rear leaf spring

[LanciAlan]

Funny, until Scott drew it I was imagining a scissors jack rather than the tower jack pictured.

I used a slightly different approach, lifting the pre-assembled axle/spring assembly to compress/extend the spring against a packing piece (in red) under the chassis rail until the eye of the spring end lined up with the holes of the spring hangers

[lancialulu]

Alan

Snap!

Tim

PS Neil I have had large G clamps break on me so I wouldnt use them anywhere to compress a fulvia spring!!!

[ncundy]

They don't need much force on them, nothing like the front springs so I wasn't too concerned.

[fay66]

Thanks Everyone, the descriptions and diagrams make it much easier to understand the process.

Brian
8227

[rodney3010]

Brilliant, thanks gents for all the responses. I'll update with progress
Rodders

[LanciAlan]

Something I did not particularly forsee in dismantling the rear suspension is the need to ensure as far as possible on reassembly that the springs are assembled to the axle and the combined assembly attached to the car so that front to rear wheel alignment is not affected.

There is no adjustment for tracking on the rear suspension but, with all the various linkages and mountings, I would think it could be possible to throw the alignment out by a fair bit if you were not careful to line things up before tightening everything up.

My car does have other afflictions including chassis distortion due to accident damage/repair but even so it has been measured as having an incurable thrust angle (rear wheels not following front ones) which causes it to run slightly crab-wise and handle differently from left to right .... looks fine when parked though!

[lancialulu]

Rear axle should locate onto leaf spring quite firmly. I seem to remember fitting the individual leaf springs without the axle attached (but in loosely in place with axle stands!!!) and then fitting the axle to the springs. The bump mount/axle plate bolts wont fit (unless you have extra long non-standard ones) unless the axel is located on the bolt head that holds all the leaf springs together.

Tim

[rodney3010]

Promised a quick update so here it is. Front of the springs finally undone and with a bit of fiddling about with the jack the fronts are now free. Unless I'm volunteered for extra shopping duties on Xmas Eve I should get the rears undone and then drop the whole thing.
In hindsight, the taking off at any rate was quite straight forward and if anybody is contemplating it, on the basis that if I can do it anyone can, give it a go!
Rodders

[Richard Fridd]

If removing the rear shackle bolts on a sedan the verticle spare wheel well is too close to use a socket/withdraw the bolt but the is a plugged hole in the well to allow this.best regards richard

[fay66]

If removing the rear shackle bolts on a sedan the verticle spare wheel well is too close to use a socket/withdraw the bolt but the is a plugged hole in the well to allow this.best regards richard

Richard,
A very good observation for series 2 Berlina only,  Series 1 has the spare wheel upright against the back panel and the wheel well isn't a problem, having said that I've never removed my rear springs so these a all good tips for the future.

Brian
8227

[rodney3010]

It's looking likely that I might need a new seat of springs. If so I seem to recall reading somewhere that different models had different springs. Assuming 1600 would have had stiffer springs. Would this assumption be correct and if so any views on how much difference does it make?
Rodders

[Richard Fridd]

There may be a difference between the springs fitted to sedans and the lighter sports models but I dont think engine capacity is a factor.ride height differs between series ones and twos which is governed by spring spec I suppose.anyhow  aftermarket springs may vary .richard

[lancialulu]

Rodney

Why do you think you need new springs?

I believe all sport and coupes had same spec for the type of spring you have -  silent blocks at both ends....

Wouldn't buy uk aftermarket springs as steel spec generally is not same as Italian oem. I think cavalitto has new old stock but at a price....

Tim

[Sliding Pillar]

This is the data for Fulvia rear springs from the concise repair shop manual

[rodney3010]

Tim
Not convinced 100% yet that I do need them, not had a chance to take the rear bolts off yet but found that I could bend them just using my hands so using your bounce test I think they may well flatten.
Rodders