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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear 1/4 elliptic springs

The relatively new springs on the ´61 midget that I am (very slowly) rebuilding are of rather doubtful quality. I have the original springs with 14 (?) leaves, but they have settled, and it will cost a fortune to have them reset.

Would it be a good idea to use the original springs with a wedge to raise the suspension to normal level? And is a wedge available somewhere?

Tore
Tore

I don't think there is any technical reason why you couldn't use a wedge to raise the ride height of 1/4 elliptics, but you would have to design them and make or have them made.
The wedges used for lowering are quite small and if I remember them correctly couldn't be used for raising the springs.
Thinking about the geometry, they would have to be pretty thin, as the ratio from the fulcrum (initial contact point of spring to mounting) to the rear of the spring and the front is I would guess around 8 to 1. Therefore to raise the ride height 2" you would need a wedge 1/4" thick at its thickest point tapering to virtually nothing. Alternatively 1/2" at its thickest point to 1/4" at the thinnest which would raise the whole spring by 1/4" and lower the axle end by around 2" from that higher point.
You would have to do some accurate measurements to work it out properly, but I think it is feasible.
Alternatively use the new springs and see how you get on :+)
Graham.
Graham P 1330 Frogeye

Does anyone have the specification or drawing as to how the spring should be originally?
David Billington

Peter May Engineering supply wedges. They are useful if fitting Moss HD 1/4 eliptic springs otherwise the car looks like a hot rod with its backside in the air.
A Anstead

Alan, he's trying to raise the old springs, not lower the new.
Graham.
Graham P 1330 Frogeye

Before he jumped ship for sunnier climes Mark Boldry was investigating the remanufacture of correctly specified 1/4 ellipticals i.e. 14 (I thought it was 15) leaves and the correct imperial thickness of steel.

MB, any comment, is the project still ongoing?
Jeremy Cogman

oops! What about a shim(s), with two holes in, where the bolts pass through the spring?
A Anstead

Thanks for your comments. I believe Mark had trouble in finding spring steel in the right dimensions.

Tore







Tore

Alan,
Would have sent direct but on holsd so dont have e mail address close to hand , meant to ask you the other week what rear shocks did you use on your sebring ´? Im planning to use peter may lowered and sofetened rear springs but unsure about shocks
And also if you used telescopics which i think you did wher do they attach ?
Many thanks
Andy
Andy Chaffey

Spax telescopic kit on the rear ( 1/4 eliptics ) using original shock holes.
A Anstead

Alan, that would work but I don't know how well, as you would have to bend the short end of the spring using the U bolt plus the support area for the end of the spring would be very small .I suppose if you ground a wedge and positioned it where you suggested then that would work but again support would be limited.
This is of course all theory as I don't knpow of anyone who has actually tried any of the above :+))
Graham.
Graham P 1330 Frogeye

This thread was discussed between 31/08/2011 and 03/09/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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