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Front coil springs

Posted: 19 Apr 2015 17:53
by unicorn
Hello I was wondering if anyone knows the height from ground to front wheel arch with standard triumph 13" alloys to check if my springs have gone. Symptoms are when I go over speed bump they sound like they bottom out even at 5mph. Also exhaust hits speed ramps and can even ground if going fast over bumpy roads so thinking either front springs, shocks or both! Front end seems very bouncy too ( I know they were never known to be very stable tho ) if I do change springs should I go for standard or uprated . If anyone has any ideas or recommendations it would be appreciated
Thanks in advance
Chris

If it makes you smile it's the right car :-)

Posted: 19 Apr 2015 18:17
by sonscar
Just my my personal thoughts and I will probably be shot down but I think people blame the springs as too soft when the fault is insufficient damping.Hard springs stop dive and roll but on our(UK) roads they give poor tyre/road contact.Look at the coils and if there is reasonable clearance between them and they do not coil bind on bump they are probably ok.Sit on the wing and see how far they go down,weight divided by movement gives a rough idea of their strength.I could measure my car but I inherited it with any number of unknown things.Steve..

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mine
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Posted: 19 Apr 2015 18:29
by FI Spyder
I would hit any speed bump regardless how slow I went. It would hit on the cat cage (California car) the lowest point as it extended below the frame rails. When I took the struts apart there was zero resistance to the shocks, no bump stop (disintegrated). I put regular springs on as I had it apart and KYB gas shocks. Much better, only the odd speed bump catches me out (still careful). Car doesn't sit high. As I like to run my tires fairly hard (30 - 32 psi) the ride is quite stiff compounded by hard black poly bushings on front which also goes a long way to reducing body roll (less give than soft poly).

- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT
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Posted: 19 Apr 2015 23:10
by Hasbeen
Chris the correct way to check your springs is to measure from the axle line, [centre of the wheel/hubcap] to the wheel arch. This eliminates the effect of different tyres & pressures.

My 7 has the original springs, which were retempered & set to the correct free length about 10 years ago. The ride height has not changed since then.

Centre of wheel to arch 12.5 inches.
Floor to wheel arch 23.5 inches, with 185 70 13s at 28 PSI.

[}:)] This is with Asian tyres so probably smaller than European tyres. [:D]

Hasbeen

Posted: 20 Apr 2015 07:16
by unicorn
Hi and thanks for the replies just measured mine and they are 22.75 floor to arch with same tyres as has been uses so need to look into it

If it makes you smile it's the right car :-)

Posted: 20 Apr 2015 07:57
by supercass
[url][/url]It seems ro me that it is far more likely to be

worn dampers. supercass