Harsh ride

[nick]

Having two cars gives me the opportunity to compare. The DHC is a much softer ride then the FHC. The difference is in the front springs. If I push down the front of the FHC it moves very little. If I use the same pressure on the DHC it moves much more indicating a much softer spring. There is no difference in the rear springs. It doesn't take much of a bump and the FHC feels like it may come apart. The DHC takes the same bump as any normal car would. Looking at the Leyland maintenance manual I see only one spring called out for all cars.

Did they install softer springs as production progressed or could it be that my front springs have lost their spring?

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC

[FI Spyder]

Springs will lose their spingyness with age resulting in a collapse in loaded height. Often when this happens people will replace a worn out spring with heavier duty spring despite the new regular will be plenty harsh enough with little dip (depending on bushing type and tire pressure). Maybe the FHC has HD springs at some time in its past?

The other part is shocks. Although I would scrape on every speed bump bring my car home for the first time I didn't notice any bounce (although most was highway driving) but when I took the struts apart the shocks had zero action (I could lift the shock shaft with finger and thumb). The stiffer the shock the harder it will be to bounce the car.


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

[nick]

Both cars have new strut inserts and they are the same brand, KBY. Both cars have about the same height from ground to top of the fender arch within 1/2 inch. However, the FHC (the one with the stiffer ride) has more positive camber. The other thing I noticed is when using the same wheels and tires on both cars, and then taking a sharp turn with some speed, the tires squeal easily on the FHC while they are quite on the DHC. This could be attributed to the difference in camber between the two cars. And the fact that the FHC has more camber could also be because of spring sag even though the cars measure in at about the same height.

I have a source for some used front springs. But they come from a '77 car. Mine is a '76. If mine are sagged chance are these are the same. If I could find some out of a '79 or later car I would change them out.

[img][IMG]http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt234/nickmi/TR7%201975/Yellow.jpg[/img]
nick
'79 TR7 DHC
'76 TR7 FHC