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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear spring compatibility

Gents

Anyone know for certain whether 66 mk2 rear leaf springs would be OK for a 73 mk3 RWA?

Bit of very helpful inter BBS co-operation going on, but need to check first!

Appreciated

Mark
Mark O

Have you checked Moss partnumbers to see if they are the same?
Graeme Williams

I think all of the semi-eliptics are the same up until the change to the 1500s. There's no reason for them to be different is there?
Guy W

there was a change on the introduction of the 1275 engine. dunno why tho'.
David Smith

for future reference I can tell you for that the 1974 and 1982 Haynes editions have the same error about front springs

Terry Horler's book has that Mk2 midgets had 75lb sq/in and free camber of 4.437in and Mk3 (1275) as 80lb sq/in and 4.72in free camber - I didn't notice a change over point listed so assume it's with the introduction of the 1275 Mk3 as per text

how much difference this would make with old, possibly tired springs I don't know

ETA: David posted as I was typing so there you go confirmed

I was struggling to type the sq/in correctly so that the bigger technical boys wouldn't shout at me or pour scorn on my lack of technical education and learning (and intuition)
Nigel Atkins

no Nigel not confirmed, wrong again. We are all talking about leaf springs - the long funny ones that go towards the rear of the car.
David Smith

what are you on David you're in such a rush to make sure we don't agree you've either misread, not fully read or instantly dismissed my post

the figures I gave refer to the long hangy-down metal thingies at the back of the car

the curly metal thingies at the front of the car I picked up a bit of knowledge and experience when I dealt with T*ss and their 'er' managers - if you like I can repeat the story for you :D

that's how I know Haynes has the wrong details for the front springs

the first line was for future reference on the front springs - perhaps I should have put that in brackets but I'd have thought the numbers and descriptions would have told you (at least) they were rear springs

so whose wrong this time? :)
Nigel Atkins

Both have part no AHA 8093 - according to Moss, so seemmingly compatible. Cheers for the tip Graeme..

Mark O

I seem to recall that, originally the semi's were 5 leaves, then the 1275 came in with 6 leaves, and now they're all back to 5 leaves.
Lawrence Slater

They probably have the same part number these days, as they rationalised their stock - one size fits all!
Dave O'Neill2

Hi,

The rear springs changed from 75 lb/in to 80 lb/in 10/'66 when the 1275 was adopted. Possibly Moss is just supplying the 80 lb/in ones for all years now?

Someone mentioned how many leaves. They had 5 leaves from 1/'64 until 10/'74. Then the 86 lb/in, 6 leaf springs were introduced.


For reference, the free camber was 4.437" 'till 10/'66, 4.72" until 10/'74 and 5.58" for the 1500's.


Norm
Norm Kerr

just because the suppliers' catalogues now show the same part number doesn't mean that that was always the case, they now supply one spring rate rather than two for good commercial reasons and the springs seem fine in either application

same with front (yes front David) springs, there's one standard spring for all c/b cars and it will fit and work fine (just possibly different ride height) but there were three different rates - despite Haynes having only two

but early and later water pipes were supplied with the same part and part number but this was wrong as the two pipes were bent to opposite sides so wouldn't fit well on the on the wrong model - ask me how I know :) - don't trust suppliers catalogues parts numbers without cross referencing them against other reliable sources

Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 24/09/2013 and 25/09/2013

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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