TR2/3/3A TR3 leans too much to the right

[Got_All_4]

I know that the 3s were designed to have a little lean to the right but mine is a little too much for my liking. While I still have the car on jacks is there a shim or something simple that I can do to raise it?

 

[Twosheds]

Lower the mixture adjusting nuts on the... Oh, never mind!

 

[TexasKnucklehead]

The TR3 has a 'shim' under the right spring, between the diff and the leaf spring (assuming left hand steering). Since it's below the diff, it lowers the car on that side. Supposedly because often, only the driver is in the car, so it would sit level during spirited driving. Here is a picture of the right and left spring, the right one has the added shim.

I don't think it's simple to remove the shim from the spring, but know it's not simple to remove the spring from the diff.

 

[Got_All_4]

So in theory if I add shims to the driver side it should even out right. Algebra says it will!

 

[TexasKnucklehead]

Right. In theory that's a simple thing to do. Those long u-bolts probably have never been taken off the car, and will probably need replaced -at least the nyloc nuts need to be.

 

[TR3driver]

Of course, it might be something more than just the shims:

The shims are supposed to level the car with only a driver. If it still leans to the right, you may have something else going on.

 

[Guest]

The car is probably a conservative Tea Party member with a natural right leaning viewpoint. Tea? Car is British,you know. Adjust Tire air pressure accordingly.

 

[sp53]

I have seen too many leaf springs close up that look like Randal’s picture, so check that first. If the lean is more in the front, then it is perhaps the front mount next to the radiator is failing. The older these cars get the more I see that especially if they were left outside much. The body tub is double- ply at the front mount and water gets between the two pieces of sheet metal and rust from the inside out and often you cannot see it. If you look close you will see a heavier metal strip on the inside of the body mount.
Steve

 

[TR3TomG]

I recently put new rear shocks on mine and it made a world of difference.

 

[60TR3A]

Donate to liberal causes and maybe that will offset your lean to the right.

 

[Got_All_4]

My car was reborn in the Reagan era so I'm sure your right. It probably has gotten more conservative like it's owner over the years.

I'll look a little closer again at the springs and I don't see any problems in the front.