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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Suspension !

Obviously getting the new engine in the little beastie is still task one and the hood is task two, but I can see my refurbed rear lever arms ( refurbe by Stevson ) some years ago are leaking and I have bought new lever arms from AH Spares and they all went back.

I've already got the Peter May rear panhard rod and have a 9/16" front AR bar, and brand new uprated wishbones from 'Spridgetwishbones' so need to tackle the dampers.

I can see FL and PME offer a rear conversion - the PME is slightly cheaper so PME for the rear, but up front I think the FL offered setup appears better, I still have the link to DB's Metal-art site - but don't the time or confidence to weld for suspension parts - are there any newer/better setups for the front than the FL one ?

Thanks
Malc Gilliver

The lever arm dampers can work well. But if you have had recon units, you need to be sure they are matched/balanced side to side or you can get all sorts of weird handling "quirks"! The recons just get chucked in a bucket of all sorts of models and ages, so for them to pick out two matched Spridget ones is pretty rare.

On the rears, a lot of knowledgeable and quick Spridget racers say lever arms are the way to go on. The telescopic damping rate isn't quite right and as well you lose a bit of the articulation of the axle as the telescopics don't allow the movement that is inherent in the rear drop link design.

On the fronts, several options. 1. triangulate the lever arms (a couple of options on that). 2. MGB shock conversion (basically achieves the same as 1. 3. Frontline telescopic conversion, which some love but I'm not a fan... although I am peculiar!

Don't forget the front springs. These probably have the biggest impact on overall handling. The original spec road springs are pants!

Hope this helps,
Malc.
Malcolm

There are some weird people in this world that have a bit of a fetish for refurbing and getting the best out of such things! ;-)

A set I have finished just this week, which included some rare adjustable rears. Always wanted to get my hands on a pair of them!

All my valving spares for balancing up pairs of shocks.





Malcolm

And one option/method for triangulating the front.


Malcolm

Malcolm,

I knew the adjustables were rare but how about electrically adjustable like here https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=703650473634386&set=pb.100063539922218.-2207520000 and the 5 previous images give some idea how it works. Off an Aston Martin which there are a few images earlier in the photo collection. Even better bragging rights down the pub. Some notes on them https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=281830403944955&set=pb.100063539922218.-2207520000 .
David Billington

Hi Malc,

Thanks for your comments - the reason I looking to replace the rears is I had all mine rebuilt and refurbed here - https://www.stevsonmotors.co.uk/ I think from a recommendation of this BBS, the performance dampers are fine, but now leaking even after a rebuild.

I suppose I am worried about pouring good money after bad, but I do like the magic carpet ride, and one of the fronts came apart underbraking.

Any suggestions on were to go for 'good' part other than NOS in the US ?

I'm not hugely keen on FL, heard to many bad things, hence asking - if the PME kit was so expensive I would go that way.

WRT to the front springs - without ruining the ride what would you suggest.

Malc

I remember the MGB suspension being suggested years ago - I have an MGB based kit, but those damper arms are way to short to fit a Spridet, I recall needing to find an A60 or something like - do you any details on that ?


Malc Gilliver

Malc,

Someone on the BBS recently took a pair to these people in north Wales https://www.vandcengineering.co.uk/ . I'm not aware of them reporting back on the results yet.
David Billington

David, I think that was Bernie Higginson. He had a pair of MGB front dampers done for his midget project but the arm on one was set wrongly. It would have been OK on an MGB apparently but not quite right for the Midget. It's all sorted now (I think they sent him a replacement and he is dropping the "faulty" one off on Friday). He was very pleased with the service and quality but it's not cheap (compared to the black paint and oil top-up re-manufacturers) but cheaper than NOS Import in the States.
If he sees this post he will chip in with details.
Rob
MG Moneypit

Malcolm. Interesting you have just rebuilt a set of adjustable rears. Does that mean you will be doing a kit?

I've got a pair and I was going to use the kit I got from you a while ago for normal rears but soon realised there were a couple of other O rings needed not in the "normal" kit. I put them to one side and forgot all about them.
Maybe I can dig them out again.
Rob
MG Moneypit

Hi Rob,

Yes, there are a couple of o-rings on the adjuster valve. I now have a bag of them if you need some or I can give you the size if you want to order your own. Is the high/low stop and click detent OK?

Malc,

MGB conversion option:

https://www.mambamotorsport.co.uk/p/midget-to-mgb-damper-conversion-kit/

Front springs, I would bump up to around 340 - 360 lb/in (basically the next step up from standard). It makes a huge difference to handling and not overly harsh on the road.

I would normally recommend Magic Midget, but seems they are out of stock at the moment.

Cheers,
Malc.
Malcolm

Malcolm. I broke the hi/low stop on one because the valve wouldn't come out and the adjuster knob was well and truly siezed to the valve. In the end I had to use brute force to free it which caused the stop to break off. I also had to drill out the split pin retaining the knob to the valve so the holes are now a bit bigger than they were.
How are the felt seals retained? Are the thin washers on top meant to retain them some how by being slightly oversize so as to grip the body when pushed in? Are the felt washers available or easily made?
If you let me know the size of the O rings and material they are made from I should be able to get some.
The reason one of the valves stuck was due to one of the O rings being unable to compress as the valve was withdrawn due to a build up of crud in the groove that retained the O ring. When I got it out there was a slice missing from the outer edge.
Rob
MG Moneypit

Hi Rob, you have my email address? Drop me a message and we can chat rather than diverting Malc Gs thread.

Cheers,
Malc LC
Malcolm

Fairly soft spring choice there Malc.
550 with a 3/4" bar works good--600 better still but a bit pushy after several hot laps and borderline for hillclimbs--so probably 550 best choice -575 might be worth a try
willy
William Revit

I'm working to the brief of "without ruining the ride what would you suggest." :-)

I can't say I have tried it, but 500+ must be pretty bone shaking on the road. And the roads in the UK are generally pretty bad!

Malc.
Malcolm

Malc,

Have just won some MGB dampers on ebay, that brings my stock to 4 x MGB fronts ( 2 off ebay, 2 on my NG TC kit car, 2 x MGB rears, 2 x AH Sprite fronts, 2 x AH Sprite rear and 2 x A30/35 ( the one with the rear anti roll bar.

How much commonality do the part have inside ? I see you and Rob talking about rebuilding them and can see the obvious benefits, it there much inside that is serviciable ?

Thanks,
Malc Gilliver

A proper flush and oil change is always a good shout, along with O-rings and gaskets whilst you are at it. You never know how long the oil has been in there, sometimes I think 40+ years! An aside... maybe I should collect all the disgusting black oil I drain out of shocks and sell it on to some originality nut as authentic BL oil! Hmmm... ha ha ha!

Anyway, the valves etc. are all interchangeable between Armstrong dampers. Worth checking they are balanced across the axle too.

Best of luck,
Malc.
Malcolm

Thanks Malc,

Do you have a good source for the o rings and gaskets - I have a stock of flexoid paper - is that ok for the gaskets ?


Mal
Malc Gilliver

Yes, I am the source! ;-)

Gasket paper is a bit too stiff for the small cover screws to compress properly and thus it can leak. Cork is what you want as it seals at a lower compression force.

Drop me an email, chevalierclassics@gmail.com if you want some bits to refresh your dampers.

Malc.


Malcolm

Hi Malc, just sent you a mail.

Mal
Malc Gilliver

Why are the springs different colours?

They do feel a bit different but that might well be me !


Malc Gilliver

Hi Malc,

Sorry, been away for a long weekend.

The springs are colour coded depending on their stiffness. Looks like you have a mismatched pair in both bump and rebound.

These are the rears, right?

Cheers,
Malc.
Malcolm

Thanks Malc,

No these are the ebay find MGB dampers for the Mamba kit.


I will pull the rest apart now and have a look, I am hoping to the rears are leaking from the corroded tops - which I can replace.

Malc
Malc Gilliver

This thread was discussed between 24/08/2023 and 05/09/2023

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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