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Triumph Spitfire - Leaf Spring?

I have a 79 Spitfire that sits lower on the driver's side. I removed the leaf spring and inspected it (OK), and then reversed it when I re-installed. The car still sits lower on driver's side. Shocks, frame, body mounts all seem to be OK. Since I reversed the leaf spring which didn't help, seems a new spring probably wouldn't fix the problem. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Andy
Andy Anderson

Could be:
Asymmetric half shafts (late/early -it's been done)

FRONT antiroll bar(take it off - will it lie flat on the ground? If one end is cocked up - it's warped.)
John R Davies

Hi,

I have a 78 Spit, and am in the process of rebuilding the rear suspension (that dreaded sagging back end). I took off the rear leaf spring, but do not know what the "arch height" should be for it, so I can't tell whether or not to have it re-arched.

I do plan on replacing the shocks and bushings. I also found arch specs for a 1972 Spit, but am not sure whether or not they changed from 1972 to 1978 (my spring specs are close to the 1972 specs right now). I did get one suggestion to just have them add an inch or two to the current height, which is probably what I'll end up doing if I can't get the real specs.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Tom Lindsay

From, “Suspensions sussed” by John Thomason
The Courier, No.158, August 1993, p31 (TSSC magazine)
Model No. Blade Spring Free Eye distance
Blades Thick- Rate Arc Free Fitted
ness Lbs/in ht(mm)
GT6Mk1 8 0.250 305 ? ? ?
Mk2-3 6 0.234 185 116 1022 1048
Vit Mk.1 11 0.219 270 123 1012 1048
Conv. 11 0.219 270 131 1017 ?
Vit2 all 11 0.203 215 165 1012 1064
SpitI,II,III 7 0.219 166 135 1035 1048
Herald Sal. 11 0.219 270 136 1012 1048
Conv. 11 0.219 270 ? ? ?
Coupe 8 0.219 202 ? ? ?
Estate 7 0.313 510 88 1036 1051
CourierVan 8 0.313 552 ? ? ?

? = Not known. Can anyone add these?
Regret, no specific data for Spit Mk4/1500

Free arc is height of spring centre above ground when stood upright, off car.
Eye distance: “Free” is with spring in as above condition.
“Fitted” is on car
NB: Fitted height:
For every 8mm increase, wheel camber goes 1 degree negative.

Sorry about the gaps: hope this helps.
John D

I had great success in improving rear end sag in my 64 Mk 1 by only replacing all the old rubber bushings with new poly-eurathane bushings and adding a rear camber compensator(swaybar).
Ray Campbell

This thread was discussed between 25/02/2001 and 25/04/2001

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