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MG MGA - Rebound Straps for Rear-End Swap

To all those who swapped an early MGB 3.9 rear-end for their MGA 1500 rear-end:the original rebound straps won't work any more(not long enough). Is their a replacement part out there? I've been driving around without them for 5 years.
thanks,
Tyler
Tyler

I swapped the entire axle assembly out with a 1967 MGB banjo-style wire wheel unit years ago and the stock MGA rebound straps fit fine. In fact I just removed them about a month ago as part of the current rebuild. You didn't say if you bought new springs, but there is a lot of discussion on excessive spring arch on new replacement springs causing exactly the problem you describe.

Steve
Steve Brandt

Hi Tyler. You can make new rebound straps out of stranded metal cable. You can buy cable, and hammer on cable crimps at most hardware stores. This allows you to make new rebound straps of any dimensions you require. While the original rebound straps were rubber, these home made stranded wire replacements will work just as well. Basically, you just have to form suitably sized loops at each end of the cable material, and voila, instant rebound straps! Use your old rubber straps as dimensional patterns to make your new wire rebound straps. Cheers! GLenn
Glenn

Early MGB tube type axle housing is nearly identical to MGA rear axle. The lower studs for attachment of rebound straps are in the same location, so the MGB axle works fine in the MGA using MGA rebound straps.

If you buy new leaf springs, the springs may have too much arch. If the body is off, there may not be enough weight to depress the springs, and the straps may not reach until you "sit on the frame" with considerable weight.

Original rebound straps were heavy woven cotton web material, at least into the early 70's. I just removed an original web rebound strap froma '72 MGB.

By the late 70's replacement parts were web straps with rubber molded over the outside wor environmental protection. These look like rubber, but if you section cut the part, at least half of the volume is filled with the web strap, which is nearly identical to the earlier web strap, except for the rubber encapulation.

Some recent issue replacement parts have very thin webbing with lots of rubber content. These are very weak and may break during installation, especially if using new rear springs with too much arch. See here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/faulty/ft023.htm

Plain rubber straps would not have enough strength for the job. They must be thick webbing or be reinforced with thick webbing.
Barney Gaylord

Glenn/Barney

You learn something new every day. Thanks for the info.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Make sure you always jack up the car by the diff and put jackstands on the axle casings. When you lift and support by the frame it puts about a ton of force on the straps. I kept snapping them until I took a closer look. I think jacking by the frame puts alot of tension on some other compinents, maybe the exhaust and possibly the emerg brake cable.

When I put new springs on my A I made steel cable straps but I figured it might be one of those things where the designers made em rubber for a reason.
Fred H

This thread was discussed between 18/02/2006 and 19/02/2006

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