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MG MGA - Front Springs

Help would be appreciated. I have a 1600 MkII, and the front sits too high (28" at the guard - with Pirelli radials fitted). I've pulled out a spring, and they are free length about 9.1 inches. The manual says free length 8.88 inches. No matter where I look, the replacement springs are all MGB part numbers, and no-one seems to sell the old MGA number (AHH5546).

I've tried one being sold here in Australia as correct for the MGA - it is free length 9.3 inches and very stiff - now my car sits even higher! Could someone please suggest a spring that works?

Thanks
Frans Henskens

I talked to Cecelia at Scarborough Faire about this and she says that they sell the correct front springs for the MGA.

Mark
Mark J Michalak

Frans, I went through this last winter and ended up purchasing a pair of front coil springs from Scarborough Faire. I can confirm that they are indeed the correct height and stiffness for a pushrod engined MGA (i.e. not for the Twin Cam).
Andy Bounsall

I wanted my MGA to sit high (rallying) and so I used the MGBGT springs (RB I think) which are also listed for the mga twin cam. these worked fine for me and give my car a high ride. I believe however that the correct lower spring would be the ones fitted to the mgb roadster C/Bumper
Bob (Robert) Midget Turbo

I am also having this issue. I purchased springs in the 1990-91 from Moss for my MKII DeLuxe. When the car was finally finished two summers ago the front end was too tall. After talking with Cecelia at SF I purchased a set from her last winter. finally got around to installing them a couple of weeks ago and they are the same springs. I am now back to square one.

Mark
M Gannon

Frans, I would try Heritage MG Parts, Smithfield NSW. Ph: 9609 3988
Barry
BM Gannon

Just some data attached on MGA front springs.
Note the comment tnat the MGA Deluxe is shown with Twin Cam springs, but it should have the springs of the pushrod car.


Mick


M F Anderson

Thanks, guys, for your helpful comments. It is wonderful how willing to help the MG people on this site, and at various clubs etc have been.

Prior to creating this thread, I had communicated with Cecelia at Scarborough Faire, who wrote:

"You are absolutely correct in that you have the wrong coil springs fitted to your MGA. Apparently our competitors have sourced or had manufactured MGA coil springs that are not correct. Their uncompressed height is 10-1/2" whereas the original specs for the MGA ones were only 9-1/4" which is what we are supplying. Ours are new, made in England and come black powder-coated and we have been supplying these same ones for over 20 years from the same UK manufacturer. We guarantee these are correct, (because we have had several customers with the same problem you have and then they fitted ours for the miraculous correct ride height."

I was concerned at the difference between this advice and the factory specification, so, given the distance/freight issue, have not proceeded - a concern initially alleviated by Andy's experience and then made worse by Mark's!

I've also started working with Heritage, who say they have a spring they believe to be original that is free height over 9 inches, and a tested spring rate of about 505 - consistent with the spring they provide. They suggested this might not agree with the MG manual because of an Australian headlight height requirement at the time ... Anyway, they are keen to ensure correctness of what they supply, and have suggested we work together to come up with a solution that will then become their stock item. Step 1 involves reinstalling my original coil springs and replacing my rear leafs to rectify the sag ...

Frank
Frans Henskens

Frank,
You can have your old springs rearched to bring them up to the height you want. I have had this done on other cars at a local spring shop. It's much cheaper than buying new ones.
Ed Bell

Frans,

I will try to measure the spings tonight and post the length. Both sets were of the same dimensions.

Mark
M Gannon

Frans
Suggest you talk with Bruce SMith at Sportsparts in Sydney 98751144. He could advise you as he is a parts dealer.
Cheers Brian
Brian Woolmer

Frans, here are links to the discussion threads I started on this same topic last winter.

http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=6&subjectar=6&thread=2008030422130617584

http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&access=51627565006021&mode=archiveth&subject=6&subjectar=6&thread=2008040703545612161

The threads include before/after pictures of the ride height of my car with the original front springs, the Moss supplied MGBGT springs, and Scarborough Faires #K50 springs. You can see from the photos that The initial ride height with the springs from Scarborough Faire was slightly higher (maybe 1/4"-1/2") than the old springs, but I believe the original springs had probably sagged a bit after 50 years. I've also attached a photo of how the car sits now with about 3000 miles of driving on the new springs. I'm quite happy with them.



Andy Bounsall

I have a set of spare front springs 7.88" uncompressed length, 0.54" wire diameter, that are supposedly Moss Red springs used to lower an A or B. Has anyone used these dimension springs?
Mike
Mike Ellsmore (1)

Brian, I have spoken to Sportsparts and they are trying to source me a couple of used springs.
Andy, I would be totally happy if my car sat like yours. It is beautiful, no wonder you are happy with it.
Mike, Moss lists one lowering spring at 8" free length (264-395), and one at 7" (264-335, not for road use). Both would make the front stiffer, and by my calcs, 264-395 would lower an MGA by between 0.5" and 1.0", which is consistent with one of the participants in Andy's threads. Are yours for sale?
Frank
Frans Henskens

Frank,
Sorry, they are not for sale - I just haven't got around to putting them in yet. I am keen to lower the rear end at the same time but haven't decided how to it yet - reset the springs, use blocks or take out a leaf.
Regards
Mike
Mike Ellsmore (1)

This thread was discussed between 15/10/2008 and 18/10/2008

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