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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - drop links

3000 miles and the rubber in the (new) drop links is showing signs of breaking up on my 1500 so I'm looking for alternatives.

MGOC list "midget Ball Jointed ARB link kit H160 " for £60. Has anyone used these, what are they like, and do they last any longer ?


Fourth item down:
https://www.mgocspares.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.cgi?WD=link%20drop&PN=MGOC_SPARES_Front_suspension_650%2ehtml#a36662W_2dH160
Chris Madge

Wot!? There's piss-poor rubber in classic car parts!? When on earth did start start - and when will it finish!?

I've no idea how long they'd last you'd have to ask the racing boys (and girls) but when I first saw them I wondered if lasting more than rose-jointed meant a lot on a road car and how much longer they'd last anyway than piss-poor rubber or rose jointed.

AFTER I replaced my front ARB drop links I was told the original drop-links lasted donkey's years so new bushes weren't need and not sold, the replacements, almost, lasted years. Current ones seem OK but I don't really know. Perhaps if enough owners drive their cars far enough the stock of piss-poor parts will be bought enough to be rejected or used up. Imagine, it's easy if you try ...
Nigel Atkins

Except, Nigel, as we all know the deterioration of this modern 'rubber' has little to do with how much use the part gets. They decay and crumble just sitting doing nothing!
GuyW

Indeed Guy. On the plus side drop links are cheap enough to be considered regular maintenance items like wiper blades I suppose !

I'm just wondering how much harsher a ride these would be on the road.



Chris Madge

£60 seems a lot for four rod ends and some threaded bar!
Malcolm Le Chevalier

yep, the rose jointed links are even more :(
Chris Madge

https://www.petermayengineering.com/product/rose-jointed-anti-roll-bar-link-kit/
David Smith

Not so Guy, the deterioration will be accelerated by actual use. I'm sure as your Frogeye progresses and if items wear out on your Sprite you will gain more experience of the longevity or otherwise of more of the piss-poor rubber parts.

Unless as The Stranglers would have it ...
Nigel Atkins

Chris,
I thought the racers might be able to help you with - "I'm just wondering how much harsher a ride these would be on the road."

My only experience is that they seem to give the car (not Spridget) a sort of jangly noise effect and I might be wrong in this - I thought they wore more and needed checking or reseting more - but I've never had them so don't know.

Nigel Atkins

I wonder if they can be dismantled and the rubber removed and a 2 part polyurethane rubber used to fill the void. ebay has a number of suppliers from a quick look and I have seen details of people using it to make engine mounts and other items.

The originals look to have the ball swaged around the pin with the rubber in between, no idea if its bonded. The rubber metal bond is easily damaged by heat.
David Billington

Chris
A very good alternative are the Spridget ARB drop links offered by Classic Driving Development. They are made in the modern style, I bought a pair a couple of years ago and have been extremely pleased with them , absolutely first quality. Not cheap at £60 a pair , but comparable in cost to the Peter May ones. The links are a bit difficult to find on their website but if you go to the price list they are shown there.
Ian


Ian Webb 1973 GAN5

Ian thank you, that sounds just the ticket :)
Chris Madge

I have these drop links on mine. Yes a bit of money, but seem fine and I see it as part of complimenting the polybushing and stiffer ARB and springs etc after a front-end birthday. I happy with them over the rubber ones.
I see this type of ball joint on modern vehicles drop links, so should be good quality enough
D Price

This thread was discussed between 19/09/2019 and 27/09/2019

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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