Jaguar Independent Rear Suspension for Dave Melling T-Bucket Project: Part 8

This installment wraps up coverage of the Jaguar independent rear suspension in Dave Melling‘s T-Bucket project. The treatment has been extensive because the Jaguar independent rear suspension can be the most dramatic element you can include when building a T-Bucket hot rod. We hope that by following along with these descriptions and photos that you’ll have a much better understanding of the Jaguar independent rear suspension and when you run across one that can be part of your own T-Bucket build that you’ll be more confident in making the decision.

Jaguar independent rear suspension

The photos above and below show the completed centre lump with brakes, handbrake calipers and discs in place. The backplate has been bolted in position and the wishbone carriers have been bolted to the bottom of the lump.

Jaguar independent rear suspension

The four studs sticking out of each disc are ready to accept the universal joint carriers for the half shafts.

Jaguar independent rear suspension

The main photo above shows the back axle in the next state of its’ assembly, having had the wishbones and the universal joints and half shafts installed. It also has the backplate [differential cover] removed to show the locking differential unit in place.

Jaguar independent rear suspension

One of the appealing points about using a Jag back axle is the ability to see the half shafts turning, especially when they are chromed and painted as in the above photo.

The main problem will be keeping it clean!

Jaguar independent rear suspension

This photo shows the completed centre unit, the brake and handbrake detail, plus the tie-bar and pike nuts between the wishbones. Notice that the tie-bar has an angled piece on each end with a hole in. This is where the torque straps attach, to hold the base of the centre unit to the chassis. You can also see how the flange to which the propshaft attaches is off-centre. This is why the propshaft is far from straight when viewed from above.

Jaguar independent rear suspension

The above photo shows the complete axle fitted to the chassis, with its T-shaped tie-bar and coil-over shocks. You can also see a reflection of me taking the photo in the backplate.

Jaguar independent rear suspension

The above photo shows one of the hub-carriers fitted to the end of the wishbone and driveshaft. Note that I’ve used pike nuts again to maintain the appearance. You can see the spacers on the wishbone to which the shock absorbers attach, and to the left of those the gap where the ladder bars are fitted to hold the ends of the axle to the chassis.

Jaguar independent rear suspension

This photo shows the back axle completely assembled and fitted to the chassis. With the 14″ wide wheels bolted onto the ends, the car is only 2″ short of 7 feet wide! The fuel tank has been added to complete the picture.

Jaguar independent rear suspension

This is the same shot about five years later, after the chassis and body have been painted. Notice how the chassis is much less apparent now that it is the same colour as the body. Standing by the wheel is Carly, aged two and a half.

So that wraps up our Jaguar independent rear suspension coverage. Get ready to move to the interior of Dave Melling’s T-Bucket next.

John Morehead
Follow me
Latest posts by John Morehead (see all)

Related Posts

  • 10000
    Jag Rear Axle Assembly in Dave Melling's T-Bucket Project: Part 7This is where the hard work on Dave Melling's Jag rear axle assembly is starting to pay off. After replacing the early S-type Jag rear axle assembly with the wider Mk 10 Jag rear axle assembly and chroming just about everything Dave now starts to put it back together. The…
    Tags: axle, differential, photo, rear, handbrake, bolted, dave, t-bucket, place, main
  • 10000
    Jag IRS Beautification for Dave Melling's T-Bucket Project: Part 6A typical question is, "why would you want to go to all the time, trouble and expense of putting in a Jag IRS when building a T-Bucket?" For one, the Jaguar independent rear suspension rides smoother and tracks the road much better than the conventional rear transverse leaf spring. But,…
    Tags: t-bucket, dave, photos, photo, axle, melling's, rear, differential, project, ends
  • 10000
    The Jaguar rear axle became a popular high-end T-Bucket option in the 1970s. Today, a properly installed and detailed or chromed Jaguar rear axle on a T-Bucket really makes it stand out from the crowd. Our California Custom Roadster T-Bucket Chassis Plans are very popular because they include detailed measurements…
    Tags: axle, rear, jaguar, t-bucket, photo

3 thoughts on “Jaguar Independent Rear Suspension for Dave Melling T-Bucket Project: Part 8”

  1. The CCR plans move the upper spring mounts inboard to soften the ride. W used the CCr plans on my son’s 22 dodge lakester and it is still a bit too stiff I have seen slotted spring mounts that allow mor location adjustment.

    Reply
  2. Beautiful car What did you use for the coilover springs? I want the original type look and am having trouble accessing lighter spring rate units that aren’t modern aluminum coilovers
    Thanks
    Rick

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.