Front Spring

[kalsig]

1971 500L.  I'm going to rebuild the front spring and reverse and re-arch the main leaf to lower it a bit. The front spring is very stiff so, even with new shocks, the car sort of skips around on rough roads. Can I remove one leaf to soften it and make the suspension actually work rather than just bouncing around? If so. which leaf? The rear springs are softer and the suspension absorbs bumps as I think it should.
Thanks,
Ken

[grubscrew]

 As we all know there is not alot of weight to these cars ,but as for the front skipping about on the potholed roads , what tyre preasures are you running as if too hard you`ll get that.As for removing a leaf you may find it bottoms out too readily.You could remove a tad off the ally mounting blocks that are in direct contact with the chassis.When you do install the spring back on to the car dont forget to preload it with the appropriate clamping system.
If thats not what your after, for around 100  quid buy yourself a lowered front spring.
Regards and hope that helps.

[Darrell]

Apparently lubricating between the leaves of the spring helps alot to make the springs more supple.

I wouldnt take and leaves out as the load capacity at the front is very small. Try three bags of cement in the front as I did on my 126, poor thing went all knock kneed!

[bis13]

put a big bag of sand in the front thats what a lot of folk do to improve front end handling it does stop the skipping about!