Suspension Droop

[sweller]

On my '65 3.8 S the drivers side front tyre just touches the wing under heavy braking or right hand cornering, much more so when two up. Noisy and alarming but doesn't seem to be damaging the tyre - obviously needs sorting though.

I replaced the front shocks and springs about a year ago - the roll bar rubbers and cup washers were also replaced and they're all still in position (the washers haven't moved).

I haven't got the car in front of me, so to speak, but where else to start looking? The suspension rubber blocks?

[piman]

Hello Simon,

certainly worth checking the subframe mounting rubbers and also the top and bottom wishbone rubbers? Where does the tyre touch, the top of the wing?

If there is nothing untoward with the checks I mention, put the car on as level and flat a surface as possible and do some measurements and comparisons left to right. I assume the rubber pads were fitted under the springs? If it turns out that the car is lower on the right compared to the left, there is no reason that spacers can't be fitted under that spring where it sits in the spring pan.

Alec

[sweller]

certainly worth checking the subframe mounting rubbers and also the top and bottom wishbone rubbers? Where does the tyre touch, the top of the wing?

The tyre touches the top lip of wheel arch.

[Martec]

The inside edge of the top of the wheel arch was always panel beaten up something like 45degrees or more so that there was no scuffing.

Brian

[sweller]

there is no reason that spacers can't be fitted under that spring where it sits in the spring pan.

Where would I get the spacers and how many would be normal?

SNG Barratt have 0.25" spacers in their paper catalogue but not online.

[piman]

Hello Simon,

I don't really know (having a fairly well equipped workshop I would make anything like that), But try ringing SNG Barratt? Bear in mind 1\4" under the spring will lift the car a bit more due to the leverage, maybe 1\2" or more?

Alec

[stuarthardy]

Hi Simon

Jaguar had a bewildering range of spring and spacer assembly arrangements depending upon the options fitted to the car. Unfortunately, these are largely ignored when re-building suspension assemblies. They are usually well detailed in the Jaguar workshop manuals. My 420 has a spacer under one side but not the other in order to counteract the weight of the power steering equipment.

Worse still is the variability in the quality of the springs available from the various spares dealers. Don't think they all sell the same items because this is not the case. Some of the springs out there are verging on dangerous, others are of such poor temper that they won't last more than a few hundred miles.

Chances are that you've got Mk2 springs because people will tell you they're the same when they aren't necessarily so. This happened with my 420.

Start by measuring your ride heights (quoted in the manual) to see whether its sitting low at the front end and then talk to a specialist restorer for advice on where to get decent springs. I always find Derek Watson very helpful and his prices are as good as anybody else's.

You might find you have to wait a while to get the right springs but it will be worth it.

Regards
Stuart