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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Snappy Halfshafts - Almost!

For those of you not on FB, I was at Anglesey circuit last Monday for an MGs on Track track day.

It was an awesome trip, I drove the car there and back (approx. 180 miles/4 hours each way) and it was really comfortable (with ear plugs in). Then on track was a joy to chuck about and just about held it's own and I managed to hit 100 mph for the first time! The biggest issue was the brakes struggled a bit to keep up but I kind of already knew that.

Back home and back to reality. As I was going to re-do the rear brakes I thought I would go the whole hog and strip and rebuild the whole rear axle.

I'm glad I did as I found this half shaft one hard launch away from a catastrophic death!

Bugger.

Malc.



Malcolm

A couple of nice pics from the day.





Malcolm

Lucky escape there . Can’t believe you drove all that way and back that’s impressive. Will you go uprated 1/2 shafts from the usual suppliers ? I know you like to make your own stuff !
Mike Fairclough

Nice pics--I fixed your axle-deleted the pic------lol
William Revit

I saw the pics on FB and wondered why it appeared to twist and included what appeared to be the spline that you machined off. Were they (the splined end) heat treated and the treatment went deeper into the shaft. But then why are they so well defined in the deformation area?
Were the half shafts you modified new or were they maltreated for a few years before modifying? Maybe you didn't go deep enough with your machining?
Anyone got a pic of growlerized half shafts from the originator of the mod?
Rob
MG Moneypit

@Mike, it is the longest trip I have done since driving it from Aberdeen - Carlisle, then Carlisle - Stafford back in 2015. I was much younger and stupider back then! But it was pretty good to drive, no back ache or anything. Another first, I measured (roughly) the mpg... 35 to the gallon on a mixed A road drive.

Not sure what I will do next as uprated shafts seem extortionate and in my mind don't actually address the poor spline design. I expect I will end up doing a modified Growlerisation. These took seven years of pretty abusive driving on my part, plus whatever came previously, so that's not a bad lifespan really.

@Rob, they were second hand shafts that I modified. No heat treatment, only shot peening as per the original recipe for the mod.
Malcolm

Malcolm. Were the splines originally heat treated? and would that account for the spline impression being in the metal after deformation?
Rob
MG Moneypit

Malcolm, I have a few spare standard shafts if you need supply. Could do some sort of barter for damper parts perhaps?
David Smith

Malcom, great photo of your halfshaft almost snapping and just in time!
Ive busted 3 halfshafts with my 1500 :(
2 standard and one special Peter May....
Looking back Ive should have spend more attention to my diff, I guess there was to much play on it and therefore the halfshafts got hammered everytime the car took off... ?
When doing the Kconv. in 2005 I went for a lsd and Finespline shafts and double bearings (Frontline)
Its been fine since (knock on wood) :)


A de Best

@Rob, I don't know what heat treatment may have been originally done.

@David, yes please. I picked up a set at the weekend, but they aren't the best. I'm going to put them in to get me going again, but want another decent pair to play with. I'll drop you an email.

@Arie. I looked at how much it would cost to fix "properly" as you have done... holy moly! :-o A wicked setup, but way out of my league.

Cheers all,
Malc.
Malcolm

LOL, I know Malcom!

It was already expensive in 2005 but seeing prices today makes me so pleased I did the Kconv. then in 2005 and didnt delay it till now as prices have gone up and my finacial status has changed too: wife&2 kids now...
Budget on midget has suffered terribly form this situation LOL!!!!

Bought a reconditioned T9 gearbox in the UK in 2005 for arround 350 pounds no exchange unit needed...
those prices are ancient history now sadly. :(
A de Best

This thread was discussed between 14/08/2023 and 21/08/2023

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.