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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Adjustable Valves for Armstrong lever Arm Dampers

In Practical Classics this month is a mention of a firm who supply valves that replace the standard valve unit to allow you to adjust the damper rate.
Price is noted at £72 each.

Seems they also do a flush / refill and fit service.

Interesting web site of other services etc.

http://www.suspensionsupplies.co.uk/

richard b

Is it £72 just for one valve?
Seems a lot but adjustable lever arms are like hens teeth so maybe more appropriate for the racers on here.
Peter May provide an uprated and refurbished shocker for £60 (plus £30 returnable deposit). No idea how good (or not) they are.
Jeremy MkIII

Interesting.

This is what it looks like.


Dave O'Neill 2

As I read it in PC's £72 each - I don't think its that expensive for small batch engineering to fine tolerances and I assume UK made.

We all complain about poor quality Chineese made parts !

Oh the 'fit' bit I noted above is the valves into shockers - not fitting dampers to a car.

richard b

Gosh Richard, I must be well out of touch as it seems a lot to me. That equates to £288 for four valves and you need to ensure your dampers are in good condition to get the most from the valves' ability to adjust.
It's a very neat solution and for racing I can see its appeal, I just wonder how much improvement there is for the outlay compared with a standard set up in good condition on a road car?
Happy to be corrected as I'm no engineer.
Jeremy MkIII

Put like that I have to agree !

I don't see any benefit for a standard road car over a good set of originals but when you start tuning the cost of everything seems to get very expensive.

Getting good standard ones to start with has been my problem !
richard b

Yes that's the rub, finding good ones or someone who will properly refurbish your existing ones.
There's WorldWide Autoparts but they're not cheap, the shipping is prohibitive but they are very good by all accounts so for something which is hopefully going to be a one time outlay, it may be a worthwhile expenditure.
http://www.nosimport.com/Lever-shocks-remanufactured/mg-midget-lever-shocks/mg-midget-rear-shock-absorber-1964-and-newer-rebuilt-by-world-wide-nosimport
Don't get me wrong, just as you do, I like those adjustable valves, they're a cleverer solution than the original adjustables and are to be applauded - just being a Lancastrian, I look for value, most of the time!
Jeremy MkIII

I’m a Lancastrian as well Jeremy but I’ve got a pair of these waiting to be fitted to my Sprite! You’re right about the shipping/customs cost!!




John Payne

Very nice indeed John, they are a work of art and almost too nice to fit to the car.
Jeremy MkIII

So we have a choice for which obscure adjustable valve version we want in our leverarms?!
I’d say be happy they are available and not bitch about the price.
If you don’t want to pay it that’s fine but I for one am happy that anything is available

And having been outbid on originals several times I’d say they are good value
O K

Fair enough Onno, it's your money and your choice.
I'd really like someone over here to do what Worldwide Autparts do in the States and provide properly refurbished and improved dampers.
Richard have you tried Stevsons?
http://www.stevsonmotors.co.uk/Stevson%20Motors%20-%20Homepage.html?LMCL=i9FyB1
Not sure if they still do lever arms but may be worth a phone call?
Jeremy MkIII

If you want to refresh your shocks, I have been doing a DIY kit for a few years now. (Others are started to catch on and copy the idea).

Armstrong dampers are already adjustable if you have enough spares :-D Just not in situ (for the rears anyway, fronts are easy).

Malc.





Malcolm Le Chevalier

Malc, I could be tempted by an an overhaul kit and I'm local.
Clive Berry

Hi Clive, you can message me at chevalierclassics@gmail.com

Cheers!
Malcolm Le Chevalier

Oh, and the adjustable kit. I know the guys who developed it. If they have got it right, it will work!

For the moment on my new build I'm using FL on the front and my ancient Spax telescopic kit on the rear.

Clive Berry

Malc

You got a website for Chevalier Classics' these days? I did not realise you were now doing rebuild kits for lever arm dampers as I thought you had stopped all such activity including making and selling new rear hub gaskets and rebuild kits and stopped doing them.

What other problem parts are you working on? It would have been great if you could have taken on production of the Barry King wishbones.

Cheers
Mike
M Wood

Hi Mike,

I never gave up completely, but did stop actively promoting it (I was too busy moving and renovating a house) and only did orders for people that found me through recommendations.

But lately I have found more time on my hands so have been building it up a bit more again. A website has been at the back of my mind for a while now.

Unfortunatly it's never going to fully pay the mortgage, so I also have to fit it in around the proper job.
Malcolm Le Chevalier

As I am a firm believer off putting my money where my mouth is (certainly when good value) I ordered, recieved and just fitted a pair of the adjustable valves.
And these in good shocks combined wit a pair of top links are an easy match for a FL kit.
Feels good sharp and solid up front again.
Adjustable from comfy to rock solid.

Will be swapping the clunky too stiff rear telescopics out for leaver arms with these valves soon
O K

Cheers for the update Onno, good to hear they work well.

I had chance to test my new Peter Caldwell shocks and PM top links at the weekend and they are excellent. Its probably the links that I notice most because they stop the car wandering under breaking. But also having the adjustable shocks is good because I sometimes use it on the road so I'll be able to wind them off a bit. They are a much better solution than the rather agricultural looking FL kit in my opinion.
John Payne

This thread was discussed between 16/05/2020 and 16/07/2020

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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