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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Parabolic Springs


I fitted parabolic rear springs to a MGB GT and I was very impressed with them, they were lighter (less unsprung weight), gave a smoother ride and coped with a V8's power better (less axle tramp).

Just wondering if they anyone makes them for a Sprite? Or is a Sprite too light and not quite powerful enough for them to make a difference?!

Andy
a borris

Andy. I know this has been discussed before and more than once I believe, but like you, I am still waiting to hear if anyone has been successful in producing any for the Spridget....

Mark.
Mark Boldry

Not impressed with them on a BGT, they are showing signs of flattening after 5000 miles, I think they need anti tramp kit fitted as the leaf springs offered greater lateral resistance, the other point with them is finding dampers that go soft enough, Spax on the lowest setting still seem harsh!!

Just my views
K Harris


I kept the lever arms with mine and my car was lowered too (about 1 1/2 inch), also used Superflex bushes.

Admittedly, it was a before and after job, replacing tired bits with new performance parts, but I did also have a tuned 1800 with the same suspension set up, again all new parts, the only difference was multi leaf springs on the back (and much less power at the wheels!) and the paras did feel much better.

More grip, better ride and less roll oversteer. And the axle tramp was certainly no worse, even with well over twice the power.

Rear springs seem very variable in quality, much more so then front, I've had some that sunk onto the bump stops within a month and others that have lasted years!

a borris

One of the main points of contention with paras on midgets is that (apparently) they are hard to manufacture below a certain width, and the midget is a prime candidate for having narrow springs (correct, right?). There's also fleeting interest and the view from some that a /good/ leaf spring and a nice few rear mods makes a midget a lovely ride as it is...

Your mileage may vary of course...
Rich Amos (1330cc Blaze Red '72)


Thanks Rich, thought there might be a good reason why no-one bothers with paras on a Spridget.

I'll just fit good quality multi leafs, any one have recommendations for a supplier?

Thanks
a borris

I'm sure they all come from the same factory - but in short supply at the moment.
John Collinson

I have only encountered parabolic springs on one MG, a highly tuned V8. The springs were incapable of taking the strain!

Closer to home, I am eternally optimistic that I will one day fit paras to my leaf sprung series Land Rover. They seriously improve the ride but, in order to maintain load capacity without sitting on the bumpstops, the vehicle has to sit significantly higher as the paras flex more. Cornering roll is increased considerably, again because the springs deflect so much.

I have a gut feeling that parabolics have little to offer on a Spridget. Now, if only high quality leaf springs were consistantly avaiable......

Clive Berry

Andy
British Springs certainly appear willing to make parabolics to order: http://www.british-springs.co.uk/parabolic_springs.html
If a number of people were interested they might produce a small batch I suppose.
Ian Webb '73 GAN5

Ian,

The problem that has been mentioned before is the narrow width of the spridget springs and the link you posted mentions 50mm to 125mm width so the minimum they can do is too wide. Maybe the 1/2 elliptic set-up can be re-jigged for 50mm wide springs.
David Billington

This thread was discussed between 06/04/2008 and 08/04/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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