Shocks, Luggage & Leaves
First the Luggage When I had a '90 +4 4 seater, I removed the rear seat completely for big trips and built a wooden box to fit in the space. I used bolts to the 2 front differential cover plate to secure it to the car at the front and the 2 small shoot bolts which locate the seat back. I then fitted a padlock to enable me to lock the luggage away. We toured UK, France and Scandinavia with this set-up. Using this method of locking the luggage in the car we were happy to leave the car almost anywhere. Additionally, we were able to use the tonneau and not show that there was any luggage in the car. I used Dave Rutherford's shock bracket conversion on the back of my car. Later, when I was considering a change to Konis, an article appeared in Miscellany in which Dave stated that 4 seaters had one leaf too many in their rear springs. Following a call to Dave, I opted to make the upgrade complete by following his advice. It was quite a task getting the springs back on again, but it was more than worth it. I noted the difference in the first few yards when taking the car out of the drive for the first time! On the road, the car was so much more supple and comfortable. I would recommend this to anyone who is prepared to take the plunge. It's a long time since I did this and I cannot recall which leaf I discarded, but first remove the springs from the car. It's really a matter of leaving the shortest and longest as original, grade the length of the remaining leafs such that they each have an equal increment in length. ( If there is one spring the same length as the top one, leave it ) You will require new U-Bolts and the small clips that hold the spring together may have to be modified as they are binding one less leaf and so may allow the spring to deflect sideways. I didn't modify the clips which hold the spring together, as I thought it would be OK and I did not have anything which I could use at hand. I had no noticeable increase in oversteer due to the spring flexing over the 5+ years that I enjoyed the car with this mod. ( In an ideal world a Panhard bar would be the solution.) I cut ends off three leafs if I remember with a metal cutting disc in a Stihl Saw, but I imagine that an angle grinder would do the job. Remember to chamfer the edges after you have made the cuts!!! I recommend this modification and it didn't seem to make any difference to the load carrying capacity, I often trailered the car with about 300lbs of ballast on the back seat to ensure traction!. Best regards from Scotland A POSTCRIPT
About 4 years ago Vern Dale-Johnson turned me on to the Rutherford conversion and to going to 6 leaves from the original 7. I gave my old springs to famous 4/4 racer Don Greimel, and bought new 6 leaf springs from Morgan Spares. I also went with Spax shocks, at first because they cost a bit less than Koni, and was pleased with the ease of adjustment. About 2 weeks after the conversion I was driving home at night. Our beloved State DOT(department of trucks) had been re-paving part of the highway and had left a drop in the road of more than 2". I never saw it till I hit it about 60 mph. No banging or crashing, the rear end didn't hit the seat pan or the frame. Railroad grade crossings are no longer taken in first gear one wheel at a time. I have carried 3 passengers for short distances, and lots of luggage on long trips with no problems. Ride and handling are much improved and the car has been transformed. A POSTSCRIPT
The trick to reinstalling springs is to pull the front seats out, pull off the shock covers, put the rear shackle back onto the car then, using the old spring leaf (or other metal length) securely attached to the front of the spring to give you leverage and the help of a friend use your weight to push to front shackle down into the mount. Note you may have to adjust the fore-aft position of the spring to make it center on the mount - do this unweighted! Want to take the springs out? Use the above method as well. Works on all Mogs... |