Thread: "Reg - The series 2a build

Originally Posted by JayBee75

For $120 plus freight have you considered new?

Suspension - Series

Even locally?

I just got some quotes for various things here locally to rebuild and it's cheaper in a number of circumstances to go new....

A consideration is that one of the advantages of the Series suspension is that the springs use an unusually large number of leaves, thinner than usual, allowing longer travel without approaching the elastic limits of the steel. This thinner spring steel has not been available since metrication (fewer, thicker, leaves were fitted to the 1981 S3 I stripped), and the new ones available today, as far as I know, all have fewer, thicker leaves. (LWB rear springs are thicker anyway, except for station wagon springs)

Hence it is usually preferable, if possible, to revive the original springs.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

A consideration is that one of the advantages of the Series suspension is that the springs use an unusually large number of leaves, thinner than usual, allowing longer travel without approaching the elastic limits of the steel. This thinner spring steel has not been available since metrication (fewer, thicker, leaves were fitted to the 1981 S3 I stripped), and the new ones available today, as far as I know, all have fewer, thicker leaves. (LWB rear springs are thicker anyway, except for station wagon springs)

Hence it is usually preferable, if possible, to revive the original springs.

John

You don't want some rivet counter climbing under there with a set of vernier calipers

Originally Posted by crackers

You don't want some rivet counter climbing under there with a set of vernier calipers

It is not rivet counting - it is a matter of performance. And you do not have to crawl under, at least for the front springs, nor do you need vernier calipers - just have to look at them.

John

John,

I do intend to look at refurbishing the old springs if possible. The challenge I'm having is the front springs are quite back. The previous owner drove the car around the paddocks for a while with the bushes completely worn. So the leaves are badly worn to the point where they have snapped. A couple of the spring guys I've spoken to have said getting spring steel in the non metric size will be difficult.

I'll keep you posted as to my progress!

I am sure there are plenty of secondhand springs available, try ho-hars on this forum, they save bits for us to use.

20150707_170951.jpg

Stripped the rear axle and diff, replaced the bearings, gaskets and painted. New drum pads, bushes and springs. All installed!!

I've found an old bloke to make me some front springs, they should be ready some time this week.

Gearbox, so there was a leak of oil into my handbrake, i found that there was a gasket missing.... bought a new gasket and will reassembly the handbrake soon and refit gear box into the chassis.

Originally Posted by tibbsy

20150707_170951.jpg

Stripped the rear axle and diff, replaced the bearings, gaskets and painted. New drum pads, bushes and springs. All installed!!

I've found an old bloke to make me some front springs, they should be ready some time this week.

Gearbox, so there was a leak of oil into my handbrake, i found that there was a gasket missing.... bought a new gasket and will reassembly the handbrake soon and refit gear box into the chassis.

You rattle that off as though you did it after work today. I suspect it took a bit longer. Looks very nice though.

Originally Posted by tibbsy

20150707_170951.jpg

Stripped the rear axle and diff, replaced the bearings, gaskets and painted. New drum pads, bushes and springs. All installed!!

I've found an old bloke to make me some front springs, they should be ready some time this week.

Gearbox, so there was a leak of oil into my handbrake, i found that there was a gasket missing.... bought a new gasket and will reassembly the handbrake soon and refit gear box into the chassis.

Did you take the diff out?