Joined: May 2018 Posts: 2,091 Threads: 109
Reputation:
22
Location: Llandrindod Wells
Car type: 29 Special, 30 RK, 28 C Cab
Hi All
After some comments regarding lowering my special (See The Brookfields special thread), I would like to investigate how much I can lower the car without resorting to bending the front axle (and the expense so entailed). I've read the 750 companion, Bill Williams book and several threads here but unless I'm missing it I can't find specific numbers. Although I understand that these could vary depending upon the weight of the car.
The original concept for the car was for it to be used for vintage trials so.....
Can (or should) I reduce the number of leaves in the springs?
What is the lowest (unloaded) camber I can reasonably have the springs set to?
Thanks in advance
Cheers
Howard
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 243 Threads: 23
Reputation:
2
Location: Rokeby, Victoria, Australia
Car type: '27 Chummy, '34 Special, '50 Traction Avant
I have a bowed axle however I started at the other end as I was sick of my flat rear springs bottoming out so I went from flat to 2.5" camber at the rear then as the car was not level I added camber to the front of about the same amount, it seems a good compromise. I was not going to race and the roads can be bumpy around here. It could affect your caster but mine seems to drive OK.
Cheers
Mark
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,332 Threads: 34
Reputation:
30
Location: Cheshire
Car type: Race Ulster, 1926 Special, 1927 Chummy, 1930 Box
If I was building a car for Vintage trials, I’d be very much inclined to use standard springs.
Alan Fairless
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 780 Threads: 26
Reputation:
8
Location: On a hill in Wiltshire
Hi Howard
"Slack Alice" has a flat front axle and a standard front spring with leaves removed.
I can't give more details yet, I'm away for a while.
I just kept trying different combinations of leaves until it felt right.
Swapped the early 5 leaf for a later spring and just played about.
Joined: May 2018 Posts: 2,091 Threads: 109
Reputation:
22
Location: Llandrindod Wells
Car type: 29 Special, 30 RK, 28 C Cab
Hi All
Thanks for the feedback. I kind of thought that standard springs should be OK but with so many comments regarding lowering I thought I'd ask the question.
I guess I need to wait until the build is finished to see whether or not I need to remove springs.
Cheers
Howard
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 3,329 Threads: 372
Reputation:
16
Car type:
Worth noting the green book figures are wrong and have caused a few people real hassle. Bill Sheehan and Ian Dunford have been trying to address, but they weren't corrected on a previous reprint. I now can't find the club site which has the correct rates on... can anyone post it?
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 96 Threads: 29
Reputation:
1
I had new springs made by Ian Dunford with 1 1/2" camber at the front and 3 1/2" at the rear, which is about half way between standard and Ulster spec. I have a standard front axle and there are no problems, I don't think that the front axle deflects very much. Supersports have a flat front spring and standard axle and they seem to work ok.
This set up works well on a road car, but as others have said, might not be optimal for trialling.