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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Midget 1500 Shocks

Hi,
Its nearly two weeks since I fitted 2 new rear springs to my midget 1500 and what a difference that made! However I have only now noticed that the off-side of the car looks slightly lower than the nearside? When I measured both sides- from the ground to the lower edge of the wheel arch there is a difference of 2.5 centemetres! My first thought was the shock on that side might need replacing - the nearside shock is approx 18 months old. During the fitting of the springs everything was double checked and is in place as it should be. Am I right in thinking its the shocker?
Regards
Bill.
W Wood

No the shockers have nothing whatsoever to do with the ride height.

So what is causing your problem?

Well I have not seen many Spridgets that do sit level. that said it may well be a problem with the front. If you can imagine jacking up the front offside slightly your car would look flat at the rear wouldn't it?

Short of leaving things alone and enjoying your car I would be having a look at the front to try and straighten everything up, but beware it will take a lot of sorting me thinks?
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Bob's right, check the front: springs, bushings, etc.

Also, did you replace all the rear bushings with the springs?
Dave Rhine ('78 1500)

I had a similar problem and discovered that the front springs were not identical; one was about an inch longer than the other. I fitted a new pair and the car now sits level, and - more importantly - it brakes in a straight line!
M Davies

As Bob said it could be many things and take a bit of sorting

Assumimg you measured on a flat surface

I might be misunderstanding - that one front damper is newer than the other(?) springs and dampers should be replaced in pairs anyway which leads me on to -

- IF the damper was replaced on one side only then perhaps the springs are also from different times so one may be older than the other, and taking up M Davies idea it could also have the wrong spring

And as Dave says bushes are very important for ride and handling often overlooked when thinking of dampers - I'm happy with the Super Flex brand rather than the Polybush but others might disagree
Nigel Atkins

And to add
never measure to the wheelarch!
use the sill/floor as a reference the wheelarches can have lots of diffrence created by later repairs and general slight body misalignments

And never replace suspention, brake or steering parts on just one side.
They both have had the same wear so the other side is never far behind.
Diffrences in parts can also create imbalances in handling and breaking.

mine does not sit perfectly level no problem all works fine
Onno Könemann

Hi ,
Thanks for all the advice- I have since jacked the car back up and loosened off the 'U' bolts and lowered to the ground and tightened everything back up. I intend to wait a few weeks to see if it settles down! Just to clear up a point, whilst I appreciate that if something needs replacing on one side- then change the other! I only mentioned this in the passing as I was reading from the previous history data I got with the car- hence the reason I changed both rear springs!
Thanks again,
Bill
W Wood

This thread was discussed between 23/07/2010 and 26/07/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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