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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear hub bearings

Guys,

Started to strip rear axle today , nearly finished but stuck with 1 bit , when i removed hald shafts i am unsure of the size of the nut that holds the rear bearing in
Can anyone tell me what size socket it is ,

thanks
Andy
Andy Chaffey

I hope my memory is good
1 7/8th or 48mm
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Bigger than most people have sockets for hence most rear hubnuts I have seen have chisel marks...
James B

Bob,
your right many thanks just found that size spanner listed at moss for the job £35 !!!
James / Bob - i could get old off easily i guess with chisel - when you put back are they done up fingertight and then tab washer keeps ?
thanks
Andy
Andy Chaffey

Fingertight? No.

I normally lean heavily on a 2-foot bar.
Dave O'Neill 2

Dave
cheers im buying the spanner tomorrow !!
Andy Chaffey

This is definitely in the category of "improvise" but I use a small 3" jawed vice to grip the nut, and then a length of bar between the jaw arms to provide the torque. The vice was a £5 jobbie from a market stall and surprisingly has put up with this sort of abuse on many occasions!

Guy
Guy Oneandahalf Sprites

I have often seen 48mm sockets for sale at a fiver at most sunday markets or even classic car events.
Most times they are 3/4 drive but a 1/2 to 3/4 adaptor is not the end of the world.

I have in the past used the ring end of a 1 7/8th (48mm)combination spanner or before that I simply got a bit of plate and made my own.
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Years ago I found a box spanner at my local engineering supplier that had outside dimensions the same as the AF size of the nut so I formed a 6 sided steel strap around that and welded it in place and added a piece of angle for leverage, still in the tool box.
David Billington

Bob: A fiver! WOW... I found a good box spanner that fits like a dream for 50p !
David Cox

Bob has indeed given the right answer BUT if you buy a new nut it will be smaller at 1 3/4".
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

My socket cost me about £28 fifteen years ago. It is a 3/4" drive and I had to buy an adaptor, too.

Invaluable.

All I need now is a socket for my 'B', but the rear hub nut on that is octagonal!
Dave O'Neill 2

I found the correct sized socket on the web. Cost me about 25 quid but I wouldn't be without it now.

Regarding doing up the hub nuts... go carefully. I used the two foot bar approach and stripped the threads on the axle case. Had to buy another axle case after that one. Norm K has posted some good stuff on this. Somewhere in the region of 44ft lbs is the right value for the hub nuts since the bearing needs only be snugged up against the axle casing. Norm managed to find this number somwhere and it works for me.
TonyJH

Hi!

Tony beat me to it.

Here is a link to the article I put together for the MG Experience Library earlier this year:

http://www.mgexperience.net/article/mgb-rear-axle-knowledge.html

don't be fooled, they posted it incorrectly as "MGB" rear axle, and although I have asked them to re-title it they have not...
Oh well, but it IS midget specific and I don't know what parts of it are not correct for the B!


Norm
Norm Kerr

>>> I have in the past used the ring end of a 1 7/8th (48mm) combination spanner <<<

That's my method as well. I picked up such a spanner at a local discount tool store, and have used it for years. There's enough offset in the handle relative to the box end that it easily clears a square arch.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Cheapest socket on fleabay...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Laser-Impact-Socket-48mm-3-4-Drive-4634-/190400305637
Dave O'Neill 2

Andy
Do take note that the threads are handed.
A Anstead

I got one of these & it did the job nicely:

http://www.thunderbirdspares.com/box-spanner-gearbox-sprocket-nut-triumph-5-speed-269-p.asp

sorry, its for a Triumph!! but even cheaper than Dave's socket & doesn't need a 3/4" adaptor. However, just noticed they have no stock. quick google for triumph gearbox box spanner brought up others though.

-Craig
C Robertson

Go to Halfords,thats where I got my socket from. It was just over £10 as far as I remember. Its surprising what tools they have and they are reasonably priced.
I Pickering

It helps if you grind the 'lead in' off the socket to provide more grip and lessen the chance of it slipping.
A Anstead

>>> It helps if you grind the 'lead in' off the socket to provide more grip and lessen the chance of it slipping. <<<

Alan makes a good point. That nut's pretty slender, and the socket can bottom against the bearing before it's fully engaged.

Good advice,

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

This thread was discussed between 31/10/2010 and 02/11/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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