MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Quarter Elliptic Springs

Following on from Guy's thread regarding Frogeye rear ride height - has anyone bought and have any experience of these?

http://www.ahead4healeys.co.uk/REAR-LEAF-SPRING---QUARTER-ELLIPTIC--15-LEAF--id17472.aspx

I ditched my original 15-leafers when I restored my car as in my view they were too far gone. I bought "heavy duty" 10-leaf replacements and have always felt that the back end is very harsh over bumps.

They look (from the pictures) to be the same as these which have been avaialable for some time but a little eye-watering on the price front:

http://3d1e61.36.ekmpowershop.net/austin-healey-sprite-mk1-and-mk2---mk1-an5-and-mk2-an67---rear-1958-64-pair-leaf-springs-7118-p.asp
Simon Wood

The same, not just from the photos but the wording in the description about manufacture is identical. One has clearly been plagiarized from the other!

Even so, at just short of £480 a pair you would need to be very dissatisfied with your present ones!
GuyW

Price with Ahead 4 Healeys is marginally better but still quite a bit on the high side to take a chance when they may not make much difference.
Simon Wood

Be good to see what the quality is like. My view is yes the price is high but remember these a limited production runs and costs are likely to be more. I purchased a new set for the frog back in the 80's from a main dealer and they were £75 each then. Add inflation over £30 years and you start to get a bit closer. We all moan about the quality of reproduction parts. I for one would be ok with the cost providing they fit and perform as original. Save all that searching on fleabay or at autojumbles for NOS!
Bob Beaumont

Bob, I agree with everything that you say. Without some kind of endorsement from someone who has some experience with these, it remains too much of a leap-of-faith for me to splash out. Perhaps I should mount my driver's seat on springs instead :)
Simon Wood

I just rebuilt a BN1 gearbox and bought parts from ahead4healeys and found them very professional and easy to deal with. Try talking to them and ask for references and I am sure you will find a very open discussion is the result
Dominic Clancy

I know the bod having these made. The material has been especially milled to original spec at great cost. This is then turned into springs by Owens and from my own experience they might be perfect or, they might not.

If you have a good pair they will be so much better than the ten leaf version.
Clive Berry

Anyone had their springs rebuilt, for example by Brost Forge in London: http://www.classiccarwebsite.com/brost-forge-ltd ?

Thanks
Mike
M Wood

Brost are about 10 minutes from my house. I used them years ago to redo some rear springs in my old London taxi. They were very good. They've since moved around the corner to different premises and still run by the same old boys I believe. I'd imagine that they'd still have the original spring ratings for Spridget quarter and semi elypltic springs.
G Lazarus

This thread was discussed between 07/08/2018 and 08/08/2018

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now