[Spits] Rear Spring reply

[Greg Stull]

Greg

Nick had the same idea. I think I'll give that a try.

Thanks
Greg
1978 Spitfire 1500

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greg Rowe" <growe58 at hotmail.com>
To: "Spitfires" <spitfires at autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 9:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Spits] Rear Spring reply


> Most of the repair manuals recommend tightening on the ground
> as well.  Since I can't get to the bolts while the car is on the
> ground, I usually put a trolley jack under the vertical link and jack
> up until the car is just about to come off the jack stands
> under the frame and then tighten the bolts.  I figure this
> simulates the weight of the car on the suspension bushes.
>
> Greg Rowe
>
>> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:25:58 -0700
>> From: mark at bradakis.com
>> To: spitfires at autox.team.net
>> Subject: Re: [Spits] Rear Spring reply
>>
>> > And I'm wondering if Joe wasn't pulling your chain, stirring up your
>> > fluif or something.  What bolts are we talking about?  Both ends of
>> > the trailing arm, vertical strut to spring end, shock mounts.  All
>> > those bolts are meant to pivot with suspension movement, except
>> > perhaps the shock mounts.
>>
>> Actually the standard rubber bushings DO NOT pivot around the bolts.
>> They are designed so that the inner steel sleeve is clamped to the 
>> brackets
>> and suspension movement is accomplished by the rubber itself deforming.
>>
>> If you tighten the bolts when the car is in the air and the suspension is
> at
>> full droop, then when the car is put on level ground the bushings are 
>> under
>> stress.  They are being twisted as the car just sits there.  This
> distortion
>> and constant stress causes early failure of the rubber as well as erratic
>> movement of the suspension under normal use.
>>
>> If you tighten the bolts when the car is on the ground at rest, there is
>> no twisting stress on the rubber while the car sits there.  You're not
>> making them stand on their head 24/7, so to speak.  Driving around
>> they only have to distort a little bit that way, a little bit the other
>> way as the suspension flexes.  They last longer and provide smoother,
>> more controlled movement of the suspension.
>>
>> mjb.
>> _______________________________________________
>
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