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MG MGB Technical - leaf spring rear mounts/shackles

I just replaced both leaf springs on my wifes 79 MBG.
The job went real well until I took that jack stands out, placed the car on the ground and found the car was jacked up at least 4 inches higher that it was before. Now it looks real cool like this but I figured something was wrong. I got to looking and found both real spring shackles have moved to the front of the rear mount and are jammed against the frame.

I have looked through the archives and see a number of ways people have fixed this.

Remove the shackles, let the height of the car push the springs back into place then put the shackles back on

Remove the front mount, reposition the rear shackles and again let the weight of the car push the front of the springs into the correct position

"Lever" the rear shackles into the correct position while lowering the car. I assume they mean use a pry bar to force the rear of the spring and the shackles to the backward position.


Which would be the best way to go. Or is there another way I should try. Any advise would be very appreciated


Thanks
Bob
rsf fowler

Bob, your springs have too much arch to start with. Very common fault among spring suppliers for the A and B.
Art Pearse

So I would need to take them back off and have them re-arched?

Or is there something else I can do?
rsf fowler

just got home from work
I looked at the springs again. I see no way to let the weight of the car push the front of the spring in place. There is no frame there for it to ride on.
Might be able to do it with the rear of the spring. It will have to go up and over the mount.
I was able to lever it some with the Car on the ground so maybe if I jack it up and lever it back that will work.

What keeps the rear of the spring from popping back to the front? I would think 1 good bump and the shackles would move to the front again
rsf fowler

Bob, can you measure the free camber and compare it to specs?
Art Pearse

I'm sorry but I do not know what the free camber is or the specs for it.

Can you explain?
rsf fowler

See this site for the MGA. Not sure of spec for the B, but it explains camber measurement.
Anyone know the correct spec?



http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/suspensn/rs105.htm
Art Pearse

I was finaly able to get back out and work on the car
It was a very simple fix

I placed the car on stands put a pry bar through the shackles and pried them back

They where not as hard to pry back as I thought they would be.

Jacking up the car, putting it on stands, prying back the shackles and placing the car back on the ground only took about 10 minutes

My son and I stood on the back bumper and bounced the heck out of the car. The shackles stayed the way they should be

rsf fowler

This thread was discussed between 04/04/2011 and 10/04/2011

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