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MG MGB Technical - Rear Springs - Ride Height

A quick pre-amble...

My car has been off the road for a few years. It has been upside down on a rotisserie, so that I could clean, de-rust and paint the floors, etc.

Once that was complete, it sat on four axle stands for some time. The rear axle and springs were refitted, although the front eye-bolt and rear shackles weren't tightened, as there was no weight on them.

I recently refitted the wheels, so that I would be able to remove the supports in order to give me access for plumbing and wiring underneath. It is sitting on four car ramps now, so I have enough working room, but the engine and gearbox are still out...


A couple of weeks ago, I refitted the rear shocks and attempted to fit the drop links, but the shocks need to be on full droop to get the links to fit and the check straps are almost straight.

The shackles are just behind vertical and I've tried leaning on the back of the car to try and help the springs settle. Obviously, the springs have had no weight on them for some years and when they were refitted, the axle was hanging from them for some time.

What I'm wondering is, will the lack of engine and gearbox have much effect on the rear ride height? I measured the ride height this afternoon and the nearside is 16" and the offside 16.75", which seems quite high, judging by Paul's site

http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/suspensiontext.htm#height
Dave O'Neill 2

B's have a fairly even weight distribution so engine and gearbox will make a difference at the back end. You haven't said whether chrome or R/B. The drop links and rebound straps are longer for R/B.
Allan Reeling

Sorry, it's a chrome bumper, but all the parts are the ones that came off.
Dave O'Neill 2

It shouldn't take long for gravity to bring it back to its normal height. I had springs re-arched and it was difficult to extend the shock lever sufficiently when I reassembled the suspension. They had added a leaf too so the springs were stiffer and slightly higher. After a couple of years, the car is finally sitting at normal height.
Glenn Mallory

Engine and gearbox will make a significant difference!

I remember a question some time ago from someone who had his car upside down on a rotator, and wondered why the springs were fully extended.

Of course, if the springs are too hard and/or over-arched as they were for some years then the engine and gearbox won't make a significant difference. Again I've heard of cases where a couple of large mates were needed in the boot before they would compress enough to get the rebound straps fitted. That's very wrong, even with no occupants a fully fitted-out car should have a distinct curve in the rebound straps when sitting on its wheels, as here.

I've had the opposite problem. Fed up with bottoming and grounding when touring country lanes fully laden, even with new springs, I've extended my rear shackles to get an extra inch of ride-height.




paulh4

This thread was discussed between 29/01/2017 and 30/01/2017

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