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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - IOW Frogeye rear suspension

My IOW Frogeye needs new rear shocks. It is a Restoration Assembly with the Bramber Flexiride and telescopic shocks. Does anyone know what will fit? If possible, part numbers would be so useful!! Allso, any info on sourcing Flexiride units would be very handy.

regards,

Nick
J.N. Williams

http://www.peaktrailers.com

Welcome to Peak Trailers
...home of the world renowned Flexiride suspension system

these people seem to sell the bramber flex ride units

Malc
Malc Gilliver

Hi Malc,

I know about Peak Trailers. However, I need the shock absorber which is a telescopic unit. The flexiride seems to be OK (I hope----).

Thanks,

kind regards,

Nick
J.N. Williams

Sorry Nick,

Been a long day and didn't read it properly !!

Have you a photo of your installation ? it might be the similar to one of the telescopic conversions.

Malc
Malc Gilliver

Hi Malc,

No photo of it: its the standard fitting as it left the factory. The shocks are in tubes. I read somewhere that they were Mini fittings, but I'm not sure. Thanks for your help.

Nick.
J.N. Williams

Hi Nick,

I have a IOW frog. Rear suspension units on mine are Mini fron, Spax adjustable. I can't see any part numbers but will try and have a closer look tomorrow.
Andrew
aj robinson

That should be Mini FRONT!
aj robinson

Hi Andrew,

Many thanks for the info. If you can find the part number that would be really useful. I assume yours has the flexiride system. Also, if you have any part numbers/identification for the actual Flexirides from Peak Trailers that would be helpful for future problems!!
regards,

Nick
J.N. Williams

Hi Andrew,

Are you sure the shocks are Mini front: advert pictures show them with circular bracket holes at each end. Mine has a circular hole at the bottom link, but the top is a spike onto which the securing bolt is attached - that seems to match pictures of the Mini rear shock.

I'm a bit confused!!

regards,

nick
J.N. Williams

Suspension units are flexiride but haven't a clue about part numbers. I think it is possible to make an educated guess by the dimensions and number of securing bolts, but perhaps someone else with more knowledge will be able to help.
I will try and post a picture of the rear suspension shocks but am sure they are mini fronts
aj robinson

Picture showing top mounting


aj robinson

different angle


aj robinson

bottom and top mounting


aj robinson

I suppose it's possible that there were different shocks tried throughout production/development.

I would have thought that Mini fronts might be a bit stiff.
Dave O'Neill2

spax adjustables on mine are turned down and give a pretty soft back end. Comfortable to drive but it's not a trackday car or screamer
aj robinson

Rear shocks are standard Mini (classic) I've found over the years koni work well
Ken Harris

I also know that Jordan Gibson has an IOW frog with telescopic shocks and the top end is secured in some type of tube, may be a spike or similar. He may add to this thread.
aj robinson

They are just standard Mini Rears with spline (do not try lowered Mini van ones) factory fitted shocks where Monroe (Horrid cheap and nasty)
Ken Harris

Just seen pic, thats a different set up to whats on mine. (mine mount in the wheel arche and do up in the car)
Ken Harris

Hi Andrew and Ken,

Thanks for all the info and discussion. The pix are a different set up to mine which are as Ken suggests, going up through a dust cover tube and secured by a vertical spline inside the car, so I think they must be Mini rear shocks. I will try to get some Spax adjustables (when I get the shock off so that I can compare sizes).

regards,

Nick
J.N. Williams

Here's a sketch of 2 arrangements. Not sure when/who did mine but suspect may have been frontline at some point.
If anyone has the part numbers for the Flexiride units, I would be grateful. Ken, do you have this info please?


aj robinson

Haven't had to change my rear shocks yet, but had been wondering what they were. My set up in the same as Jordan's (car is only a couple of factory numbers different going by the Elmo site details.)
Someone who will have all the details to hand is Paul at Meacam Spridgets, Swindon, who was the main dealer back in the early 90s and looks after several IOWs for customers as well as running his own. He's very helpful and is on 01793 845 757
C Whiting

Thanks for that. A PO had a lot of work done by Meacam and I'm wondering if they did the telescopic conversion on mine.
aj robinson

Just looking at my rear shocks, they do appear to be Mini rears, although the car's history says fronts. I'm wondering if the arrangement was changed at some point and no record kept...! It would explain the set up as per previous picture.
On another note, has anyone fitted coilovers and done away with the flexirides?
aj robinson

Thanks everyone for all the help - a very friendly group.

I got a reply from Keith Brading about the rear suspension of my IOW Frog, which is number 143, so quite early. He confirmed:
Peak Trailers took over the Bramber business in 1993, but I haven't got a part number for the Flexiride unit fitted: that would be really useful.
The trailing parallel arms and axle end of the torsion arms have void bushes from a Ford Cortina mk 3, part number 1481424 (you can get these from South Wales Props under their number of EM1492): 6 in total.
The rear shocks originally fitted were BMC Mini, rear standard, (originally Armstrong part no. R15319).
No doubt as the car evolved, slightly different arrangements for the shocks occurred, which might explain some of the confusion!
Nick
J.N. Williams

This thread was discussed between 15/10/2013 and 19/10/2013

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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