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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Ripped Anti Roll Bar Mount

Hi all,

just thought I get give the car a check over, swap the front springs, and add some shniny bits Ive bought, over the weekend before a track day and found that the anti roll bar mount has been ripped out of its mounting. If you titlt your head to left you are looking at the pcitire the right way up.

In the picture it looks pretty old but the shiny steel can been seen. Car was on a ramp less than a month ago and this wasnt seen, so i'm assumng its new.

I fitted this bar a while ago, its slightyl thicker than normal, and Ive fitted frontline suspension a couple of years ago. Never had any issues. Car has wire wheels, which seem fine, and a more powerful engine.

I was swapping the springs over as the car sits lower towards the driver. The rip is is on the drivers side.

Couple of questions for those that understand these things.
1. I understand the bar is there to stop roll. So I dont understand how that much force can be added into a roll to make this happen. The bracket runs from back to front, and the back looks like it's peeled off tiwards the front.
2. is it just a case of taking it off and welding on a repair, assuming the mount is sound around it?
3. When I chnaged the bat I changed the bushes,thse tightened everything up. Is this a possible cause? I dont see how but thought I'd ask.
4. Is this indicative of something else wrong with the suspension.

Any comments appreciated.

Thanks



Bruce Burrowes

Common problem when using uprated bars. They transfer a lot of tension into the mounts. It is often recommended that the underside of the front part of the chassis legs is replaced with thicker steel when using the thicker bars.
GuyW

I discovered mine has just done that on the N/S. (frogeye with a 5/8 A/R bar).
Bob Beaumont

Yeap, I got that with FL front suspension, uprated springs and ARB and mine is only road going.

For road use you want the stop ends fitted also, inboard of mounts as I learnt form here (David Smith), you may not need/want them for track use but I wouldn't know.

I saw Guy had warned about this before I had mine reinforced but I thought as my car was a newer shell I'd wait and see - but I was wrong to wait as the bottom plate parted.

Also be careful that none of the setscrews on the mounts push against the underside of the top of the box section of the chassis legs because they're just a fraction too long and pushing against your new repaired section.

Nigel Atkins

Havn't seen that before-----------lol

William Revit

The amount of force that can make this happen is probably half the weight of the car. I could look this up in a book to get a better answer if you needed it...

It's a common fault on hard corning Sprites and midgets that are also not as young as they used to be. Mine was repaired on one side more than 30 years ago and has been ok ever since. I don't think the other side has been repaired during my ownership.
Daniel

A bracket made from a piece of angle iron can be made that includes the front bumper mount bolts. This then uses four mounting points for each side. Sorry no photo.
J Bubela

Thanks for your comments. Good to know it's a commmon thing, so I assume it was just a matter of time before it happened.

Nigel, can you elborate a bit on "stop ends fitted also, inboard of mounts"... I cant place where this is. Thanks
Bruce Burrowes

HTH, if not just say.

(note the double washers on one of the set screws as it seemed to bottom out)


Nigel Atkins

Thanks Nigel, understand now!
Bruce Burrowes

Had mine welded up. Its the original chassis leg so its done well for 58 years. The bottom rail had pulled out as the spot welds had parted and there was a bit of corrosion. Seam welded it so it should last. I my go back to the original 9/16" bar.
Bob Beaumont

Beefed mine up might be a bit overkill


mark heyworth

I did mine like Mark has above, about 3 or 4 years ago (post on here somewhere if you can work the archives)

They have worked really very well, and haven't pulled out yet....


Rob Armstrong

Thanks for your comments, welding all completed.
Bruce Burrowes

Great photo Rob. And, interestingly (for me) I've found that you are legal with the visor up for a speed event but that for circuit racing you'd have to have the visor down.
Daniel

This thread was discussed between 03/08/2018 and 15/08/2018

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