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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - rear sus u-bolts!

Hi im back again! im just starting to replace my spax suspention and its going good so far! while i have the car up im replacing rear sus u-bolts, bushes ect! can i just unbolt the u-bolts or do i need to support the suspention with an axel stand or jack?

thanks yet again steve.
s j knox

jack up the car under the diff then put stands under the front sping mounts remove the jack.

The axle is on the springs so it will stay in place.

If you do the shackle bushes put the jack under the spring at the axle.
Onno Könemann

Hi onno! once its jacked on spring mounts can i just undo the u bolts? or will the wheel shoot up? should i undo the shackle bushes?
s j knox

if the body is on stands, and the axle's weight is supported by a jack, then the springs will not move when you undo the U bolts

when you raise up the axle to replace the rubber spacer between it an the spring, you will see the springs raise up a little bit, as that 100+lbs weight is taken off of them, but they will settle back down when the axle is lowered back onto them.

Tighten the U bolts snug, and then fully tighten them with the entire weight of the car on the wheels. Tighten them again after a few hundred miles (the rubber WILL compress and the U bolts will then become quite loose, until you tighten them again).


Norm
Norm Kerr

Hey guys! got axle stands under body and jack suport diff and the rear spring just shot down and looks very archedI what have i done wrong and how do i fix it? cant get u-bolts anywhere near the support brackets!


s j knox

Let the axle down slowly on the jack till it meets the spring, then you should be OK.

Bernie.
b higginson

Sorry. The 5 minute update beat me. From the picture it looks like you may have jacked up the axle too far, when all you need to do is support it just enough to remove the bolts. You may have to remove the check straps to get the axle back down on the jack to the spring. Sounds like an old country and western song "From a Jack to a Spring (King)"

Bernie.
b higginson

Read my first post again!!
It clearly states "remove the jack" after the stands are placed!!!!!!!!

Then the axle will just lay on top of the springs and swoping u bolts etc is easy.

Then if you want to do the shackles I say you have to support the relevant spring with a the jack.

If you are unfamiliar with doing technical work on your car please make sure you know what to do or consult experts.
Car maintenance can be dangerous.
Onno Könemann

hey bernie! wouldn't go down until i realised the bloody check strap was on dohhh! ok it in possition, do you just keep raising axle and tightening untill theres no more thread left on u-bolt.
s j knox

hey onno! it was to late by then! learn from your mistakes and i wont do it again! i am asking the experts hence you replied and others, how you supposed to learn anything if you dont try it. only had the car a week and ive changed the lights and done one side u-bolts think thats good for a novice! thanks everyone!
s j knox

s j knox

I applaud your enthousiasm but when you ask for advice read it properly.

You would not be the first and certainly not the least experianced to be hurt or kiled while working on your car.

And we do not want to lose a midgeteer!
Onno Könemann

cheers onno! will read next time! but you have probably been in a similar possition at some time, i was running round like a crazy person; thought i had done some major damage!

Anyway thanks to all that have helped today!

Its finished anyway + new spax one side! Next panic when i do the otherside this week! gulp!!

oh when using axle stands do you guys put them straight on the underside or put somthing to protect the car?
s j knox

I try to put some thick cardboard (orange boxes are great) in between.
But mostly manage without.

Droped the midget from a jack once, jack went straight through the radiator.
Got me freaked and made me pay.
Safety first it is cheaper
Onno Könemann

hi guys! now i have finshed the rear sus, it seems to be sitting lower than it was? is that normal? just wondering if i could have over tightened the u-bolts?

thanks.
s j knox

SJ - please - whenever you alter something like this - do BOTH sides at once!!!!! Trust me - it will make it easier for you :) When you have done the other side, then, you'll know where it's sat.

Actually, rather than worrying about what's on top - make sure that they are sat on something that isn't slippery - so that they won't move in an emergency!
rachmacb

hi rach! both sides were done within 10 hours of each other! so both are done now, and both sit at the same hight but rear end seems lower! maybe just my eyes!
s j knox

Cool - did you have any photos of it earlier and that you can replicate now - with some sort of sighting or stable item in it you can measure?
rachmacb

no! i should have really! never mind its not massively different so i'll live with it.
s j knox

Probably just wants settling down a bit.

Check that the rubber pad that goes between the spring base plate and the axle is located properly, and is compressing tightly. It has a hole in the centre that may not be positioned properly. This would lift the axle in relation to the springs - or more correctly lower the spring (and body) in relation to the axle (and wheel).

When doing up the u-bolt nuts there is no published torque setting as they are compressing the rubber pad so you would get meaningless readings. But they do need to be tight - not strip-the-threads tight, but just a good grunt-tight with the proper length of spanner.

Guy
Guy

This thread was discussed between 10/07/2011 and 13/07/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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