mazdarover
New Member
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- 3
Just a muse on my experience with 'handed' leaf springs, and whether anybody else has had the same experience.
The car is a 109 ex-military RHD SIIA, extended hangers (etc.), just as the MoD desired in 1967. The twin tanks went, replaced with just a single tank on the LHS under the passenger seat, RHS has me (80Kg) and the huge commercial battery (positioned as usual, above the axle, RHS). Hardtop, full rack.
Initially, and due to carrying a lot of stuff across Australia, I had fitted the 1-Ton springs (535173) on the rear, with the 'handed' 276034 (i.e. 1-Ton or Diesel) on the RHS and the lesser 265627 on the LHS. Engine at the time was the Rover 6 cylinder petrol, replaced with a Holden 'Red'. Car always listed visibly towards the passenger side, unchanged regardless of weight added - jerry cans, water, wheels, etc., etc., you get the picture. Suspension moved, but only when loaded, rear end not so much. Exhaust box now where the RHS fuel tank used to be, side exit.
Back here in the UK, the Holden Red went, some flirtation with a 2286 diesel (disaster) and then the (current) Japanese-built Perkins 4.182 (Titan E3000, Mazda 3.0HA). It weighs about the same as the other engines used. OK, so the empty car was now undriveable due to the concrete spring rates. All the 'experts' were insistent that 'handed' springs was how it should be, despite my explanation of the set-up.
I've gone for Jones Springs, they do look good and work well. Firstly the rear, 279678 on the RHS, 279679 on the LHS. Instantly driveable, wow, but it became clear how much the 1-Ton rear springs were 'locking' the attitude of the car, the front now over 60 mm higher on the driver side! 276034 on the front RHS, 265627 on the passenger. 80Kg of me made no difference. Swapping the fronts over has produced a 25mm excess height on the passenger side, not ideal. I'm going for another 265627 for the passenger's side, so we'll see how that goes. It drives beautifully by the way, the compliance is a revelation.
So yep, anyone else abandoned the idea of handed springs. I can see that me and the battery are probably balancing the offset engine and fuel tank. TeriAnn (fantastic site) suggests this was how the North American vehicles should be, unless there's a >150 lb difference between the sides, which I'm agreeing with......
The car is a 109 ex-military RHD SIIA, extended hangers (etc.), just as the MoD desired in 1967. The twin tanks went, replaced with just a single tank on the LHS under the passenger seat, RHS has me (80Kg) and the huge commercial battery (positioned as usual, above the axle, RHS). Hardtop, full rack.
Initially, and due to carrying a lot of stuff across Australia, I had fitted the 1-Ton springs (535173) on the rear, with the 'handed' 276034 (i.e. 1-Ton or Diesel) on the RHS and the lesser 265627 on the LHS. Engine at the time was the Rover 6 cylinder petrol, replaced with a Holden 'Red'. Car always listed visibly towards the passenger side, unchanged regardless of weight added - jerry cans, water, wheels, etc., etc., you get the picture. Suspension moved, but only when loaded, rear end not so much. Exhaust box now where the RHS fuel tank used to be, side exit.
Back here in the UK, the Holden Red went, some flirtation with a 2286 diesel (disaster) and then the (current) Japanese-built Perkins 4.182 (Titan E3000, Mazda 3.0HA). It weighs about the same as the other engines used. OK, so the empty car was now undriveable due to the concrete spring rates. All the 'experts' were insistent that 'handed' springs was how it should be, despite my explanation of the set-up.
I've gone for Jones Springs, they do look good and work well. Firstly the rear, 279678 on the RHS, 279679 on the LHS. Instantly driveable, wow, but it became clear how much the 1-Ton rear springs were 'locking' the attitude of the car, the front now over 60 mm higher on the driver side! 276034 on the front RHS, 265627 on the passenger. 80Kg of me made no difference. Swapping the fronts over has produced a 25mm excess height on the passenger side, not ideal. I'm going for another 265627 for the passenger's side, so we'll see how that goes. It drives beautifully by the way, the compliance is a revelation.
So yep, anyone else abandoned the idea of handed springs. I can see that me and the battery are probably balancing the offset engine and fuel tank. TeriAnn (fantastic site) suggests this was how the North American vehicles should be, unless there's a >150 lb difference between the sides, which I'm agreeing with......
