Spring Plates - Lowering the back end....

[Miss Fish]

I'm trying to locate some adjustable spring plates so I can lower the back end of my bus (LHD 1970). I've tried Cool Air and Creative Engineering..... Can anyone recommend or suggest anywhere else to try please.

Many thanks.

Ann

 

[baron]

all spring plates are adjustable aren't they?

you only need to buy adjustable ones if you are going REALLY low, I think

have a search for lowering threads in the tech section,reckon that will point you in the right direction and potentially save a pot o cash

 

[easy]

agree with above, you will be able to go as low as you want with the spring plates on your bus at the mo. You only need to look outside the box when going seriously low. 8) This is mine at the back and Bruces, just down a few splines (cant remember how many inner or outer, sorry ) Here I have only got a couple of inches from the road under the exhaust :wink:

 

[slammedkustom]

they arent avalible, i tried everywhere to get them for customers but nothing. the creative ones fit 68/69 bays but no later.

Red 9 design kick up spring plates work very well :wink:

 

[Miss Fish]

Thanks so much for all your help guys. I had a chat with one of the guys at Machine 7 and he mentioned adjusting the inner and outer splines - that's the way I'm gonna go because I don't want it silly low. Easy.... the back of your bus looks really cool that low.

Me and a couple of friends are going to have a play with the back end next week. Hopefully it's not going to be too much of a mare!

Big hugs....

Ann
xx

 

[slammedkustom]

be careful when taking it apart, the rear end is under a lot of stress and can spring apart. not always but sometimes...
im not far from you and can always point you in the right direction.
:wink:

 

[Miss Fish]

Hi slammedkustom.

I'd heard that it could spring apart - I'm a bit concerned about that because aparently it's a heck of a job trying to get it all back together. We're looking to do it next Thursday (day time) so if you're about, your help would be very much appreciated. We are total novices when it comes to stuff like this.

We've lowered it two outer splines but that's about it.

Thanks hun.

Ann
xx

 

[68only]

Bit of a pointer, when you get everything undone carefully pry the springplate off it's stop then scribe lines under and over the springplate to give you a datum point to work with. This way, if it all does come apart you will be able to get back to where you started from.

Also, if going more than 1 outer spline, you will need to cut a notch into the top of the springplate, or it will constantly be banging on the stop when you hit a bump. Try to do a radiused curve, otherwise you will weaken the springplate and it could break.. :shock:

 

[Miss Fish]

Ooooh! Thanks honey, much appreciated. No doubt this information will prove invaluable.

Ann
xx

 

[Justin & Muttley]

Try to get hold of a couple of longer springplate bolts - it'll make it easier to guide the plate back on later...

 

[Miss Fish]

Wow! So much information and good advice - cheers guys! Beers on me if we all ever manage to meet up!

 

[slammedkustom]

im possibly about. one thing you may need is a length of strong chain.
you can tie the bus to the jack with it to help get the springplate back together. sometimes when you try to jack the plate back the bus goes up too but this will help.
i hope you have a garage as the weather is poop at the moment! :lol:

 

[slammedkustom]

also dont forget to slacken the handbrake cables of you may end up damaging the hard brake lines a the rear.

 

[Miss Fish]

A friend of mine owns his own garage so we'll be doing it there. I may try and get the evening off work so if we have troubles (which I'm sure we will), I wont have to rush off to sit in an office all night!

Ann
xx

 

[slammedkustom]

if he has a ramp your sorted! :lol:

 

[Miss Fish]

Ooooh! He has a ramp! Excellent!

 

[easy]

Dont forget to check where your brake lines are, as mine had to be moved when I changed the back :shock:

 

[Miss Fish]

Spoke to my mate / mechanic today - sounds as though he's going to chicken out of helping me! Bloody men!

 

[slammedkustom]

kick him in the goolies! :shock:

 

[Miss Fish]

MIght just do that..... after he's serviced it though eh! Wait until he's done the useful bit. Argh!