August 2018, FHC Front Suspension Stuff and Rear Axle

Front Suspension:

Having rebuilt the struts I also assembled the rest of the parts for the front suspension. I had a spare pair of bottom arms with polybush inner mounts and new ball joints but they needed new gaiters. I also cleaned up a spare anti-roll bar and fittings with its lowering kit. This is used in an attempt to reduce front end dive under heavy braking, but there are varying opinions about how well it works.

I also sorted out a set of polybush mountings and spacers for the front subframe. The TR8 subframe spacers are to avoid the top of the future Sprint engine making contact with the bonnet.

Subframe Polybushes

TR8 Spacers and longer their bolts.

Rear Axle

I had a spare rear axle in the garage so decided would be easier to rebuild it ready to just swap onto the car rather than do it all on the car when it came back from the bodyshop.  I rebuilt the brakes using TR8 wheel cylinders and new pipes and replaced the self adjusting mechanisms.  The TR8 wheel cylinders are slightly larger diameter than the TR7 ones so give more rear braking. This would match nicely with the new bigger front brakes and uprated servo.
I also had a nice alloy rear diff cover from a Rover SD1 which goes straight onto the TR7 axle.  Its not necessary but looks better in my opinion.

New brakes and Rover SD1 diff cover ready to fit

So I finished up with this lot on the floor of the garage and just waiting for the rest of the car to come back.

Ready to go, car body required.

31st March 2017, Subframe spacers

I have had a few folks comment on the small bump that has appeared in the bonnet. Its caused by the oil filler cap hitting the underside sometimes as the engine rocks on its mountings.  I am using some good old mounts which are much softer than the modern replacements you buy these days because the new ones transmit too much vibration.  It provides a much smoother drive but the penalty is the amount of movement the old mounts allow.

I did happen to have a kit of some standard TR8 spacers that lower the subframe so thought that might be worth a try. These are about 15mm thick so will lower the engine by that amount relative to the car body and come with longer bolts to suit and since I had only replaced the subframe less than 2 years ago everything was free to undo.

Fitting was pretty easy, just a question of supporting the subframe on a jack with the car on stands. Then simple to undo the bolts through the chassis, lower the subframe just enough the add the spacer and replace the bolts with the new longer ones.  I used a picture that Odd Hedberg had posted some time back which shows the order that the various bolts/washers/spacers go so checked I had it all in the right place.

Odd Hedberg Picture

New TR8 Spacer Fitted

 I have not noticed any change in the handling after the job but I thought it was worth getting the front alignment checked just to make sure everything was OK and this is the result the fancy computerised rig produced.

 

Only thing is the left side caster is a little off but not enough to worry about so I am happy with that.