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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Dimensions for front suspension

Hi All,
Has anyone got a figure showing important dimensions for the front suspension mounting points?
I have just noticed a slight ripple in the front crossmember of the my midget and wonder whether it has altered the suspension geometry..
Cheers
tim
T Dafforn

It'll be interesting to see if any one has these dimensions, as the original layout will have been BMC's Intellectual Property and probably not shared in the public domain.

Fear not though, what I might do is;
* Check from side to side to see if the dimensions compare.
* Check wheel arch gap side to side.
* Check approximate camber side to side with weight on string.
* If recent damage check your toe-in.
* Does the vehicle drive straight on a flat road?
* Jack up the rear axle on the diff casing in a manner which allows the dif to pivot slightly side to side. Compare the front wheel arch gaps before and after jacking, if one gets bigger and the other smaller then it suggests the front roll stifness is fighting the rear in a twisting motion down the length of the car. This can be adjsuted by packing one of the front springs. But to be honest if this were the case, I might expect more than just a ripple in the cross member.
James
James Eastwood

here is one:

http://www.ketcherside.net/chassis.htm

(note, though, that it is for '75~, so the vertical dimensions from the floor are, what, 1.5" taller than the "58 ~ '74?


here is another one, for '67 ~ '74:

http://www.spridget-tech.com/service_manual/Section-R.pdf

refer to page 282. This one doesn't have as much information as that first one.

Note that neither shows details of the front suspension mounting points. But as James stated, if it is square, and true, that should be most of what you need. Oh, and the front rails have a 1" rise from where they meet the floor pan to their front most tip.

When in doubt, you can have the alignment checked on an alignment rack (since only toe is adjustable, anything else amiss points to chassis being bent, or worn suspension parts).


hope this helps,
Norm
Norm Kerr

Tim,

Before you adjust anything, the Front Chassis Legs are bent (Kinked) slightly upwards on purpose, this is how the Castor angle is achived.

Tim.
T Holdsworth

Thanks for the links!
The 'possible' distortion I see is where the carrier for the lower front suspension pivot support meets the chassis rail by the crossmember..
However looking at it in the light of day, it looks like nothing much!
Tim
T Dafforn

This thread was discussed between 11/02/2010 and 13/02/2010

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