Front suspension set up problems... need help

Talk about the E-Type Series 2

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MJNBOYS
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#1 Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by MJNBOYS » Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:32 am

Hello, I really need some help or advise. I have a 1970 etype. I have rebuilt her but and bolt over the last 5 years.

She drive amazingly but I have a huge problem. No matter what I do to the set up... even with brand new Rob Beere adjustable reaction plate and road race torsion bars as soon as I drive her a mile or so the suspension drops about 2 inches.
I have even increased tide height by 2 inches and still it drops to about 56cm arch to floor. I know that’s not the correct measurement I have read as much as I can but can’t stop it dropping... see photos.
Any advice would be greatly received.

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MJNBOYS
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#2 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by MJNBOYS » Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:35 am

MJNBOYS wrote:
Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:32 am
Hello, I really need some help or advise. I have a 1970 etype. I have rebuilt her but and bolt over the last 5 years.

She drive amazingly but I have a huge problem. No matter what I do to the set up... even with brand new Rob Beere adjustable reaction plate and road race torsion bars as soon as I drive her a mile or so the suspension drops about 2 inches.
I have even increased tide height by 2 inches and still it drops to about 56cm arch to floor. I know that’s not the correct measurement I have read as much as I can but can’t stop it dropping... see photos.
Any advice would be greatly received.

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mgcjag
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#3 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by mgcjag » Sun Jun 21, 2020 12:15 pm

Hi a 2in drop is a huge amount something must look obviously wrong......how did you set the ride height as per the service manual with the setting links....did you have the wishbone bushes loose untill you droped the car back on the ground then tighten them.....the only thing that holds the front of the car up is the torsion bar are they twisting too much or is the adjuster on the reactionplate letting go...bending etc....my guess is that you have set it too low...the car will always be high untill you have moved it so the suspension settles..Steve
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

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Tom W
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#4 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by Tom W » Sun Jun 21, 2020 2:37 pm

Have you got the torsion bars on the correct sides? They’re handed, stamped on the front ends.
Tom
1970 S2 FHC

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bitsobrits
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#5 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by bitsobrits » Sun Jun 21, 2020 4:34 pm

Have you fitted adjustable front dampers? Some dampers, if set much too stiff, can 'ratchet down' while driving and stay there, decreasing the apparent ride height until they eventually bleed off. If you do have adjustable dampers, try backing off the adjuster, then bouncing the front end. Learned this the hard way after trying some adjustable dampers not designed for the E.
Steve
'65 S1 4.2 FHC (early)

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#6 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by MJNBOYS » Sun Jun 21, 2020 6:22 pm

Thank you, I really really appreciate your reply. The only thing I am doing different to what you suggest is that I am tightening the wishbone bushes with the car still in the air... will this make a difference??

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#7 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by MJNBOYS » Sun Jun 21, 2020 6:23 pm

Standard dampers fitted! Non adjustable.

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mgcjag
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#8 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by mgcjag » Sun Jun 21, 2020 6:38 pm

Tightening the bushes with car in the air will make it sit higher then probably drop as you use the car......but if your not doing this correct are you following the procedure in the service manual...are you useing a setting links (what length)..either torsion bars are weak and twisting.....adjustable reaction plate isnt working....or you set wrong height.....Steve
Steve
69 S2 2+2 (just sold) ..Realm C type replica, 1960 xk150fhc

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#9 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by Tom W » Sun Jun 21, 2020 6:41 pm

MJNBOYS wrote:
Sun Jun 21, 2020 6:22 pm
Thank you, I really really appreciate your reply. The only thing I am doing different to what you suggest is that I am tightening the wishbone bushes with the car still in the air... will this make a difference??
Yes. The bushes should be tightened when the car is settled on its wheels. If they’re tightened when the car is in the air, the bushes will twisted excessively when the car is back on its wheels. This excess preload will serve to prop up the car, until either the bushes work their way around to a more neutral position, or they tear due to being excessively preloaded.
Tom
1970 S2 FHC

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#10 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by MJNBOYS » Sun Jun 21, 2020 6:51 pm

Thank you so much, I will try again with the weight on the wheels.
I am using a measure bar with holes at 17.3/4.

I hope it is the wishbone issues causing the problems.

I have brand new Rob Beere torsion bars and adjustable reaction plate.

Fingers crossed

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#11 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by Bob. » Mon Jun 22, 2020 12:42 pm

According to the ROM, 17 3/4" is the setting link dimension for a late S2 FHC or OTS with factory torsion bars. In your first post you say you have fitted Rob Beere "road/race torsion bars". As these will be stiffer than the originals you need to ask Rob Beere what the corresponding shorter setting link length is, otherwise it will be a question of trial and error to get the correct ride height.
Bob
'71 S3

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E600
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#12 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by E600 » Sun Jul 19, 2020 4:01 pm

Really sounds like TB are on the wrong side

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#13 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by abowie » Sun Jul 19, 2020 9:27 pm

E600 wrote:
Sun Jul 19, 2020 4:01 pm
Really sounds like TB are on the wrong side
How would that affect the ride height? These are new TBs. The handedness is about the fact that a TB will take a "set" after a long period of use, and then putting it on the other side and twisting it in the opposite direction increases the chances of it snapping under load.

Although it's perhaps unlikely, my money's on there being something wrong with the new TBs. The other option is that somehow the adjustment on the tie plate is slipping.

Have you got your old TBs still? If so, refit them and see what happens.
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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#14 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by E600 » Mon Jul 20, 2020 6:04 pm

Didn’t clock they were new, good shout reference slippage

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#15 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by Tom W » Mon Jul 20, 2020 6:22 pm

If they’re new bars, and weren’t scragged after they were manufactured, they will take a set after fitting. You may have to adjust them a few times until they stop sagging. Check with the manufacturer if they’ve been scragged.
Tom
1970 S2 FHC

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#16 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by bitsobrits » Mon Jul 20, 2020 10:57 pm

"Scragged" is not a word that exists in my American English vocabulary. Can you explain the concept, please?
Last edited by bitsobrits on Wed Jul 22, 2020 12:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
Steve
'65 S1 4.2 FHC (early)

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#17 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by abowie » Mon Jul 20, 2020 11:42 pm

Google is your friend.

SCRAGGING OR PRESETTING
After heat treatment each spring is flattened at least once. This reduces the overall height by means of plastic deformation. Tensile stress results on the upper side, which counteracts the compressive stress caused by subsequent loadings and so reduces the stress peaks. Further plastic deformation is thereby avoided during later loading of the spring.
Andrew.
881824, 1E21538. 889457. 1961 4.3l Mk2. 1975 XJS. 1962 MGB
http://www.projectetype.com/index.php/the-blog.html
Adelaide, Australia

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#18 Re: Front suspension set up problems... need help

Post by Series1 Stu » Tue Jul 21, 2020 10:14 pm

Exactly right!

Left and right are preloaded in opposite directions hence them being marked accordingly.

Regards
Stuart

If you can't make it work, make it complicated!

'62 FHC - Nearing completion
'69 Daimler 420 Sovereign
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