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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Front suspension overhaul

Hi guys, the following is probably a pretty easy one for a lot of you to answer...

The other day I decided I was bored of cutting/grinding/cleaning my rust bucket of a body shell and decided to pull apart the front suspension! After a lot of swearing and heaving on a big ratchet handle I looked at the pile of bits and came to the conclusion I didn't really know what I was looking for when pulling apart the suspension!

So... my question is what are the major flaws in the front suspension? And what should I be looking at replacing?

Dampers and bushes were already on the list for replacement and I will probably fit lowering spacers too. Anything else I should look out for?

I was also thinking of getting the major components blasted and powder coated.

I open the floor to suggestions and thank you for your replies.

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Chances are you will need new wishbones and fulcrum pin. See the other thread on those for info on the Barry King ones I am lusting after. The bolts for the inner fulcrums on the wishbones also frequently need replaced. Maybe the tierod ends and anti-sway bar bushes as well.
David "the list goes on and on" Lieb
David Lieb

so everything then!

Why would the wishbones need replacing? They seem like a pretty basic and robust part.

what about hubs, axles, king pins and all that? (I know not suspension but it's all connects together!)

Ta
Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

The wishbones are basic, but not robust. They are wont to crack and the difficulty in effectively greasing the outer fulcrum pin means that most of the ones currently in service have far too much wear there. If you plan to drive it aggressively, you are likely to want to replace them.

Your wheel bearings probably need replaced, but I refuse to open the powder keg to discuss the replacements currently available. Suffice it to say that the archives are replete with opinions.

YMMV, but I have found that the kingpins and their bushings last quite well. Of course, I must confess that I have seldom managed to extricate the cotterpin that holds the kingpin to the fulcrum pin without employing deadly force... The replacements seem to be rather shoddy, too.
David "wanna start talking brakes, too?" Lieb
David Lieb

The fulcrum pin is a basically flawed design, rotating on a screw thread and with poor lubrication. They tend to seize and then that knackers the ends of the wishbones. Hence Barry King's modified wishbones - see the thread "midget Wishbones".
Mike Howlett

Thanks dave,

I will make my own mind up on bearings (when it comes to that point!). Once I figure out the size required I will find something suitable.

the cotter pin on mine slid out with minimal force... is that a bad omen?! ha ha. I have only dismantled one side so far tho... (the side that looked that it had been replaced most recently!).

As for brakes, whilst I have your attention, I was just going to clean up the original system new discs and pads and refurb the caliper.

Malcolm "getting really ahead of myself here I have nothing to bolt this imaginary suspension to yet" Le Chevalier

M Le Chevalier

You mean you aren't Maurice Chevalier??? I am SO disappointed! I had mental images of you singing the parts into place on your Spridget... Oh well.

The fact that the cotter pin slid out easily probably means that you will not be able to shift the one on the other side. Or else the DPO had recently replaced them.

David "Replace the flex lines to the brakes, too" Lieb
David Lieb

While you have the wishbones off the car check the frame mountings closely for any cracks. This isn't a common problem, but it's easy to check with the wishbones off the car. Depending on how much lubrication and maintenance the car has had in it's life you may not need to rebush the kingpins, but easy to check those for wear by checking for play between the kingpin and swivel axle. David and the others have pretty well covered everything else.
Hint: I found that for areas where getting a good view is difficult that a digital camera or even a web cam can be used to "see" into those areas for inspection of components as I did to check my frame mounts.
B Young

ho ho ho... I haven't heard that 'Maurice Chevalier' thing before :-p

actually, to be fair people of my generation go for the 'Malcolm in the Middle' jibe and have never heard of Maurice Chevalier. I think the 'Le' makes me sound even posher tho.

David, brake lines will be replaced with braided I expect. Speaking of which... brake lines connect to the pedal box which connects to the body which connects to the engine so what are you think I should do with all these bits... ha ha.

Thanks for your advice as ever guys.

Malcolm "the artist formly known as Maurice" Le Chevalier
M Le Chevalier

This thread was discussed on 15/03/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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