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MG MGA - Front Coil Springs

Hi Guys,

The ride height of the front suspension has been bugging me for quite a while (its too high)

Short question is which of the usual suspects actually supply the right springs in accordance with Barney's specifications. For my car chassis number 13669 it should be part no 139105/Spring rate 348/Free Length 9.28.

Part no is correct on Moss/MGOC/Brown and Gammon but do they actually meet the spec?

Searched the archive and internet but couldn't find anyone who definitely had the right spring giving the correct ride height (3 fingers between top of wheel a wheel arch).

Appreciate advice.

Thanks
Alan
AR Terry

I decided to get my last set from a traditional Sheffield spring manufacturer.

http://www.shock-factory.co.uk/sheffield-home.html
John Bray

Thanks John, will check them out.
AR Terry

John,

Just had a look at shock factory. Did they have an off the shelf product or were they made to order?

AR Terry

Alan, I have just bought a new set of front springs from the MGOC.
They measure exactly the correct specified free length of 8.88 inches, have the correct wire 0.54" diameter and are rated at 480lbs like the original springs.

I am fitting them to replace the shorter springs on my car to raise the ride height back to normal.
They are being fitted tomorrow and so if you can wait 24 hours I will let you know if they look ok.
Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Alan

Text your email address to 07504901022 and I will send you some information.

Cheers

Dave
Bolney Coupe

I'm not sure that I would call an accommodation office address in Market Harborough a "Sheffield spring manufacturer"; a Leicestershie retailer maybe ?
120:0:2

Hi Colin, thanks for that. I was leading towards MGOC from what I was able to get from my research so thanks for the confirmation. I will wait for your feedback tomorrow. Looking for three fingers top of the wheel to wheel arch.

Hi Dave, have sent you a text with email.

Thanks again to both.
Regards
Alan
AR Terry

And who is "120:0:2, aerial small" then!? I think we've seen that one before.
Bruce.
B Mayo

I don't know who Ariel Small is, but he ain't me. I did attempt to edit that this morning, but this site does seem to be having some problems,
Jim
J N Gibson

Jim

I had a problem like this once. I just had to edit my details back which I remember being fiddly but nothing more.

Paul
Paul Dean

<<I'm not sure that I would call an accommodation office address in Market Harborough a "Sheffield spring manufacturer">>

If you click on the 'legal notice' on their home page, it appears their address is in Arandon, France!
Dave O'Neill 2

Alan
I have finished the spring refit and the ride height looks perfect to me, there is now approx two fingers clearance between the tyre and the wheelarch where before there was no clearance.
I have posted a before and after pics so that you can decide for yourself if the ride height looks ok.
Cheers
Colyn


Colyn Firth

This should be the "after" picture.


Colyn Firth

There is about 1" more clearance with the new springs which looks about right to me.
I can now just squeeze my my hand between the wheelarch and the tyre.
Cheers
Colyn Firth

Hi Colyn,

That looks about perfect. Can you just confirm the part number please, guess it should be AHH5546 (MGOC have stopped making 139105)

Thanks very much Colyn.

Regards
Alan
AR Terry

Colyn

Out of idle curiosity what is the ground to wing arch measurement with the new springs? Mine is 26" and are the same springs that came with my wreck of a car back in 96. Those same springs had definitely been on the car since the early 70s when it was abandoned in the proverbial barn in San Diego - might even be the originals; who knows?

Steve
Steve Gyles

If you are still struggling, suggest you try Coil Springs (1989) Ltd
in Sheffield . Tel 01142758573.
We used them some years ago for Porsche 924 series.
Very helpful and very very knowledgeable.
David
D C Grahame

Spot on Steve! Mine is also 26" both sides, looks right to me and generally commented on by others as looking about right. Also, gives a clearance above the normal 165x15" tyre of somewhere between 2 and 3 fingers. I hope this adds usefully to the discussion.
Bruce.
B Mayo

If you are still struggling, suggest you try Coil Springs (1989) Ltd
in Sheffield 01142758573.
We used them some years ago for Porsche 924 series.
Very helpful and very very knowledgeable.
David
D C Grahame

I think David is correct, the original link that I posted was incorrect.

http://www.coilsprings.co.uk/
John Bray

John, David,
I talked to coilsprings.sheffield this morning and they only make bespoke springs at over £100 each.

All

Here is the info I have collected from the main suppliers.

SR -Spring Rate/CD-coil diameter/WD - Wire Diameter/ FL - Free Length/ NC - Number of coils


Moss AHH6451 SR 350lbs in/CD 3.75 ins/WD 0.5ins/FL 10.38ins /NC 7.5

Moss 139105PR SR 345lbs/CD 3.75ins/WD 0.5ins/FL 9.7/8 NC 7.5

MGOC AHH5546SR 480lbs/CD 3.28/WD 0.54ins/FL 8.8ins /NC 7.2

Brown & Gammon 139105 SR 408lbs /CD 13mm /WD NA /FL 10ins/NC NA

Perhaps suspiciously, the MGOC Spring is bang on Barneys specification but hopefully they have got it right.

Alan


AR Terry

Colyn
In the two photos I'm struggling; If anything the 'after' photo shows a bigger clearance from tyre to wheel arch?

Regards
Colin
Colin Manley

Steve
I have just measured the front wheel ground to wheel arch distance with the new springs fitted and it is now 25 1/2" on each side.
Before with the lowered springs it was
23 7/16". It looks perfect to me but it may settle a little more after a few miles of driving.

Alan,
yes the MGOC part number is AHH 5546. I measured them carefully and the free length is 8.88", wire diameter is 0.553" and the coil overall diameter is 3.3".
They are also beautifully finished in a black gloss.

Colin, you may be correct, it looks like I may well have posted the wrong "after" pic.
I will try again here.
I will also see if I can post before and after pictures of the car from the side.
Cheers
Colyn

( this is the correct picture of the car with lowered springs)


Colyn Firth

The most accurate method of measuring ride height, particularly when comparing between two or more different cars, is to measure from a point on the body - in this case, the wheelarch - to the centre of the wheel.

Measuring from the ground can give errors due to differences in tyres - different widths and profiles will affect the measurements.
Dave O'Neill 2

Colyn,

Thanks very much, a big help.

All
Thank you for great input. Long may this fantastic forum keep the MGA alive.

Alan
AR Terry

Dave
I see where you are coming from but when you think about it, the position of centre of the wheel is also dependent on the size of the tyre on the rim.
A tyre with a high aspect ratio will raise the wheel centre higher than a low profile tyre would.

Measuring the distance between the wheel arch and the ground would therefore appear to be a much more practical method of measuring ride height.

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

It's the distance between the the centre of the wheel and the wheelarch which you measure. That can only change if change the spring length. The tyre has no bearing on that measurement.
Dave O'Neill 2

I do understand what you mean Dave, the wheel centre to wheel arch distance is determined only by the spring length and its stiffness. So to accurately compare one car with another, this measurement is the one you need.

But it wont actually measure ride height unless you factor in the tyres rolling radius as well.
Colyn Firth

Dave

I had to think about that for 10 seconds and of course you are correct. I had often wondered why in previous discussions people had referred to the centre of the wheel for measurements. Mine is 14.25" from the wheel arch. How does that compare with others?

Steve
Steve Gyles

Again, same as Steve's measurement - 14.25" from wheel arch to centre of wheel.
Bruce.
B Mayo

Alan
I have been following this thread and realised I have a pair of used original 1600 springs. I have measured them and they are both around 9" in length.
They could do with a blast clean and painting with a flexible polyurethane paint but they could be yours in exchange for beer tokens if you are interested, I am not a million miles away in North Wilts.
Regards
Mark
Mark Dollimore

Just checked this measurement on my car and it is 14.05"

Thats only 0.2" less but the car sits 0.5" lower than the cars of Steve and Bruce.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

Mine is 13.5" (on purpose - I like it like that)
Mike


Mike Ellsmore

That looks about perfect to me Mike.
My car was a little lower than that
(12.75") and I had tyre clearance problems on full steering lock.
The top of the tyre fouled the top of the wheel arch on fast downhill hairpin corners.
Also it had an extremely hard ride but this was mostly down to the Gaz telescopic rear shocks conversion.
The adjustable lever arm shocks I have just fitted give a much nicer ride with the car no longer skipping from bump to bump and I think the handling is actually better

I expected the car to feel much less softer and looser with this set up but so far, I am delighted.

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Colyn

It must be the additional weight of all those spares secreted around the car!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Mark,

That's really kind of you. I have now ordered the MGOC springs, but I will keep your offer in mind if I don't like the effect of the new ones. Beer tokens on standby.

Thanks again
Alan
AR Terry

Do you have to be an MGOC member to buy from them?

My car is measuring 14.5 inches, I always new it was a bit high and is on Moss springs, not sure which as it was a long time ago that I fitted them and I tried more than one type.

I wonder if the MGOC rear springs are any good.

Malcolm
Malcolm Asquith

No you don't need to be an MGOC member to buy spares Malcolm.
No idea on rears, but perhaps others have some experience.
Alan
AR Terry

I wish that was the case Steve but I think the only thing that is getting heavier in the car these days is me!

It reminds me of a recent conversation I had with my 6 year old grand daughter.
You know how a 6 year old will say it as it is with no concept of diplomacy?

Well we were jogging around an adventure playground and she looked at me and said " My other grandad has a big belly!"
So, thinking that maybe I looked thinner than him I asked a bit cheekily, "Is it a beer belly!".

She replied "No, he doesnt drink beer"
Well I know that like me, he does enjoy the odd pint and I decided not to comment.

So instead I asked her "Do I have a beer belly?"

She stopped jogging, looked me up and down and said,
"No grandad, you are just fat!"

Nothing like a 6 year old to put you in your place!:-)

No wonder my MGA needs new springs!

Colyn

(Apologies if I have told this before but maybe obesity and senility go together)
Colyn Firth

This thread was discussed between 20/02/2017 and 24/02/2017

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