Front springs again

Last TR · Postby **Last TR** » 16 Apr 2011 04:29

While I was in Oregon earlier this month, I replaced my saggy front springs with uprated, 1" lowered springs from TSI. With my old springs, the center of wheel to top of front arch was 10 3/4". The car handled well and was quite comfortable, but bottomed out far too often. The new springs have put the car at 13 1/2", within a quarter inch of what Moss says is stock. It still handles and rides fine, but I don't like the look. I expected it to be an inch lower as advertised. I haven't received any response from an email to TSI; I guess I could call. Are anybody else's springs any different or do they all come from the same supplier?

Ken
Anchorage, Alaska

1980 TR8, 1973 TR6, 1965 Volvo PV544, 1958 MGA, Jeep Cherokees

Jolyon39 · Postby **Jolyon39** » 16 Apr 2011 06:27

This is a common thing when you fit new springs. Your old springs were so old they had already sagged and lowered the car. Now everything is 1" lower than the correct specs.

Jolyon

Last TR · Postby **Last TR** » 16 Apr 2011 07:04

According to the figures I have, it was 3+" lower than stock; it's now only about 1/4" lower than stock.

Ken
Anchorage, Alaska

1980 TR8, 1973 TR6, 1965 Volvo PV544, 1958 MGA, Jeep Cherokees

jeffremj · Postby **jeffremj** » 16 Apr 2011 07:16

I use Triumphtune lowered and get this affect:

Bendder · Postby **Bendder** » 16 Apr 2011 14:54

Jeffremj

That looks low. Could you measure from the wheel centre to the top of the wheel arch and let us know what it is? I measured my '78 which is sitting in the garage and all stock never changed springs (79000km). Just did shocks last year. I was hesitant to change springs for the very reason that I like the stance of the car now and kind of like the softer ride. Admitedly it's not a track or fast road car but I almost allway's have my 5 or 8 yr old in the car with me.

13.25" front
13" rear

Mark
1977 TR7 FHC
1978 TR7 FHC
1980 TR7 DHC
1980 Rover SD1 4.0L

FI Spyder · Postby **FI Spyder** » 16 Apr 2011 15:10

The one inch lowered HD springs sink less than standard rate springs so work out to about the same. They will also be higher than sunken old springs. My new standard springs on the Spider is the same height as the old original springs on Yellow TCT (give or take). The Triumph tune springs do look lower don't they? Even with any parallax taken into account (picture taken on higher plane).

Personally I need all the height I can get with my Californian cat cages hanging below the car frame. Californian cat is different (larger?) than federal. I scrape it on the first gentle speed bump going into London Drugs at slowest possible crawl speed although the other two are fine.

No more going into that parking lot that way.[B)]

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spitfire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

DNK · Postby **DNK** » 16 Apr 2011 16:15

KEn , I'm with you on these lowered springs and have been grousing about them since I put them on a few years ago.
Will wait for the Triumph Tune heights. Here is my height

Don
"No More Cars For You"
71 TR6- Perpetual remodel
80 TR7 V8 Kick in the pants

trekcarbonboy · Postby **trekcarbonboy** » 16 Apr 2011 17:10

Last year I replaced the springs with springs from TSI. When I was done the front end was 1.25 inches then the back. And the rear was .25 higher then stock. Not good for springs that should be 1 inch lower then stock. I spoke with Ted and sent him pics and he sent me another set with fewer coils but the same overall height. These gave the same exact result. I finally just ordered a full set from S&S and the fronts where 2.25 inches shorter (unsprung height) then the TSI springs. These worked much better but where still .25 higher then the rear. Ted was very accomodating and helpful but never got it right. Refund was no problem. His springs where a much nicer build quality then the S&S ones but what good is that if they don't do what they should. Still wouldn't hesitate to by from TSI, just not springs.
See the pic below. The red ones are from S&S and measured 10.75" and the black ones from Ted measure 13". And yes these are both front springs.
Can't say that I ever got the amount of drop that I actually wanted. Maybe when I drop in a V8 it will sit right.

Craig

john 215 · Postby **john 215** » 16 Apr 2011 17:38

Hi,

I also run Triumphtune springs giving the following measurements-

Front 315 mm
Rear 312 mm

Giving this stance-

Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!

prlee · Postby **prlee** » 16 Apr 2011 18:27

I've just gone back to the original springs, the uprated ones fron Rimmers were too harsh and the front ride height was higher, look and felt awful.

You may want to use the cut down front bump stop at the front.

With poly bush and new shocks I am very happy with the ride height and the handling.

Pete
81 Carmelian Red DHC
79 Pageant Blue Spitfire

Last TR · Postby **Last TR** » 16 Apr 2011 18:32

Thanks everybody. I guess I should have asked before I bought, but TSI generally seems to be a well respected source.

My old collapsed springs measured about 10-3/4" free of the car, and gave me about 10-5/8" to 10-3/4" from wheel center to arch.

The TSI springs measured about 12-3/4" out of the box, and gave me about 13-1/2" from wheel center to arch after TSI's thicker urethane spring pads settled about a 1/4" upon driving a few hundred miles. This is how it looked to me when I took it down off the jack stands!

I have to admit that I go looking for speed bumps now, but I'm not happy with the look. I guess I'll have to call Ted, and then check with TriumphTune. Thanks again, everyone.

Ken
Anchorage, Alaska

1980 TR8, 1973 TR6, 1965 Volvo PV544, 1958 MGA, Jeep Cherokees

Spectatohead · Postby **Spectatohead** » 16 Apr 2011 18:42

Ken, your car does look a little high in the front, especially compared to before. It actually looks a touch higher than the rear. Does it ride any different than it did? I was a bit amazed at how much difference new poly spring pads made at the rear of my car. It had good duralon bushings in the rear suspension when I got it, but the spring pads were the original rubber ones and they were shot. The back tires rubbed frequently. When I re-did my fuel tank I also replaced all of the rear bushings and the spring pads with poly ones. The tires haven't rubbed once since. I haven't dug into the front enough to know what I have up there yet.

Jim Clark
'80 TR8
'97 Maxima 5spd

REPLIC8 · Postby **REPLIC8** » 16 Apr 2011 19:01

This is how mine looks on standard springs with poly spring seats. I tried uprated fronts & it sat much too high. I'll see how I get on with these for a while. [:)]

[img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/175.jpg[/img][/img]

Andy
1981 UK SPEC TR8
[img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/small_175-2.jpg[/img][/img] [img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/pics005.jpg[/img][/img]

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 16 Apr 2011 19:22

Front/rear 200lbs and lowered by 1" a few days after I finished the restoration last year ...

It sits slightly lower now, which is perfect in my opnion.
As it gives enough ground clearance for bad roads and speed bumps.

<center>

1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]My Weblog[/url]</center>

jeffremj · Postby **jeffremj** » 16 Apr 2011 21:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
That looks low. Could you measure from the wheel centre to the top of the wheel arch and let us know what it is?

......

13.25" front
13" rear
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Approx 12.2" fronts and 13" rears.

Anonymous

Front springs again

Front springs again

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