Rear Shock Tops - Help, Which Way Round ?

[Autonet7]

I understand the radial position of the rear springs relative to the axle, but cannot work out the correct orientation of the mounting cap. Which direction should it slope. I reckon the lowest point of the mounting cap towards the front of the car. In other words, when clamped by the bushes the left side of the picture becomes the lowest. Is this correct?

[Nick C]

I think that the lower side should be the front, so that when it is mounted in the car the bottom of the assembly will be forward of the top, completing the triangle with the floor and lower arm, so that the shocker sits along the arc of movement of the lower arm (that sounds a lot clearer in my head, hopefully it makes sense in words...)

[trackerjack]

The front of the car should be to the left as seen.......................or should it be

Bolt in at the top and if you cannot get it to line up in the arm its wrong

[Carl]

Is there a wedge-shaped rubber insert in the spring cap ? If so it will have a tag that fits into a cut-out in the cap. This tag should be pointing forwards. (this is another way of saying what Trackerjack said )

This was a typical Triumph bodge to force a bend in the spring to approximate the curve of the arc that the trailing arm moves through. Ya gotta love 'em

[Autonet7]

Excellent. I was on the right track then

Cheers

[Dolly racer 33]

IIRC not all Dolly's had these angled spring mounts & rubbers. I will dig out my paperwork & post it on here to let you know the BL definitive answer.

Regards.

[Autonet7]

Looking at the BL workshop manuals and parts books, none show the angled mount.

[Dolly racer 33]

As I said earlier, not all Dolly's had this angled spring mounting. It was introduced from commision number WF 50000 for Dolomites & commission number VA 9884 for sprints. The dampers used from early to late are different so technically you should change all early cars to the tapered seat & not just fit new dampers on early cars because I bet you can only buy the later spec damper. Early damper pt no is TKC 0346 for Dolomites & TKC 0756 for Sprints. For later cars the pt nos are TKC 1317 for all models, UKC 2765 for the tapered rubber insulator & UKC 2762 for the spring cup. The tang on the rubber insulator as has been said previously should point forwards.

Regards.

[Jon Tilson]

Think you are a digit out on the WF number...
ERO K has these angled ones and I'm sure I was the first to take them off....
due to the body colour on the sealant...

Make that WF5000 then...ERO is just a few cars later.

Jonners

[Dolly racer 33]

British Leyland service bulletin dated October 1975 Quite clearly states WF 50000 not 5000. The Angled mounts were fitted from WF50001 as stated.
Regards.

[Autonet7]

So technically they shouldn't be on a VA4661 then?

[JPB]

What is the difference (apart from the part number) between the earlier and later damper and spring? Also, if the later type is fitted to an early car, since they were the only type available in new, just-made condition, then what would be the consequences of fitting those units with early, so not tapered, retaining plates?
I did mark the positions of the four body mounting studs relative to their holes before doing mine and the bushes on the central stud don't, on subsequent investigation, appear stressed awkwardly, the car rides and handles fine and there are no odd noises from the back suspension, but have I missed something? I'd rather be told now "Take it apart again immediately because this will happen.." than risk something breaking, though I cannot see or feel any reason to worry.

[straylight]

if you get the angled upper supports around the wrong way then this eventually happens



and inside, it looks like this



with this damage done to the shock



not sure what the effect of using earlier/later mounts would be though, but it is obviously important to get it right

stu

[Autonet7]

The very reason I started this thread in the first place as that's exactly what has happened to one of my mounts. The other is fine. It had worn halway through the shock spindle just like in your last pic

[Jon Tilson]

WF50000 is a signifcant number isn't it?

Doesnt that denote the change to HL from plain dolomite?

All I know is that WF50xx has had angled mounts in that electric blue colour since it came fom the factory...
and the sealant was body colour pimento.

I've not done the shocks ever on WF190xx but when I do I'll have another look. I dont think this one has ever had new shocks either...

Not disputing what you say David at all....but would you trust the BL boys to get this number right?

and its clearly important to get them the right way round. I found its obvious when refitting them. Get it right and the bottom shock bush lines up with the hole in the radisu arm. If it doesnt its wrong and would need to be forced.

Jonners