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Suspension & Steering

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Hi Guys I have an original steering wheel on my Sprite the only problem is that the PO has glued the healey badge into the centre of the horn push (don't ask me why). The glue has reacted with the paint on the rear of the badge and some of it has lifted. The car is a 66 MKIII Sprite. Has anyone tried to repaint one of these things and if so where do you get the chrome paint for the emblem details. Also what type of paint is safe on the plastic. Thanks Dave edave@... 1245... MORE


Class A Modified Midgets (was Halfords now FADS series) run 10" wide wheels with 9" slick racing tyres front and rear. You have to be careful about checking the wheel bearings regularly and replace them every season (but then you have to do this on a 'roadgoing' spec race car too...) but the bearings seem to put up with the stick as do the stub axles, king pins and wishbones. You can imagine the increase in suspension load over a standard car - these cars lap within a couple of seconds of Formula Ford cars at most circuits... Obviously... MORE


Just remembered something from my 1975 Midget days. Had a similar problem with the '75. Found the problem by mashing down on the brake going down a hill one day. Felt and heard a muffled "POP" as my foot went to the floor. Thank God for rack and pinion steering. I zig- zgged my way through the traffic, using the hand binder was finally able to stop. I had been hearing a similar noise as described by yo, went through all of the places and parts I thought could be making the mysterious noise. The inside of the driver's... MORE


I doubt the thing will be safe after the weight of the suspension is added so I'll get the wheels on and finish off then. Guy R Day HAN9 Mk IV Sprite UK grday@... 1225... MORE


I had the same problem with my midget, it turned out to be a broken spring, but as it was broken at the very front within the spring hanger I couldn't tell until the axle was unbolted and the rear spring shackle removed. It does make the handling "interesting" to say the least!!!! Mark Forrest GAN5 117399G Staffordshire UK "mark forrest" 1218... MORE


Chris, Yes, I think at the conclusion to your note you are getting close to the cause, I believe the problem is known as "Rear axle torque steer", unfortunately I do have a fully detailed explaination, (something to do with engine rotation on decelleration, I seem to remember), but the installation of a Panhard rod would undoubtedly go a long way to solving the problem. If I can find my references I'll post an explaination of this rather uncomfortable phenomenon. Paul. paul@... 1210... MORE


Chris, check your U bolts and the metalastik bushes at the front and rear of the leaf springs. One way or another, the rear axle housing is able to move around. Mike "Mike & Kerry Gigante" 1206... MORE


g;day all......I have a sprite mk4 that has developed an amusing habit.When driving along in a straight line,if I lift off the throttle it turns left!!If I dip the clutch in the istuation as above it does not turn left!! I have replaced the rear spring saddle rubbers,replaced the shockies( adjustable spax ) ,and there does not seem to be any broken leaves in the cart springs. Yet still it seems as if the torque from the engine is somehow causing it to go left when lifting off the "power"??? Any and all ideas welcome........ Chris Perth , Western... MORE


What I've learned - off this very list - is that the rear axle assembly is shifting position when it should not be. A missing rubber, a broken spring leaf, something is now allowed to change allignment and acceleration/deceleration is/are the stimulus. David McCartney David McCartney 1204... MORE


Hi Terry, I really have no ideas, but I run my Arkley, AKA midget MkIII 1972 with 185 x 55's on 13" rims, I use 22mm wheel spacers, and have lowered the whole suspension by about 35mm, it goes round roundabouts like it is on rails. Only snag is that I have to be really careful about lumps and potholes, the exhaust bottoms if I'm not careful! Still it is worth it, I lost a brand new Volvo Sports round a tight corner the other day, the driver was really pi**** off, (beaten by a 30 year old car... MORE


Why is it that when you want a thread to break free, even with a hammer, spanner and WD40 you have difficulty, but when you absolutely do not want it to come undone, it does all on its own! With reference to brake failures 2 and 3, do you use Loctite on critical threads? If you don't then it could save your life next time. Roy Drake Aerospace Eng. james@... on 04/04/2001 09:55:29 Please respond to midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com @INET2@wtgw To: midgetsprite@yahoogroups.com @INET2@wtgw cc: Paper Mail: Subject: [midgetsprite] Re: Brakes for racing *** WARNING *** This mail has originated outside your... MORE


War stories... Total brake failure, its happened to me 3 times... 1. Running down the back straight on the Silverstone International circuit at 7500 in top (3.9). Little did I know that the rear brakes were on fire and the seals in the rear cylinders had melted... Total brake failure meant that I cleared the gravel trap at the end of the straight and spun on the grass heading off down towards Stowe on the GP circuit... 2. Front Brake banjo worked loose (and yes I HAD checked it) coming into Chessons at Lydden Hill. Trying to run flat... MORE


Yep, it goes for the inner and outer bearing. The wheel bearings on a Midget are not adjustable! So applying more torque doesn't make a difference. Put the car on a jack (jack under the chasis) and feel if there's play in any direction on the front wheels. The kind of play you're having indicates what's wrong...(bearings, bushes, or whatever). If you're lucky it's only the wheel bearings (not so expensive to replace). Good luck, Eeg. eeg.oberije@... 1131... MORE


Yes you can fit the brakes form a later car, you need to swap over the king pin assemblies, the hub with disc, the brake callipers and the steering arms. You can also upgrade to larger discs or if that is too much just use the Kevlar brake pads, they work really well. Hope this helps, info on the brake upgrade can be found on the web site below. Tim Fenna www.mgcars.org.uk/frontline/ "Tim Fenna" 1086... MORE


For small cables, I have found that after making sure that the bodywork to which you are to attach the earth cable is "shining brightly". You make a really good tight connection, with either bolt or self tapper, using as big a washer as you can realistically use, behind which is a good quality spring washer, and then paint the whole lot with a good helping of Hammerite, it is then sealed, hopefully for life!! Larger cables I use Lithium based grease and a good dollop to keep the area clean. Paul. BTW brazing should be ok the base... MORE


earthing. Sorry. No welded nuts as the front end is a one-off. 1972 with a 1500 Midget front chassis. Sounds like a good idea, though. No heater unit or battery tray either when I got the car. Thanks! "rob thomas" 1049... MORE


I wouldn't have thought it is possible to fit them incorrectly and still get the track rod ends into the tapered holes. The steering arms are bent to the outside of the car (if you see what I mean) and the track rod ends fit into the taper underneath with the fastening nut on top of the arm. If you put the track rod on top of the arm you won't get the wheel on... Use new bolts (2 different lengths) and lock tabs (or loctite) to fit the steering arms and a new locknut or new split pin... MORE


Ed As far as I'm aware the shock absorbers (front and rear) remained identical throughout the Spridget's life. This means that as long as they are Spridget dampers they will fit... Regards James Bilsland Charing UK "James Bilsland" 1024... MORE


Actually, There are several different part numbers, all of which are stamped on the shock. Rears are stamped on the lower part of one of the mounting ears, fronts are cast on the side of the body near the lid. Part numbers as follows. Front 5925 L or R All years. (some will have cast a /1) Rear Earliest 1/4 elliptic spring thru Ch# 4332 7335 L or R Later 1/4 elliptic 7401 L or R difference is about 1/4 longer am on the earlier. Semi elliptic 8681 L or R the small filler plug moves from being on... MORE


Does anyone know if the rear shocks part #8681 will fit a 1961 Sprite. Thanks, in advance, for your help. Ed "Edward Regan" 1022... MORE


anyone have a picture of the steering arms attached to a non 1500 midget wheel hubs In the process of rebuilding mine, the arms got mixed up and as they are handed and angled, it would be nice to get them back on the correct sides, any help appreciated. put a couple of pics in the files part of my rebuild djay djay@... 1008... MORE


You don't need to swap lever arms. Mike "Mike & Kerry Gigante" 965... MORE


Hi everyone, Want to thank everyone again for help in the past. I have come buy Jet needles for a 1275 AUD328 & 404 SU carbs. They were part of a kit I purchased not realizing as I did so that mine are the 1275 AUD266 type SU's. So in order to finance the purchase of the correct metering(Jet) needle, I would like to offer them to a member of the List. They go for $9.95 in the Moss Catalogue but I am willing to take less. They are brand new never used(as they definitely do not fit the... MORE


I've got 2 sets of the Sebring Sprite 1959-19?? 8-inch x 1.5-inch rear brakes. All new components with new drums also. Massive increase in surface area. Not cheap since the parts give effectively an entirely new rear end. Still, cheaper than ruining a complete set of front panels on a tyre wall !!! This is the exact same set as shown in Terry Horlers book on the Sprite. JPEG photos available. "rob thomas" 961... MORE


Bob My 60 was an original right hand drive, and from my restoration it appears that all of the holes are in the firewall and the master cylinder can be moved as well. you may run into a problem with the steering rack and you may need to swap your lever arm shocks as the travel distance is different. Bob 60 AN5 Tampa MTGBRKR1@... 964... MORE