Front and rear suspension overhaul

[SaskStag]

At the appraisal earlier this year the mechanic in the local car club pointed out the suspension on the Stag needs some attention. Looks like it's never been done.
So I've been slowly collecting the bits and information from forum searches etc, and slowly collecting the courage to do this job...... I might chicken out though, and make this beer and pizza sessions with the local car club members

I met with Chris Witor and bought some polybushes from him, but he didn't sell me part number 150382 and (unless I'm missing something) I don't see it listed on his website. I'm assuming I will need this as well? I have: anti-roll bar bushes; drag strut bushes; diff cone and cup mount (comfort setting) (this looks like a big job though?); trailing arm bushes. Track rod control arms have been done. Anything else?

I bought Spax adjustable shock absorbers. The rear ones came with rubber bushes; don't look like poly. Will they be ok?

I bought RB standard springs with poly insulators. Is another set of springs recommended and is there anything else required if I get other springs?

Cheers
Tanya
Thanks in advance

[Westfaling]

Tanya
You will need and can buy rear subframe bushes in poly.
Rubber bushes are fine for the shock absorbers.
The RB springs might be a problem. I've had to take my rear ones off as they're too long. They were 12.5" uncompressed (the longer ones in the photo below) probably need to be 11.5 - 11.75" long (the shorter ones).
Rear springs.jpg

Fronts are a bit long too but within 1/2". A good uncompressed length for the front springs is 14".
Standard ride height centre of hub to bottom of wheel arch is 14.5".

Installing new rear poly subframe bushes will drive you nuts. Someone on here suggested heating them in hot water first.
Why not do front top mounts and inserts while you're at it. If the springs are tired the shocks are sure to be. Then you'll have done the lot.
You'll need spring compressors from Crappy Tire for the front springs.
Nothing you can't cope with after what you've done so far!!
Nick

[jleyton]

Hi Tanya,

I'd quite agree with Nick that, after what you've done already, doing your front and rear suspension will be pretty easy for you .

As for the 150382, I replaced mine when I first got my car because I thought they looked a bit tired - and I was very eager back then . Recently, I've rebuilt my entire rear suspension and those old mountings, which I kept, actually look better than the ones I fitted about three years ago and so I've cleaned the old ones up and refitted them instead. The rubber can break away from the metal but you should probably be able to see if that has happened, especially when you jack up the rear of the car onder that mounting bolt.

For the rest of both front and rear suspension, the ROM is pretty good but please be very careful with the spring compressors

It sounds like you've done your research so just go for it and, if you need any help, just ask on here. Good luck.

Cheers

Julian

Ps One thing I would thoroughly recommend is buying the suspension bolt kits. I got mine from ANG parts who sell on Ebay but the other suppliers sell kits as well - definitely worth getting.

[SaskStag]

Excellent, thanks
I'll measure those springs
Won't be doing this for a while yet, but at least the garage heater is being installed today
Tanya

[SaskStag]

Still gathering stuff for this job and now the exchange rate is going against me.. ahh!!

I measured the uncompressed RB springs
Fronts 15.5"
Rears 12.5"

They sound too long. The car sits a perfect 14.5" all round at the moment and looks ok.
Tony Hart's springs or Monarchs????

Thanks
Tanya

[Omen]

I do hope you have better luck than me. I decided to change the front inserts and springs. Taking the first leg off, the four bolts holding it to the wheel hub were stupidly tight, or rusted together. Three came undone, reluctantly, last one rounded off. Hacksawed the head off, leg removed. Now I need to take the caliper off, as it is in the way of the stud extractor I have. Of course the bolt remaining holding the caliper on is like the rest stupidly tight. Can't undo it as the hub assy is not connected to the leg, to hold it still. Have just spent two hours trying to put the leg back on, only things I achieved were two nuts at the top to hold it up; got freezing cold; found out the new gloves I bought are too thin and rip too easily; not able to fit any of the bolts to hold the hub unit to the leg. So...any offers for a three wheel one legged Stag ?? I might just accept.....!

[SaskStag]

It's definately going to be a pizza and beer party then, then we'll all be too full and drunk to care

I hope you get warmed up and things go better after all this
Tanya

[darrellprice]

Hi Tanya;
If you are dealing with nuts and bolts that have not been off for a long time then I would suggest going over everything with penetrating oil on a number of separate occasions before attempting to take things apart (Re. post above by Omen). If you start now everything will be well and truly penetrated by the time you do the job. I use PB Blaster which you can get at Canadian Tire, even if you are not personally doing the job those that are may thank you!
PS envious of garage heater, -21C this morning, but a dry cold!

[Bob Heritage]

Still gathering stuff for this job and now the exchange rate is going against me.. ahh!!

I measured the uncompressed RB springs
Fronts 15.5"
Rears 12.5"

They sound too long. The car sits a perfect 14.5" all round at the moment and looks ok.
Tony Hart's springs or Monarchs????

Thanks
Tanya

Hi Tanya, I bought my springs from Chris Witor

Bob

[edd]

Good luck Tanya i finished mine today , i have witor springs all poly and spax gas shocks . The Red spring are a perfect colour match too

20140209_160723.jpg

[1959terry]

Edd, perfect colour match if you have a red stag maybe

[SaskStag]

Edd, perfect colour match if you have a red stag maybe

.....hey.... cor blimey, I do!!!
Tanya

Hi Darryll, haven't really spent much time in the garage yet - even with heater. -30oC here, went to the local car club MGB resto to watch the guys work instead today

PPS Ordered the Witor springs. So who bought all the red rear ones?....Edd??

[edd]

Mine were off e bay together with the camber of set bracket .I have rubber to body on the shocks and use dum dum where ever possible like on the top strut mount faces to body and sub frame .
Edd

[SaskStag]

That's ok Edd. Chris is getting more stock this week, so all is good.
Thaks for the tip. I think the plumber who fitted our heater left me something like dum-dum...will check
Tanya

[SaskStag]

I replaced the middle two bushes on the anti roll bar; just me - and it took all day Might be a small job for you guys but I'm feeling pretty chuffed with myself, especially when I saw the state of the old ones
IMG_1312.jpg

Figured the others might be easier to do when the struts are off?
Tanya