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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Help with wire to disc wheel conversion.

I am thinking of converting to disc wheels (minilites), and this guy says I'd need a different rear axle housing: http://blog.harvs.com.au/category/mg-midget/

Moss shows just one axle housing (unavailable, of course) for semi-elliptical springs like mine ('67 Midget). My guess is that I'd only need different hubs and rotors up front, and different half-shafts at the rear. Rear brake drums look the same to me. Is the above gentleman right about the axle housing being a different length on a disc wheel car?

The only other detail appears to be the rear bearing hubs, which look slightly different--though on the Moss (and British Leyland workshop manual) diagram, the only immediately apparent difference is extra holes in the outer o.d. of the flange.

Anybody know from hands-on experience what's needed for the conversion in this regard?
JM Young

I was talking with someone about converting my Rostyles to wire. That was pretty much what I was told. Replace the whole rear axle. Something to do with the wire axle being narrower, since the splines are wider on the wire wheels. I would swap with you, but rather far away.
J Wirtes

As stated simply change the rear axle for the type you want. The wire wheel version is shorter and as a result so are the halfshafts.
Bob Turbo Midget England

As Bob says. Also, the discs are different on a wire wheel car...effectively narrower.
Dave O'Neill 2

While you're changing, it'd be a good time to uprate the brake system too - and that's way easier with rostyles than wire.
rachmacb

along with the different length axle casings, the handbrake rods are different lengths too.
David Smith

you could look for some Knock on minilites!
Mick - trying to sort the wiring

What about getting some of these instead?
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=11842




I Henderson

J. Writes: I'd love to swap, but I suppose shipping across the pond would be prohibitive for each of us. Alas.

Everyone else: While the knock-off minilites are a great suggestion, part of my reason for changing to disc wheels is avoiding the spline-wear issue. I also suspect there will be lower unsprung weight without the extra fittings. Finally, there's the ham-handed tire guys who may bugger up my new wire rims while shifting the tires from the worn rims. Just about any competent tire shop can mount and balance tires on aluminum rims, and in the American Southwest, where you can easily drive several hundred miles between sizable cities, this is a legitimate concern.

Guess I'll buy an axle complete and a set of front hubs. I agree with rachmacb that I'll have greater flexibility in upgrading my brakes (whenever I get around to that) as well.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. With the cue of jobs I'm facing (5-speed, valve job, flushing the petrol tank, tapered bearings up front, dual master cylinder & new brake lines), looks like we're aiming at fall of 2010 for the (3rd) maiden voyage. But, man, will she be a sweet ride when all of this is done!
JM Young

This thread was discussed on 07/07/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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