Reid,
It is good to find another "purist" 79 owner. I agree that a spacer is a band
aid, however, after replacing all the springs, trunnions, spacers and shocks I
still had a leaner. I then sent the car to the best frame shop in Houston and
they did not know how fix it. They did, however, rough up a lot of the front
suspension parts. Finally I gave in and had a spacer made. I painted it black
and it is not too noticable.
If you find a real cure, (like a frame shop who can really diagnose the
problem), be sure to let me know.
Best Regards,
John Reynolds
Houston, Texas
1979 Spitfire FM966640
1967 BSA Spitfire A65SA16748
-----Original Message-----
From: Simmons, Reid W reid.w.simmons@intel.com
Sent: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 09:25:09 -0700
To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: Leans to the left
This subject has been tossed around quite a bit on this list and I'm not
sure (or can't remember) if there was ever a definitive answer to the cause
and cure. It seems that the "fix" which produced the most tangible result
was adding the 1/2 inch spacer to the left front (or drivers side) spring.
Why should this unbalanced approach be necessary? My '79 has this problem
and I would really like to implement a "cure" and not just a "Band-Aid". Is
the problem worn parts or poor suspension design?
TIA
Reid
'79 Spitfire (original owner)
-----Original Message-----
From: Terry L. Thompson [mailto:tlt@digex.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 8:19 AM
To: spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Leans to the left
I had a lean on my car for close to 4 years now. About 2 years ago, I had
the rear spring replaced due to the notorius spring sag that plagues
spitfires.
At the time, I was told that the rear spring looked fine, but I told them to
change it anyhow (i'd already bought the new one, and the old one was off of
the car.) And they remarked that the leaning was just a spitfire
characteristic.
With the new spring in place, I still had a pronounced lean to the driver's
side, about 1 to 2 inches difference between driver and passenger sides
(especially if you parked on a slightly graded surface sloping toward the
driver's side.) My friend's commented that my car had a "Gangsta Lean" to
it.
Last month I replaced the front shocks and coils with a set of Carreras, and
to my surprise, no more driver's side sag. It looks like it was the front
left coil that was shot all along. The coil had recently become so degraded
that my tires would scrape the wheel wells going over speed-bumps, inclines
or dips in the road.
I would 'bounce' the front end of your spitfire and see if you get a nice
stiff single return to that side, and even if you do get a decent return,
I'm convinced that those of us with more girth (I'm pushing about 207),
might need a stiffer than stock suspension.
The only thing I haven't replaced in my spitfire now, is the transmission.
And guess what is starting to act up now? (Do Spitfires have a 24 year old
warranty? I'm starting to feel like mine just ran out.)
Terry L. Thompson
'76 Spit 1500
Maryland
----- Original Message -----
From: <SMatson802@aol.com>
To: <spitfires@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2000 10:33 AM
Subject: Leans to the left
>
> While I am typing, I may as well visit this issue as well.
> Viewing my '71 from the rear, I can see a pronounced leaning to the port
side
> of the HMS Spitfire. On recall, I seem to have seen a number of
> questions/comments on that topic, but, because I didn't realize that I
cared,
> I didn't read any of them.
> My front spring has a spring spacer installed by PO that looks to raise
about
> an inch or less. I still have a list to the left. At the risk of asking
you
> to repeat yourselves, what are we dealing with here.
> Thanks in advance,
> Steve M
>
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