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MG TD TF 1500 - What the heck?

See rear spring thread below. Thinking that the old springs were improperly tempered and that was causing the drive shaft to lie on the crossmenber, I bought a new set of UK made springs, expecting that to make the difference. No change. The driveshaft yokes are in phase and the trans sits properly on it’s mount. We have tried pressing down on the rear of the chassis, but there seems to be little give in the springs. Is it possible that the body will bring the springs down enough to raise the driveshaft. It doesn’t seem to be that heavy. Can anyone tell me what is going on here?
Bill Reid TD4618

FYI: there is no space between the bottom of the rebound strap and the bottom of the axle. U bolts are tightened down.
Bill Reid TD4618

That is normal without the body,wings.tank and everything else.
Don't forget to leave the shackle and front eye bolt nuts loose until all the weight is on,
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Bill,

A gallon of gas weighs 12 lbs. so if you have 12 gal of gas in your tank you have 144 lbs of weight plus whatever the tub, wings etc that should be enough to settle it all down on the springs to the correct level.

Jim
James Neel

I found exactly the same when I rebuilt my TD. It was of concern at the time, but once all bodywork, seats etc. was fitted the springs settled to provide a suitable clearance.
Mel Pascoe

A US gallon of water weighs 8.3lbs and gasoline is lighter, maybe 7.5lbs/USG.

Gotta be 120lbs of fuel with a full tank, first corner you will lose 1 gallon.
P G Gilvarry

I was in almost the same boat but with the added complication of TD springs on a TF chassis. In my ignorance I had tightened the shackle nuts assuming that the bushes would rotate on the shafts. However, it appears that most of the movement must occur by distortion of the rubber and by not following Ray’s timely advice to leave the shackles loose I may have actually damaged the bushes.
I slackened the nuts and the car is settling into a better attitude as te weight on the springs increases. I have since acquired a set of urethane bushes but, as the car is currently almost fully assembled for a pre-paint shakedown, I will leave replacing them till I have driven it so I can comment on any difference in the ride.
Chris
C I Twidle

"Gotta be 120lbs of fuel with a full tank, first corner you will lose 1 gallon." :-)
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed on 26/09/2019

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