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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - How to check the back end?

Two cars similar issue's

1. My wifes 67 sprite has started an annoying noise from the back end when going round roundabouts, Checkeing the clearance against the lip of the arch it is half the distance on the drivers side to the passengers side.

Looking at the tyre sidewall it looks like it might be rubbing against the lip. Doing the bounce test it rebounds with no issue's. Is it a case of relocating the ubolts on the axle to get them equal distance from the arches again?

2. 72 midget drivers side spring doe's not respond to the bounce test it does not go down when I push on the top of the arch and it does not sit level I am currently running SPAX + lowering blocks. So I'm thinking I need to replace the springs but want lowered ones instead of using the blocks. Having read no good springs are available even thought MGOC Spares have got some what should I do?.

Thanks
S Riches

#1 - what rim & tyre size combination are you using?
#2 - talk to Kim at MagicMidget... ask for a date when the springs will be in.
David Smith

Hi!

As for your wife's Sprite, have a look at the rubber bushes in the shackles and front eyes. If they're perished, you'll get unwanted movement. Been there... I re-did mine with poly, and it really tied the back end down. That and new dampers, that is.

Now for your '72... is there any possibility that the shackle on that side may have flipped forward instead of backward? If so, it may be locked against the boot floor, forcing the spring into a higher, and non-compressible, arch.

Cheers,

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Most Spridgets have the same problem as yours which is one wheel will be nearer the arch than the other. With standard wheels this does not create a problem however with wider wheels and square arches the problem you have shows up.
I did a few test a couple of years ago to understand the problem better and found that the spring mountings on the axle varied fron side to side causing this problem. I am also sure that the fabrication of the bodies was less than perfect and caused the same to happen.
From your point of view I suspect the best answer would be to ease out the offending arch with a hydraulic jack. How much this would flare out the arch before the paintwork would split is just a guess and hope. It is impossible to move the spring along the axle without grinding off the mounting plate and welding it on in a different place.
Bob (robert) Midget Turbo

This thread was discussed on 02/06/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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