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MG MGA - Increasing ride height

I was talking to someone about increasing ride height (very hard to do for my Magnette) and he suggested inserting spacers between coils of the front springs. Wouldn't this adversely affect the spring, besides giving you a much stiffer ride? Anyone ever hear of this technique? Doesn't sound like a very good idea to me.
Mark

Mark,
Placing spacers in the spring coils will give you a higher ride height, but will indeed change the drivability and dynamics of the car. I wouldn't do it.
Mike Parker

In the 4WD world spacers are used to give lift but these are placed underneath or above the spring not between the coils. They don't affect the stiffness of the ride.
Keith Morris

No spacers between coils, put them at top or bottom. There are rubber/urethane spacers that conform to the coil size & shape within limits. TR4A/5/250/6 have spacers in the back that might fit. But it will screw up the alignment and camber change characteristics, so you get to deal with that, not easy. I can't see why you want to do this - far better to use stiffer springs to keep the heavy laden height where it is unladen, and keep it higher on bump. Magnette ought to be high enough for any "reasonable" chap. Air shocks might be a good solution, for intermittent rough stage use. Going rallying are we?

FRM
FR Millmore

Air Bag suspension in an MGA.

Actually quite an interesting thought. The frt coil springs provide a perfect "pocket" for the frt air bags and it would not be difficult at all the fabricate a mounting plate for the rear bags. A plate on the under side of the rear frame and a plate on the top of the leaf springs mounted with the spring U bolts. The compressor and extras would mount very easily in the driver side battery box. Out of sight but easily serviced.

Now, would it help? IMHO if usedto "supplement/assist/ or improve the older suspension system...yes. Would it really add any benefit to the cars ride or control...possibly. Mainly it would help counter the rough and poorly maintained roads we have to drive on. With the pressure properly regulated, there should be no problems.

any thoughts?????
Gordon

Gordon Harrison

FR, as you may have guessed I am no reasonable chap. I'd like the car to sit a bit higher, mainly to keep my exhaust from being fouled. I really like the idea of airbags, but I don't think I could devise this system without a professional and I also would have reservations about the durability.

So, no to the idea of spring spacers. As long as I know the correct spring height I assume a good spring shop should be able to make up a set for me. I think I'll also try minilites with larger tires.
Mark

If you raise the rear end higher than the original ride height you quickly run out of travel for the rebound straps, which REALLY screws up handling in fast turns. This has been a common problem in recent years with replacement leaf springs being too tall. Any significant increase of height at the back would require longer rebound straps and longer shock links.

Any significant change or front height up or down by changing spring length will screw up camber and cause bump steer problems and may reduce suspension travel in one direction. The proper way to change front height is to change the height of the bearing spindle on the swivel pin without changing any of the other suspension geometry, or, raise or lower the entire front suspension cross member (not easy on the MGA with welded frame).
Barney Gaylord

Mark-
Yeah, I know you're a bit "off"! That's what makes it fun.
Airbags are pretty well worked out; various cars, trucks, motorhomes use them. Most big trucks today have them, and they are available as aftermarket units in smaller sizes, made by Firestone for industrial apps. Self leveling, adjustable, variable for temporary conditions. Significant changes in ride height will cause all the troubles Barney said, as I implied.
Citroen did it hydraulically - find a DS and change it over if you think you are REALLY good! I've often thought of using Hydrolastic units from a Mini or 1100/1300 as adjustable suspension for other cars; and, there was the Lotus active hydraulic system, said to be the most astonishing thing ever.
Air shocks are a low tech version, easy fit and relatively cheap, good for compensating for variable loads.

I was doing a rough check recently - it appears that standard off the shelf stock car racing springs are available in any rate you desire (200 to 2000 lb/in), in sizes that would work on the Magnette fronts.

If this is mostly an exhaust issue, what did you finally wind up with? I'm still trying to get to building my headers; finally have a running (not drivable) car to act as guinea pig. With luck the entire system will fit in the gearbox tunnel, with nothing lower than the floor.

I think Mark is referring to his Magnette, so I suppose we ought to shift this over a notch!
Good for Jose too!

FRM
FR Millmore

Yeah, I am talking about the Magnette, but the A board generally yields more responses. I'm jumping over to the Magnette board FR if you want to follow.

Barney, I am familiar with the swivel pin method you refer to for changing front ride height. I don't know offhand if it will work for a Magnette though.

mark
Mark

My A seems to ride low. What is the "typical" height from gound to the bottom of the front bumber and the back bumper?
Steven B

Could someone please go out and measure the distance from the ground to the bottom of front and back bumpers?
Steven B

Ah! I just did this for someone else a week ago, still have the e-mail.

My car that is wearing 165R15 tires (very close to original diameter.
Rear fender arch = 25=3/4"
Front fender arch = 26=314"
Rear bumper = 12-1/2"
Front bumper = 11-1/2"

Front wheel arch is 1/2" higher than rear, and front bumper is 1" lower than rear. I believe this is very close to correct original dimensions (but might be 1/4" low in back).
Barney Gaylord

This thread was discussed between 11/07/2007 and 27/07/2007

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