Series 3 Parabolic suspension hangers

My '77 S3 88" has had parabolic suspension fitted by a previous owner. It is normally only lightly loaded but even so the ride is very hard. On inspection the gap at the back between the hangers at the mount is 2 7/16" but 3" across the bushes on the springs. Hence if all done up tight the hangers crush the bushes. I'm assuming that either I'm a spacer missing or I've got the wrong springs on? Can anyone offer some advice? I do have small workshop so can make up a spacer if required. piccie attached. I loosened off the Hanger bolt to show the size of the gap on the left hand end.

There is only one width of spring on series 88 [ except early series one rears ] Hard to tell in photo but that spring does look rather wide. Whatever they are the hangers need to be parallel so set them up that way and see if there is an improvement.

poly bushes use a metal insert that should get 'crushed' when tightened down. This allows the bush to rotate about it. OEM rubber bushes work slightly differently, although they still crush the inset, but the rubber then stretches and twists.

How many leaves are in the spring pack. For some reason most, as in 99% of all parabolic retailers in the UK only sell HD spring packs, which frankly ride like ****e when unloaded. You want two or three leaves maximum for light loading.

300bhp/ton said:

poly bushes use a metal insert that should get 'crushed' when tightened down. This allows the bush to rotate about it. OEM rubber bushes work slightly differently, although they still crush the inset, but the rubber then stretches and twists.

How many leaves are in the spring pack. For some reason most, as in 99% of all parabolic retailers in the UK only sell HD spring packs, which frankly ride like ****e when unloaded. You want two or three leaves maximum for light loading.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the prompt answer , the rear pack has 3 and the front pack 2 leaves. I already keep a load of heavy stuff in the back to take the edge off the ride but it still doesn't feel right

300bhp/ton said:

poly bushes use a metal insert that should get 'crushed' when tightened down. This allows the bush to rotate about it. OEM rubber bushes work slightly differently, although they still crush the inset, but the rubber then stretches and twists.

How many leaves are in the spring pack. For some reason most, as in 99% of all parabolic retailers in the UK only sell HD spring packs, which frankly ride like ****e when unloaded. You want two or three leaves maximum for light loading.

Click to expand...

I'll try it with some washers and if its better I'll make up spacers, many thanks.

You have a mixture of poly bushes and metalastic by the look of it that is not an option.
Spring hanger on the chassis looks to have had a piece cut off in my opinion how does it compare with other side?

Both sides of the vehicle are the same but each side of the mounting is different with the outer piece being longer than the inner.

I think, I hope, this is right (photos).



Just noticed that there IS a lean on these, but they are torqued correctly, I'll have to inspect that once once the body has been fitted, and I've done a few lanes.

I think the angle of the pic makes it hard to tell.

Looks ok but your other spring has poly bush in spring which is wider than metalastic bush hence your issue.

Just spent an hour or so trying to get the hangers off landy 4 - me 0. to misquote "I need some bigger tools"

oh that mine would ever look as nice underneath as Wildefalcon's. I think that the mounts are slightly different possibly mine have been cut at some point.

Mine aren't original, but quite close.

That's the project. The daily driver isn't so nice.

A little bit of welding for the Most.

but it will be at some time.

Finish the lightweight, build the 2a lwb station wagon, then rebuild the S3 pickup.

Say, next Tuesday?

haha I have trouble getting the bits together in 4 days.