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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Uneven front suspension

Has anyone ome across this?

NSF sits 25-30mm higher than OSF
The car (74 rwa) has had some work in the past with new lower wishbones fitted.

Chard
R Fowler

Sometimes happens when used by driver only. Try swapping the springs from n/s to o/s.

A
Anthony Cutler

Check the rear as well. Front may be a result of rear spring sag. Springs do eventually start to fail, but the coils seem to less prone than the rear leaf springs to sagging.
Bill Young

I had a similar issue with my modified springs .Initially went for a panel beater/wheel alignment to sort out the negative camber difference either side,but he stated that the springs were the problem.
I went back to the spring maker, we measured the midget with me in the drivers,worked out the various corner heights and redid one rear spring to bring the midg back to level, which also saw the cambers even themselves out,which makes it go round corners sweeter than before.Its a nice fix to a problem I thought was going to get complicated.I run a frontline upfront and the back end also has a panhard rod and of course its a tad/but not too much lower.


mike smith (NZ)

Thanks,

The car is all standard (as far as I know)
Initally I suspected the leaf springs (these were newly fitted when I bought the car) but having read about quality issues, I replaced them with some used items from a breaker.

I thought they made a difference but after running the car for a couple of days it's still the same.

I have measured from the bottom of the wheel arch to ground. NSF 65cm, OSF 62cm, NSR 63cm, OSR 61cm.

FRONT REAR

OSF 62cm OSR 61 cm
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NSF 65cm NSR 63cm

If I push down on the NSF to make the height 62cm the OSR pops up to 63cm
(or thereabouts)all this is on level ground new matching tyres pressure correct and unladen.

The NSF "looks" too high very big gap between tyre and arch.
Does anyone know what the measurements should be?
R Fowler


Are you saying that when the breaker springs were fitted, the sag disappeared, then slowly returned?

Rear springs from a beaker may have in built sag, you can't tell till you put them on a car.

Mike, what size tyres are those? (sorry about the hijack!)

The only other thing I can think of is seized suspension on one corner.

AndyB
a borris

The tyres are175/70/13 on a 5.5 rim. the fronts have been good ,the rear required a small nudge with a jack and piece of wood and the panhard keeps it altogether without rubbing even when red mist starts too fall on track days.
mike smith (NZ)

I would recommend measuring the ride height, on level ground, somewhere like the sills on either side behind the front wheel arch and also at the rear of the sills on both sides.
d cusworth

Aren't most of the midgets lob-sided then?
We're making fun of each others car, rhd hangs right lhd hangs left (obviously?)
I'm thinking about a possible fix myself: A filler plate between front leaf fixing point and chassis.
Alex G Matla

Check that the triangled rubber bump stop under the lever arm isnt missing or heavly worn....that will certianly do it.

Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

Sorry for being thick, but how does a bump stop effect ride height? Doesnt it just stop travel when the suspension bottoms out?
R Fowler

I think I am as thick as you then Chard NOT, its a worry. However It is certainly worth checking the rear of the car, problems at the rear will put the front out of canter. That aside it is simply a matter of measuring everything until you can see what the problem is. If it was a heritage shell then it would be simply poor construction of the shell, the one I bought maybe about 20 years ago had one side of the front suspension miles out.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Sorry,

A little more info to help, on the front of the car, not the back, under the lever arm of the shock on the chasis its self is a bulbous triangle shaped black rubber block, check to see if its still there or badly worn, if it missing the car will be lower by 3/4 of an inch give or take....which Im guessing is around 25mm=2cm=almost an inch.


Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

here it is, in the moss cat.

Part # 264-055

#2 in the exploded view

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29294

Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

Still no understanding!! The suspension doesnt rest on the rebound buffer (bump stop) does it?

When the car is sat on it's wheels I thought the weight was taken on it's springs.

If this were the case why use a lowering kit just remove the rebound buffer?

If all the springs and things seem ok how do I adjust the car to even it up side to side.
R Fowler

Put spacers on the bolts between the spring mount and wishbone on side that is higher; effect on height will be twice that of the thickness of washers (or nut) used... this is common way of lowering the front end.

A
Anthony Cutler

Measuring to the wheel arch heights on the front is not very accurate as they are bolted on and there is a fair amount of "adjustment" in the way the wings can be fitted. Danny has it right - measure to the front and rear corners of the sills.

"They all do that, Sir." Slight variations side to side really don't matter other than for the look of it and most people wouldn't notice. Careful use of packing washers can be quite effective in levelling things up.

Guy
Guy Weller

Yes, the lever arm does ride on the rubber bump stop in the front, (to some degree)...its fast look, just turn the wheel all the way and take a peek in the fender well, if its there and in good shape....then move on to the other suggjestions.

I went thur this when I first got my car, the one corner druped alot, I replaced the coils, the shocks, and rebuilt the whole suspension and still the samething, it took some time but I realized the one triangle rubber was completely shot and had no resistance, once I replaced both sides the car evened up nicely.

Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

Thanks guys

I've adjusted the front all looks ok visually. Slight variations when I measure but too little to worry about.

Prop, I still dont understand the bump stop thing!! when the car is on the wheels the bump stops are a couple of inchs clear or everything (I would be worried if they weren't, I dont fancy riding around on bump stops)


Chard
R Fowler

R Fowler,

Your car sounds quite normal with a good gap between the lever arm and rebound stop so I wouldn't worry about it. If Props car is as he says riding with the lever arm in contact with the rebound stop in the normal way then I would expect he has the wrong springs in the car and it probably handles strangely with little or no droop travel.
David Billington

Intresting,

Im pretty sure there is some contact, but rides great, Ill have to have another look. Its been awhile scence I took a gander at that area, maybe it dosnt have any contact.


Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

Yes don't worry Chard the stop that Prop refers to is not a bump stop but is a "droop" or rebound as described by David. If a vehicle is running on that then it must either have the engine removed or somehow extremely high ride height caused possibly by wrong springs.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

As I said, I think Prop lives on a different planet where perhaps Gravity works differently than for the rest of us! ;-)

Guy
Guy Weller

Here is a photo, of what I have....My guess is the gravity is stronger over there...LOL.

On a serious Note, I really thought this is what its supposed to look like, Im really starting to think I got the wrong springs from vicbrit seveal years ago, the sill has always sat level and the car rides nice and firm, Granted I do have the front shocks wedged up about 3/8 of an inch, with washers for a better ride...and yes the engine is currently out of the car


Id sure Like to see what your rebound area looks like...Thanks

Prop


Prop***The End in 2012

So If I get some of those spring compressors, that make the coil shorter , what would that do to the buffer area....

Im definatly learning something every day.

Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

Prop,

I have to ask, what is the shiny purple metallic stuff?. Is this some kind of gremlin thing, don't get it wet ???. Maybe legal in Missouri but not in the neighbouring state of Kansas.
David Billington

Thats my rhino linner I sprayed on the engine bay this last fall, its actually black, but picked up some color cast in the camra somehow


Prop***The End in 2012

my 77 sat 1" lower on the drivers side, so I tried the compressors. Not worth it. Left still 1/2" low, and a weird ride.

I am now finishing up installation of new springs. Along the way, I discovered a crack in the A-arm right by the kingpin, which caused the sag. Now that it is welded back, the kingpin sits at a bit of a forward rake.

Previous owner must have hit something pretty hard, going in reverse!

--jf
jf Falconer

This thread was discussed between 23/03/2009 and 31/03/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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