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MG MGA - Supporting the rear of the car

Morning all,
I am about to change the rear springs on my MGA and am thinking about the best way to support the car. My Haynes manual tells me to place a support under 'the rear cross-body member'. Does this mean the tube at the very rear of the chassis, behind the fuel tank? The alternative would be to place a support under the chassis side rails, in front of the spring anchorage point. Any views on which is the better option?
I've only just started with MGA ownership (previously had a TD) so I don't want to mess up with my first job on the car (or have it land on me!)
Thanks
Pete
P Willows

Just had my spring off and on. I just puts jacks and axle stands under the chassis member under the back of the door. Be careful to keep clear of brake pipe.

Paul
Paul Dean

Thanks Paul, very helpful.
Pete
P Willows

Much as Paul said. I have a 4-point hoist and I attach each arm to the main chassis rail in front of and behind the door. Lifts very nicely.

Watch the radius of the new springs. Many modern ones are too arced and the car rear end sits too high (mine does). I read somewhere of an owner taking his new springs to a machine shop to have them heated and reset to a lesser radius.

Steve


Steve Gyles

Hi Pete,
hope you are enjoying your MGA as much as I do owning mine.

The MGA is just about the oldest classic sportscar that you can still drive in modern day traffic without affecting other road users. (Well maybe apart from the occasional admiring glance)

It corners really well, has great brakes and also is quick enough to easily keep up with modern day road speeds. So you don't have to cause those queues of traffic who are trying to overtake you.

It seems that we live in the same area, so let me know when you have got the car back on the road and we will have to compare notes.

On the subject of notes, have you done a search in the Archive of this Bulletin Board, there will be lots of previous threads on the subject of changing rear springs and about safely jacking up the car.

Just click on the Archive link at the top right of this page.
Then scroll down to select MGA.
Then, in the Subject box, type in what you are searching for.

I expect you have already found the "MGA Guru" website, that is a goldmine of info for the MGA owner.

Cheers
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Steve - that hoist looks great! Just the job.
Colyn - yes I agree with everything you say about the car - there are a few small jobs to do on mine but I'm generally very pleased with it. Would be good to make contact once it's up and running. I'm in Sheffield - whereabouts are you?
And yes - the Guru site is so good I used it long before I had an MGA!
Pete
P Willows

Hi again Pete,
we are just North of Doncaster so around 30 mins away from you.
Let me know when you are back on the road and we will have to arrange to meet up.

There is another new MGA owner who wishes to meet up, he lives between the two of us in Worksop, so it would be the ideal meeting up point for all of us.

My email address is colynfirth@msn.com if you would like to contact me, there are always things to talk about when you own an MGA.

I have met both Steve and Paul who have also replied to your questions and like everyone I have met through owning an MGA, they are brilliant guys.

Cheers
Colyn

Colyn Firth

Pete

I don't actually like my hoist much. It runs off my large capacity air compressor. Even when hoisted it is difficult to get underneath because of the cantilever struts. Also, it is too wide. It is barely an inch narrower than the MGA wheel track so very difficult to drive over without assistance. However, it is designed to be mobile so in theory can be simply wheeled into place when required. Trouble is finding storage space when not in use. That is why I built the wooden ramps. I leave the hoist in place and park the car on the ramps all the time. There are far better ramps that have been discussed on this site. Should be in the archives.

By the way, I am guessing you know Bob West over in Pontefract. My favourite MGA supplier up your way. Fountain of knowledge to go with it.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi, Thanks for the further comments. I supported the car under the chassis rail as suggested. I used a ramp with wooden packing rather than an axle stand, which was really stable.
Colyn - a meet up would be great - I'll be in touch.
Pete


P Willows

This thread was discussed between 27/07/2024 and 28/07/2024

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