Fellow fiends:
Newell Burke asks a few questions about spring replacements. I recently did
that on Old Whitesides and can add a few remarks, fwiw.
The rear end steering you mentioned is called "torque steer" and is now gone
because you have new U bolts that are good and tight. Torque steer occurs
when the axle can pivot under acceleration, changine the direction of the
rear tires. This pivot occurs when the u-bolts are either loose or
stretched (?). Important: Don't forget to tighten them up again after some
500 or so miles as things might seat a bit more and what was tight when you
assembled the things isn't tight anymore. (nb: my testy friend Brian sez
that MGs can't have torque steer because they don't have torque. I can't
argue with him tooo much; he drives a TVR with a GT6 lump. None the less,
stop me from killing!)
As to fronts, I did them at the same time. Put it this way: they are
cheeper than the rear springs and much easier to change and wot-the-'ell,
then you'll be sure. The ride in my '63 improved noticeably with new
springs at all four corners, though I have to say that it was the rears that
were really gone (I mean it, too!). The car doesn't roll (as badly!) and it
sits "prouder" as well, though with some months now it seems to have settled
maybe a fraction of an inch (it sort of looked like a top fuel dragster
there for a while, tho it never did act like one).
Cheers,
Will
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