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MG MGA - Leaf spring hell

Hi folks. I just finished replaced both leafsprings on my MGA 1500 roadster. What a MISERABLE chore! Both front shackle bolts were seized, and would not come out despite heat, hammering and cussing. I ended up using an angle grinder fitted with a very thin abrasive disc to cut both bolts. Each bolt must be cut twice, just inside of each of the front leaf spring mounting brackets. This means that four cuts in total must be made. In addition, I needed to drop my exhaust system to make enough room to allow the angle grinder to reach one bolt! So a word of advice is perhaps in order here. If anyone is planning on changing out their leaf springs, or has done so recently, it would be an excellent idea to coat the front shackle bolts with antiseize compound, use stainless steel bolts, or both. MGA Enthusiasts you DO NOT want to have to grind out front shackle bolts! This job is NOT FUN! Cheers, Glenn. PS, on the brighter side, my car now sits about an inch and a half higher than before in the rear, doesn't bottom out on bumps, and the ride is vastly improved, especially over rough roads.
Glenn

Glenn, I need new leaf springs after finding several leaves broken at the central bolt. A recent thread "How low should it be" and archives indicate current springs are too high (see Barney's measurements). What's your source, and are they TOO high? Thanks, Bob Prentice
rsa prentice

Hi Bob. My springs were NOS, and were purchased off of Ebay. Sorry, I have no idea what company sold these springs, but they fit perfectly, and were not too high. Perhaps someone else can suggest a source for properfitting leaf springs? Cheers, Glenn
Glenn

Bob, I have new leaves from a set of Victoria British springs. I don't have the main (top) leaves as I used them to rebuild my old ones. The VB had too much camber and my old ones were cracked on the top leaves. So I mixed the new top leaves and the old bottom leaves and got the right camber.

Maybe you can do the opposite, if your main leaves are OK, using my surplus new VB lower leaves. email me if interested, they will be cheap!
Art

This thread was discussed on 07/11/2006

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.