roads in New England?)  and trapped the steel brake line against the rear axle and cut it.  After rolling over and peening the upstream end of the line, I made it into Kingston on one handbrake and three hydraulics and found that Bob Yule (Autofarm) had a repair van set up in the parking lot.  What a concept!  His mechanic made and installed  a new brake line.  I strapped the broken spring down with two hose clamps spliced  together and made it safely home back to North Carolina.  I ordered a new set of springs from Autofarm that I believe came from Ahead4Healeys in the UK.  So far, so good with the springs after 30,000 miles.
>  
> Steve Byers
> HBJ8L/36666
> BJ8 Registry
> AHCA Delegate at Large
> Havelock, NC  USA
>  
> From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Michael Salter
> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2025 9:32 AM
> To: Stephen Hutchings <s.hutchings at rogers.com>; healeys at autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] Leaf springs
>  
> A good friend had exactly the same thing happen last year with his BJ8. 
> I happened to have a pair of them, that I bought about 25 years back which, unlike the ones you can get these days, were made in the UK rather than India.
> We started by changing the drivers spring and to our surprise when we lowered the rear to the ground the ride height was absolutely correct. He has done a couple of long trips fully loaded (the car I mean) and the ride height has remained correct, unlike the recently manufactured  pair that I bought for my BN1 which sagged almost 1" after a few months. For the BN1 I had to resort to making a pair out of the miscellaneous leaves that I had and then eventually adding air springs as in the attached pic to achieve a satisfactory ride.
> Just an FYI.
>  
> M
> From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net>> on behalf of Stephen Hutchings via Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>>
> Sent: Monday, July 14, 2025 8:55:53 AM
> To: Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>>
> Subject: [Healeys] Leaf springs
>  
> I was out for a drive on Sunday when I heard a metallic snap from the rear of the car(BJ8).
> Turns out I’ve broken a leaf spring.
> I’m looking at replacement sets but I’m concerned that new BJ8 springs will give me too much height at the back…my old springs had a nice ride height without the jacked up look that some BJ8s have.
> So…are the earlier springs compatible? Or should I go with the BJ8 springs and consider the lowering kit that AH spares offers?
> Thanks
> Stephen, BJ8
> Sent from my iPad
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