Full suspension overhaul illustrated

[p2roverman]

Jim
Thanks for posting all the details for the suspension etc rebuild. Hope I can find it again if and when I need to do mine. Only recently bought my first 75 so am currently doing all the minor jobs recommended to get it into good order, the fist major job in the spring will be the overdue cam belt change.
Other ongoing rebuild projects are a 1938 Rover 20, a 1935 Rover 14 and the wife's Triumph Stag!

[trimani]

I've followed this post with great interest as I am also having my rear suspension done.

My question is, did you replace the two pairs of subframe bushes. I you did can you tell me where you sourced them from.

Congratulations on the work you have done and made it available to us all.

Cheers

trimani (ALF)

[Jim Jamieson]

It's nice to see this post still gets a "look in"

No I did not replace the bushes as they were still in good order. when I got the subframe sandblasted the guy said if I wanted it powder coated the bushes would have to be removed due to the temperature in the oven, but as they were in good order I left them in. I painted the subframe at home using the spray gun.

BTW the car has since been sold earlier this year and has moved on again as the new owners missus could not get used to the automatic.

The current owner lives in Stockton on Tees.

I still have my V6 currently on SORN awaiting new cam belts etc but I would also like to do the same work on the suspension but I fear the wife would kill me

[DMGRS]

Originally Posted by trimani

I've followed this post with great interest as I am also having my rear suspension done.

My question is, did you replace the two pairs of subframe bushes. I you did can you tell me where you sourced them from.

Congratulations on the work you have done and made it available to us all.

Cheers

trimani (ALF)

Don't mean to butt in, but I've not had any luck with those bushes either. Rather elusive little blighters.

[Monty Hotspur]

A really good thread on something I wanted to know more about. I've found two complete subframes and am picking one of them up tomorrow (complete with brake calipers) to refurb it for my motor.

It would be good to know if there has been any update on the subframe bushes too.

[190SETOURING]

I have replacement poly bushes that i have fitted to a freshly powder coated sub frame. As soon as i get the frame fitted and made sure they are ok then i will be able to supply.

[Monty Hotspur]

Thanks but I'd sooner not go down the poly bushes route unless there really are no OEM bushes available and the ones in situ are scrap. As it's a 75 and I like how it goes down the road I'm not looking for a firmer ride or sharper handling - I've already got another car I polybushed all round to punt about in. Horses for courses and all that.

[190SETOURING]

Originally Posted by Monty Hotspur

Thanks but I'd sooner not go down the poly bushes route unless there really are no OEM bushes available and the ones in situ are scrap. As it's a 75 and I like how it goes down the road I'm not looking for a firmer ride or sharper handling - I've already got another car I polybushed all round to punt about in. Horses for courses and all that.

I think you will find it will make very little differance with a poly bush on the sub frame as its pretty solid anyway. As far as i know the originals are no longer available.

[zony]

Hi, can you tell me if the poly rear subframe bushes are available and where can I source them from. Going to refurbish the rear end soon, but will not be going into the level of detail as Jim Jaimeson.

[JHB]

Originally Posted by Jim Jamieson

Rather than tag this onto my gallery topic I thought it best to start a new topic.
I've finally started the suspension overhaul on the missus's diesel conny.
At just under 118k miles it has become quite noticeable that the suspension requires attention. It has had one broken rear spring for almost 3 years with the opposite side now broken for over a year and surprisingly it passed all the MOT's during that time with no problem.
To be honest although my test centre is very strict, with the 75 rear springs they seem to break right at the end of the coil and therefore cannot be seen from below.

Here is the car just before I started and the ride height is normal on both sides.



I have already purchased springs and shockers for front and rear but I am not one for simply just replacing these items without some other attention to the car so I have decided to remove the entire rear subframe assembly so that I can get it, and all other components sandblasted and painted.

First off was the rear shockers. These were fairly easy to remove by first getting the car up on wooden blocks for safety and removing the rear wheels.
I prefer using wooden blocks to axle stands as I find axle stands can move more easily, whereas wooden blocks will not budge.
Even with my new air gun I still had to break the studs on the bottom of the shockers with a master bar then with the gun it was easy so here are the dud rear shockers.



Next to come off was the silencer.



It's been needing replaced for the last two years having been welded up last year but now its off and will be replaced.
With it removed I can easily get the sub frame off the car and I also intend to sand blast the fuel tank support strap which also required the exhaust off to be able to remove it from the car.

Now this is what the underside looks like so you can see why I want to sandblast everything and get some decent paint on it.



And while I'm at it, look at the bracket just above the fuel cooler for the FBH.
I actually complained to the main dealer about this rusting when the car was new. It is now corroded right through so I will have to fabricate a new bracket.



Now back to the sub frame. Removal of this is not explained in the manual for some reason but removing it in my mind makes the suspension more accessible for repair, for example can you imagine attempting to replace the rear anti roll bar bushes or the drop links.
Anyway after removing the brake calliper assembly,the top and bottom hub mounts, disconnecting the ABS leads and brake pad wear sensor you are now ready to remove the four subframe mounting studs.
I supported the subframe on the trolley jack for this and after all the studs were removed manoeuvre the calliper assembly through between the upper and lower suspension arms. The calliper can then be placed securely on the ground and the entire subframe pulled from under the car.

Here it is after four hours work and that was taking into account this was my first time and some of the studs were very awkward as they were rusty so I had to use different sized socket to account for their smaller sizes.



And another view


I then spent almost two hours removing the anti roll bar, drop links and upper and lower arms. Some of the studs were extremely rusty and all will be replaced.
I have also removed the front brace bars on both cars and the three brace bars from the transmission tunnel to get the same treatment.

Here is a shot of the front brace bars from the V6 I removed earlier in the week. You will note one of them is twisted as a result of either being jacked up or placed on a wheel free on a service ramp. This has already been straightened up.



I will update this topic as I go along but I envisage this work, which will also include the front suspension will take at least 6 weeks.

JYJ

Photobucket has blocked Jim's photos, is there anyway they may be retrieved using another medium? Will shortly be starting on rear suspension overhaul and his images which I had bookmarked have, since beginning of July, not been retrievable.

JHB