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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - rear spring cleanup...

After all i have read about the quality replacement rear springs available i want to keep my originals. They are rusty and need overhauling.

How do i go about this? Can each leaf be removed and cleaned up, painted and put back togeather?

Is there a specific paint requirement?
Rob McGeown

yes you can !

but just cleaning and painting is not enough.
springs can be re set and tempered making it like a new spring
Onno Könemann

Or buy a set from Mark ;-)

Assuming he has any left....
Toby Anscombe

so as im looking to spend as little as possibe, how do i seperate the leaves, and put them back together?
Rob McGeown

Peter May have springs back in stock, and they are the 'good sort'....
Rich Amos (1 Sprite 1 Midget!)

If it "says" made in china/india/UK try to avoid it!!! LOL

Rob if on a budget you can always leave the leafs as they are and just paint the outside and try them first when you have your car running.
Just make sure you do replace the bushes!!!!

Last year when i was suffering bad leafsprings i ended up using my original 1975 springs i had removed when restoring my car in 1997.
How great these oldies where in comparison to the "new ones"from India or whatever sold by the most suppliers.

Realise there still must be a lot of these indian leafs around so dont be fooled by cheap prices!
If you do wanna buy new buy them from Mark or have the old ones refurbished by a good place in your area.


Image: cheapos made in the south-east.
The curry was still on them as i unwrapped them!! LOL



Arie de Best

A wire brush and a good coat of warm waxoyle should sort out your springs if they are still the right shape!
I managed to buy a pair off ebay recently for 99 pence, the person selling them had replaced the springs with new (rubbish) ones because they were old! They will do as spares for me.

Carl
C Bintcliffe

Carl,
There is a view that you should not put anything like oil or grease (or Waxoyl) on springs (other than the fully wrapped variety) as it attracts and holds grit between the leaves - leading to increased wear.

There is also little point in dismantling springs to paint between the leaves as with the flexing and movement the paint will wear off very quickly, so a waste of time. The best thing is to wire brush, degrease, pressure wash and then paint the external surfaces with Hammerite or chassis black. Then refit with your chosen grade of Polybush. If any "lubricant" is needed, then dry graphite dust is apparently the stuff to use.

Guy
Guy Weller

If you take it to a reputable truck repair shop and give them the specs listed in the "power tuning midgets and sprites" book by peter may, you'll be ok
S.A. Jones

Rob, you can certainly refresh your springs yourself. You'll need a couple of tools for the job. A "C" clamp with a jaw opening at least three times the depth of your spring pack, a piece of all thread the same length as the C clamp opening, and a large pair of mole grips or channel lock pliers. The first thing you need to do is open the spring clamps on either end of the spring a bit to allow the leaves to be removed from them. Use the mole grips or channel locks to pry them open a bit. Don't go any more than necessary, you'll have to reform them when you're finished. Then install the C clamp over the spring and remove the center bolt. Install the all thread in place of the center bolt and place a nut on each end. This is just a safety measure in case the c clamp slips off to prevent any of the spring leaves from flying around. Then loosen the c clamp until the pressure is off the leaves. Clean, repaint, install plastic spacer material if desired then reassemble in the reverse order.
Bill Young

I cleaned mine up, greased, then wrapped in Denso plumbers tape to keep the water and grit out and the grease in. I decided paint was a waste of time.
Paul (MkI

This thread was discussed between 21/04/2009 and 22/04/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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