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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 ride height

I am finding that i am catching exhaust on speed bumps more often lately so thinking my springs are on the way out just measured the height to the wheel arches from the centre of the wheel hub ,
1500 midget
osr 23cm
nsr 23.5 cm
osf 32cm
nsf 32.5 cm
do these seem low
mark heyworth

10cms difference betweenone side and the other! That a full 4" of lean. Seems a lot!
GuyW

Guy the difference is front to rear not side to side, only 5mm difference side to side.

Trev
T Mason

Indeed Trev. I got that wrong!
Sorry Mark.
GuyW

Mark , the difference side to side is nothing really, the overall height is your personal choice if you think it's low compared to where you want it---your choice
On the side to side thing, I'd almost bet that if you were to sit in the passenger's side and then get out and measure again it would probably be leaning the other way
William Revit

Mark
I lowered my 1500 with 1275 rear front springs and 1/2 lowering spacers on the front to give me 24.5 cm at rear and 33cm at the front.

It’s fine over speed bumps most of the time, I just need to take care if I have a passenger as the exhaust will scrape.

I’m still using the standard exhaust setup at the moment.

Chris
C MADGE

just may have found out why car is low


mark heyworth

Clips holding the leaves together are missing?
C MADGE

no think they might be a leaf missing must be 1275 springs
mark heyworth

new springs seem to have made a difference


mark heyworth

See Chris's thread 1974 Brochure for 1500 for factory ride height.
Nigel Atkins

Mark
Nice 1500 leaf springs! They look like the ones I have tried to find with no result so far. Seems out of stock.
My car is a 1275. The 1275 springs were too soft and low and I bought 1500 springs, CHA493, at Sussex Classics, a little better but still too soft and low.
And they are the "British Motor Heritage" socalled "original equipment".
I have complained to Sussex Classics complained several times, each time I got a bla bla, nothing happened, he unfortunately did not take it serious, never turned back with any explanation.
When looking at your picture I notice four clamps on the spring in front of the axle and three rear of the axle.
On my socalled "original equipment" there are only two clamps forth and two after. Comparing yours and mine I do not wonder why my springs are too soft.
Where did you find them?
Jan
Jan Kruber

Jan,
IIRC 1098, 1275 and 1500 springs differed, the 1500 had an extra leaf and the 1275 was different to the 1098 IIRC and the number of clamps on the rear springs does seem to have varied at different times.

In the Archives will be the details of manufacturers/suppliers for rear springs. IIRC at least one (or two?) has springs for everything from trains onwards in stock or can make them up, but I don't think they were cheap.

Nigel Atkins

Mark
The 1500 springs shown on you picture looks new. Did you buy them recently and if so, where did you buy them?
Jan
Jan Kruber

jan I had them made locally in lancashire
mark heyworth

This thread was discussed between 14/06/2019 and 07/07/2019

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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