Pete
I just asked this question since I am about to replace my rear springs. I
have a cracked leaf. In researching what to do to avoid just what you
have, it looks like the options are:
Re-arch the springs you have (the new ones) You'll get the car to the
correct height but will still have the high spring rate (stiffness.)
Pull a couple of leaves out of the new springs. My question is: How many
and which ones? Do you have ten-leaf springs or fifteen-leaf? I have been
told that only ten-leaf (stiffer) springs are available but that's not
necessarily true. The long and short leaves in the bundle have different
effects on ride height and stiffness, so I guess experimentation is the way
to go. On this subject, from the archives, Larry Miller has this to say:
" I tried both the 10 and 15 leaf. Both make the car sit too high
and have very little compression.
I took the 10 leaf and removed the top three leafs and installed them
direct. This gives a softer ride but is still pretty stiff and the car
still
sits too high. The ride is pretty good and I have not hit the bump stops
yet
but I think it could still be a little softer.
The ride height can be adjusted by taking the removed leafs, cutting them
down, and using them as spacers between the car and the springs.
This winter I plan to start with the 10 leaf and remove the 2nd and 4th
leafs. This should soften up the ride some over removing the top 3. If I
were using the 15 leaf I think I would also remove the 6th leaf.
I plan on doing it first without using the removed leafs as spacers and if
the car sits too high I will cut them down and use them as spacers."
Frank Clarici agreed with him - I'm not sure if he's running without the
top three or without 2 and 4, though. I would initially go without 2 and 4,
based on this, and tune from there. If I had 15-leafs, I would remove 2, 4
and 6.
Mini Mania $ells a $et of comptetition $pring$ that they claim are 20%
softer (but they couldn't say if this was softer than stock, or softer than
what's currently available.) I am considering these. I have one good review
of them from somebody local, if anybody else has used them, I'd love to
hear about your experience.
Re-arch the old springs - not an option for me, as I have a broken leaf,
but I do have a line on a used set that was replaced (his car now sits high
also.) I'd have to bring them into the local spring place and tell them
what I was after, and see what it would cost me.
Hope this helped
Phil
-----Original Message-----
From: Pete & Caroline Phillips [SMTP:phillipp@cfw.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 1999 10:18 AM
To: Spridgets
Subject: Rear Springs
We just replaced the rear springs in a Bugeye. The rear sits about 2 1/2
inches higher than it is susposed to. Does anyone know of a way to lower
the
rear , short of having the springs rearched?
I think I remember a thread about this problem some time ago. Hope someone
has solved this problem.
Pete Phillips
61 Bugeye
Waynesboro, VA
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