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MG MGA - Rear Axle Tube Strength

Is the rear axle tube strong enough for me to put axle stands under it - just inboard of the springs?
Nick and Cherry Scoop

No problem.. Just watch out for the brake lines.
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Thanks, Mike.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

THat raises an interesting point about whether you should jack under the diff. Some people say no problem while others say "Never!"
When the car stands on its wheels, the weight passes through the springs onto the axle very close to where the wheels are located, so there is a bending moment over a very short length of tube, and a small one at that!
However, with the jack under the diff, the weight is supported along the arms of the axle, so the moment is relatively high at the junction between the tube and the diff housing. Whether this is enough to cause distortion I don't know, but it is a stress it wouldn't normally carry!
Graeme Williams

Golly! I always jack under the diff.

Where else would you jack at centre rear? Do people use a beam?
Nick and Cherry Scoop

I always do too Nick. It's just recently that I read somewhere (can't remember where) that there was an outcry against that.
Graeme Williams

I've never heard of anyone bending an axle housing by jacking from the center. The car doesn't weigh that much.
Steve Simmons

That's what I thought, Steve, especially not at the back end.

Though I admit I wouldn't then try to bleed the rear brakes with my 28 stone assistant sitting in the driver's seat.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

I have always jacked MGs using the diff case, and then put axle stands under the springs at the shock absorber plate.

I think you would need a jack to press a 28 stone (that is 118kg or 390 lbs) assistant into the car occupying only one seat, and a pretty good engine crane to get them back out again. I wouldn't go anywhere under the car with that weight it no matter where it was supported!
dominic clancy

Gents,

In the dark, during a hare and hounds rally, I drove off into an open cellar excavation. Broke a leaf in the left rear spring that took two muffler clamps to repair. The rear axel housing was unfazed. MGAs are raced to this day. The stress involved makes jacking a walk in the park..

Regards,

Jim Haskins

J. M. Haskins

This thread was discussed between 02/06/2015 and 03/06/2015

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