Mike:
Your trailing arm bushings are most likely the culprit. They are
"metalastic", which means they have a metal core, and have rubber molded
around the metal.
The metal core migrates over the years, and so the bushings
allow the rear suspension to settle. It leans to the left because that
is the side the driver sits on, so it is most highly stressed (unless
you drive around with a sack of cement in the passenger seat to balance
the load). This is a VERY common wear out mode for the rear suspension.
Read the article at this link:
http://home.comcast.net/~v.navarrette/ Go to the "Technical" section,
and read the articles on the rear suspension.
New trailing arm bushings will fix you up. Poly will last
longer, but may squeak depending on the bushing design and whether you
keep them lubed. They will also transmit a touch more road noise and
give a slightly harsher ride. You may consider this to be a good
tradeoff, or maybe not.
Cheers,
Vance
------------------------------
Cogito Ergo Zoom
(I think, therefore I go fast)
TR6 Web page: http://home.comcast.net/~v.navarrette/
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-6pack@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-6pack@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Mike Long (N3WNZ)
Sent: March 15, 2005 5:08 PM
To: 6pack
Subject: Rear-end still sagging
Hi Group,
I hope I'm not asking too much advice here, but I'm new at
working on
these cars, and am learning a lot!
Some of you may remember me asking about the rear-end of my '75
TR6
sagging. Well I ordered a new spring, and it made no difference at
all. The reason I only ordered one is because at the time I thought the
previous owner had replaced the right spring only. So I ordered the
left. Anyway, when the new spring made no difference, I swapped the old
spring on the right for the left, and that too made no difference
either. I am now convinced that the spring is not the problem here.
The trouble is, I'm completely perplexed as to what else it could be.
There's nothing else there except the shock absorber. The left side
sits 1 1/4" lower than the right as measured from the floor to the top
center of the wheel well, and 1" lower from the frame to the floor.
Does anyone have any ideas, please?
Thanks!
Mike
'75 TR6
CF36384U
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