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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Mysterious clicking from rear suspension

This is a follow on from my thread about telescopic conversions and the rebound strap. It could be titled, "if it ain't broke don't fix it!!!".

So, the reason I was asking about telescopics was because I have put wire wheels on the midget and decided to refresh the telescopics while I was at it.

Everything has gone well but now I have a mysterious clicking from the rear suspension. It didn't do it when I had steel wheels so I suspected the wire wheels but after investigating all day I found out it's nothing to do with the wheels but I haven't find out how to stop it.

With the rear of the car in the air supported by two axle stands under the road springs where the axle attaches, I can provoke the click by lying under the car, grasping the wheel arch and moving it up and down simulating the movement of the axle while driving. The movement doesn't have to be much but there is a definite click when the body goes up and when it goes down.

This only happens on the left side rear suspension.

If I disconnect the top telescopic mounting it doesn't do it. As soon as I reconnect it the click comes back. I've had the telescopic on and off several times with different washers to see if it is something to do with the alignment of the top and bottom mountings but it isn't anything to do with that.

If I grasp the top of the telescopic and apply sideways force I can stop the clicking when the body moves up and down. I thought it might be the top mounting plate moving but after tightening all 2 bolts it still does it.

If I put my ear to the wing just behind the B post and provoke the click it sounds like it is inside somewhere, but it could just be the way the sound travells through the panel.

I'm a bit stumped. Any ideas?

Rob



Rob aka MG Moneypit

Hi Rob
I am not sure I have the right answer but just in case, I did have a similar noise. It turned out to be the elliptic springs. I applied some oil, worked them, and the noise has never returned.
As I say, I fear this isnt your problem, but thought I would mention it just in case
Graham
Graham V

Rob
You could try swapping the shocks l--r and check if the noise goes to the other side - It could be a noisy valve in the shock
Did you bleed them before fitting

willy
William Revit

Rob,
I had a similar thing when i put telescopics on my rear.

It started after some spirited driving and continued.

My friend has a proper hydraulic car lift so we put it in the air and found that it was the sheet metal panel where the rebound straps attach.

This is basically sheet metal folded into a U shape and spot welded under the car floor, not very strong.

The spot welds worked loose due to the extra cyclical stress on them and caused the clicking.

We seam welded the two panels together and also beefed it up with some 2mm thk extra metal, its been fine since.
Andy Phillips (frankenfrog)

Willy, good idea. I'll try swapping next weekend.

I exercised the shock off the car till any squishy sound went.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

OK, so I swapped the shocks over and it didn't do it after that, on either side! I'm wondering if after having spent most of their life on one side, me swapping them over when I originally renewed the bushes has upset them?

Now onto the next problem.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

This thread was discussed between 18/09/2016 and 25/09/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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