MOT Fail front wishbone bushes and AR bushes.
Discussion
Well having fixed the rear end (see there was a bang at the rear end) I put it in for an MOT it failed. Top wish bone bushed and the bushes at the outer end of the anti roll bar. I have ordered the parts. Not too bad really just a pain but I noticed that the car seems to be lower at the front than it should be. When I bought the car the guy said that he had fitter new shocks on the front and new springs as he said one of the springs was damaged. The springs are blue. Looking in the TVR parts list it says the springs should be Green for the 350i, blue ones are for the V6 car. So the question is what is the difference in free length, number of coils and section. Also possible the the compression per 100Kg? Is that why the car looks low at the front?
Any body got any clues?
Any body got any clues?
Wedg1e said:
Yeah, powder-coating comes in many different colours 
It's the spring rate that's important, I forget the numbers but something like 400lb. rings a bell for the 350i (the V6 was actually heavier so if you had 280i springs on it would sit high, not low).
Ok My be I need 280 springs? Had a chat with Neil from ML Performance says he can get spring manufactured, he says that the 350i spring should be 260mm long unloaded, 6.1/2 coils and a wire diameter of 16mm. but no load deformation data.It's the spring rate that's important, I forget the numbers but something like 400lb. rings a bell for the 350i (the V6 was actually heavier so if you had 280i springs on it would sit high, not low).
When I get mine off I measure them for comparison.
Still waiting for the bushes to come before I start. It would be good id if I could get some load/deformation data.
Just had a quote from RT Racing for front springs for my 350i. I'm just after direct replacements of the original setup and he supplies ones that are 10% uprated and give a factory ride height, £114 for the pair. No inf on spring rates or length though. I have one spring out at the moment and it is 12" long. Removing the other one tonight or tomorrow.
I'm sure someone else posted a link to a spring supplier a short while ago and they were £39.95 each in orange. Can't for the life of me find that post now.
John
I'm sure someone else posted a link to a spring supplier a short while ago and they were £39.95 each in orange. Can't for the life of me find that post now.
John
jgmadkit said:
Just had a quote from RT Racing for front springs for my 350i. I'm just after direct replacements of the original setup and he supplies ones that are 10% uprated and give a factory ride height, £114 for the pair. No inf on spring rates or length though. I have one spring out at the moment and it is 12" long. Removing the other one tonight or tomorrow.
I'm sure someone else posted a link to a spring supplier a short while ago and they were £39.95 each in orange. Can't for the life of me find that post now.
John
Ok I can not get my springs of just now as I do not have a 1/2 a meter of M12 studding to hand, I will have to take them off later to measure the free length. I just need to get the car through the MOT before I go away. As a point of information the old spring I had with spares when I bought the car measures:-I'm sure someone else posted a link to a spring supplier a short while ago and they were £39.95 each in orange. Can't for the life of me find that post now.
John
128mm od (5.04 inch) x 7 coils you could say 7.5 x 15mm dia wire x 275/285 short side/ long side.
The ones on the car (Blue) are the same od E.g. 128mm od (5.04 inch) x 7 coils you could say 7.5 but x 14.4mm dia wire I can't measure the free length as stated, yet.
The ones supplied by ML Performance according to Neil (07971826143) for £89.95 are od unknown x 6.5 coils x 16mm dia wire 260mm long.
I think we really need some spring rate information, e.g. deformation by load.
Edited by LenChim on Friday 25th March 20:55
Edited by LenChim on Friday 25th March 20:57
jgmadkit said:
Just had a quote from RT Racing for front springs for my 350i. I'm just after direct replacements of the original setup and he supplies ones that are 10% uprated and give a factory ride height, £114 for the pair. No inf on spring rates or length though. I have one spring out at the moment and it is 12" long. Removing the other one tonight or tomorrow.
I'm sure someone else posted a link to a spring supplier a short while ago and they were £39.95 each in orange. Can't for the life of me find that post now.
John
12 inches is 304.8 mm that is way longer than any I have seen so far. What is the od of the spring and the dia of the wire?I'm sure someone else posted a link to a spring supplier a short while ago and they were £39.95 each in orange. Can't for the life of me find that post now.
John
First spring I took off was 305mm, the other was 325mm which accounts for the 20mm difference of wheel arch clearance from one side of my car to the other.
Rest of the dimensions match yours, both using 16mm wire. I guess the new springs from ML are much stiffer so being 40mm shorter than the ones I have shouldn't be an issue. Didn't measure how much I had to compress to get them out but it was a fair bit, and I had to undo the lower suspension arm mount to give it that bit of extra clearance.
Rest of the dimensions match yours, both using 16mm wire. I guess the new springs from ML are much stiffer so being 40mm shorter than the ones I have shouldn't be an issue. Didn't measure how much I had to compress to get them out but it was a fair bit, and I had to undo the lower suspension arm mount to give it that bit of extra clearance.
jgmadkit said:
First spring I took off was 305mm, the other was 325mm which accounts for the 20mm difference of wheel arch clearance from one side of my car to the other.
Rest of the dimensions match yours, both using 16mm wire. I guess the new springs from ML are much stiffer so being 40mm shorter than the ones I have shouldn't be an issue. Didn't measure how much I had to compress to get them out but it was a fair bit, and I had to undo the lower suspension arm mount to give it that bit of extra clearance.
Can you let me know the dimensions of the new ones when you get them and the ride height when you have fitted them please?Rest of the dimensions match yours, both using 16mm wire. I guess the new springs from ML are much stiffer so being 40mm shorter than the ones I have shouldn't be an issue. Didn't measure how much I had to compress to get them out but it was a fair bit, and I had to undo the lower suspension arm mount to give it that bit of extra clearance.
Many thanks Len.
jgmadkit said:
Sorry Len but I won't be getting new springs any time soon, I'm making do for now as I will be doing a body off resto later in the year.
Well I do not intend to put new springs on until the winter when I will strip the front suspension from the car altogether and have it shot blasted, powder coated and the front half of the chassis cleaned up, de-rusted, rust cured and repainted. Good luck with the restoration, enjoy the drive in the meantime. Len Retest MOT Tuesday
.Wedg1e said:
Just use ordinary spring compressors, how do you think people used to take them off Cortinas?
Well I have to say I did try my trusty spring compressor that has taken off many a spring in its time including Cortina springs but I just could not get it to fit in the space. It does say in the Steve H book to take them of with a length of studding after removing the damper?
Len. I still need info about spring sizes and rates for an 87 350i if anybody has any.Forums | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff