MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear shock conversion Frogeye

Hi

I have a rear telescopic conversion fitted by the previous owner of my MkII Sprite (quarter elliptic). There are no rear axle check straps fitted and it looks no way to fit them as the conversion seems to use the strap upper mount for the telescopic damper.

What has everyone done who converted a quarter elliptic car (Frogeye, MkII Sprite and Mk1 midget) - just accept no axle check strap?

Thanks
Mike
M Wood

If the tailshaft doesn't foul on the body when you jack the car up by the body leaving the axle hanging then I wouldn't worry about it.
The straps were there originally to limit travel because the lever arm shocks travel heaps more than tele shocks do
William Revit

The SPAX conversion uses a plate which bolts in place of the lever arm. The plate carries the upper shock mounting so the check strap is retained. The shock is not vertical as a result. TBH I think the difference in performance between lever arm and telescopic is marginal on a road car and I swapped back to lever arm!
Bob Beaumont

When I fitted telescopics a few years back I was concerned that the kits generally angle the damper so it doesn't operate with an ideal stroke. So I welded turrets to the inside of the car, directly above the axle. That left the rebound strap and the bump stop untouched. I agree though that on the road the difference from the lever arm wasn't as much as I expected! The ride is a bit better.

Les
L B Rose

AFAIK earlier SPAX kits did angle the damper forward, but a later kits had a much larger bracket which moved the top mount to a much more vertical position.
Dave O'Neill 2

I would never go back to LA dampers after fitting telescopics as doing so transformed the car but then the recon LA dampers available were rubbish. I kept the LA front dampers on my Austin A40 Farina as they were in like new condition without any discernable play, the A40 had telescopics on the rear as standard.
David Billington

I have had a Spax rear conversion on my Sebring Rep since 2003.


Alan Anstead

I wouldn't get too carried away about vertical versus angled forward mounting of the shockers
None of the commercially available kits mount the shocks properly anyway--They're just a compromise to fit tele shocks to what's there already so they can sell owner fit kits
William Revit

This thread was discussed between 01/03/2020 and 02/03/2020

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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