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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Axle shotening

I want to shorten my midget axle. Being a square arch car I need to get the wheels correctly centred into the wheel arch to gain more room for wider tyres and even though my wheels are well offset the wheels are still not in the centre of the arch but are towards each arch.

So has anyone shortened an axle, even if it was an MGB or whatever.

Secondly Shortening the outer casing would probably mean shortening the half shafts, unless there is room for the splines to slide further into the diff. But how much spare will there be?

I know that probably the only way forward will be for me to rip it out and get to work but someone just might have some valuable info.

Bob (robert) Midget Turbo

The MGB diff is enormous.

You don't say if you have a wire wheel or steel wheel axle.

See how far the existing shafts engage into the diff. I bet you've got half inch a side to play with which means you can safely shorthen them half and inch to gain an inch a side.

Do you have a measurement from the back flange to the end of the half shaft?

Could be simpler, cheaper and a better end result to convert to round arches?
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

I didn't want a shortened MGB axle I simply enquired if someone had done it to an MGB then likely the technique used would have been the same.
What difference do you think it would make whether it was a wire wheel or steel? However it is a wire wheel axle. I have a set of knock on minilites that I am keen to use.

I don't know the measurements without taking the axle to pieces by which time I hope to have a plan.. :-))

No don't want to go down the bodywork mods.
Bob (robert) Midget Turbo

Bob,

The wirewheel axle is already something like 2" narrower than the steel wheel axle so would potentially save cutting and welding the axle, only requiring shortening the halfshafts. But as you already have a wire wheel axle that isn't an option.
David Billington

Bob, any axle casing can be cut'n shut - mostly hot rod and custom car places do it.

What you might want to do is find a cheap casing with a stripped thread on one end. Then cut the flange ends off a common casing like a Morris Minor. Finally cut and shorten the axle casing and weld on the good flange ends from the Minor.

This approach leaves you with a good wire wire axle casing you might be able to sell?
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

What about the engineering of shortening the half shafts if required. Is that a normal engineering practice and can thus be relied upon?
Bob (robert) Midget Turbo

Daniel is right on about the best method to shorten the Spridget housing, cut the ends off and then replace after machining. If the shop has the right tooling to cut and respline the axle without having to anneal it then you can shorten and respline without problems if the basic axle is large enough in diameter at that point. A lot of axles taper down in diameter just outboard of the inner splines then expand again and those either require welding and re tempering after machining or having new shafts made similar to the shafts done by places like Peter May. I had a Chevrolet axle housing and shafts shortened for my V6 Midget and haven't had any problems at all even with some mild "abuse" by the driver.
Bob, in response to your orignal post, I think that you'd want the tires slightly towards the outside rather than dead center in the wheel wells. When the car corners and the suspension compresses on the outside the top of the tire moves towards the inner wheel panel and the bottom moves away from the body, but that's in an open area so no harm. Center up the tires and I think you'll find you get more tire rub on the inside even with a panhard rod. There is some outward movement on the opposite side, but most of the time it's not as much as you're not getting as much lift on the offside as you get compression on the other.
Bill Young

The only thing i would mention is the axle is fixed in position by the springs. When i fitted the minilite 14" knock ons with a 175 yokahama to my square arch car one of the tyres rubbed the the spring so i had to fit a spacer between the hub and casing faces, in order to move the whole assembly further outboard, however, i still had to fold the inner arches up to prevent fouling the tyres.
Brian

I checked the springs Brian and they are clear of the wheels at the moment:-))

So as the steel wheel axle is the same as the wire but longer I could shorten that casing as is said. Any one got an old axle they don't want and would sell cheapish?
Bob (robert) Midget Turbo

Bob, I have a surplus s/w axle that'll fit the bill, can chuck in a pair of halfshafts too, email if of interest..
David Smith(davidDOTsmithATstonesDOTcom

This thread was discussed between 03/04/2008 and 04/04/2008

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