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 - Rear spring shackles

I am having real trouble getting the rear spring shackles to point "backwards". However much heave and swearing I give it I can't get them to go over centre.

Am I being stupid? Weak? Both?

Should I just leave it for now and try again when there is a bit more weight in the car to help me out?

Tips and tricks much appreciated.

Thanks all,
Malcolm.
M Le Chevalier

Hi Malc,

Pretty sure that you won't achieve that unless there is some weight (compression) on the spring to at least begin to flatten it out. But you need to do the two things in combination to get it to work. i.e. lower the car slowly onto its wheels as you at the same time prise the rear shackle into its correct orientation. As you lower the weight of the car onto the spring there is a critical point at which the shackle will either turn rearwards, (with some help) or it will tuck up in the wrong orientation. If you find it is too hard to move it rearwards, you may have already passed the critical point and have too much weight on the spring. If you don't yet have wheels on the car, then support the weight of the body on axle stands and also put a jack under the rear spring pad and raise/lower the axle from there.
Guy W

Malc

Having recently done my rear springs, I concur with Guy. I used a scissor jack between spring and wheel arch to distort the leaf sufficiently to get the bolt through the rear shackle - which was er... interesting. Subsequent to that, lowering gently down - with all the weight of the car - did indeed pull the shackle rearwards.
Mark O

The other bit of advice is not to tighten anything until the full weight is on the suspension and it is settled in a "neutral" position.
Graeme Williams

When I put new springs on a 1500, I actually fitted the rear shackle first, then the front mounting afterwards IIRC.
Dave O'Neill2

The other thing that may help is to remove two of the 3 bolts holding the shackle bracket to the boot floor and slacken the last one right off.This keeps the bracket in position, but allows it to tilt forwards in relation to the end of the spring and to get the shackle itself to start off in the correct alignment.
Guy W

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, will have another go sometime this week when I have my helper to do the jack winding. Just frustrating because I have had a couple of attempts already and been just short both times.

Cheers,
Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Are you fitting new springs Malcolm? I found that new ones have a tighter curve to them and can be quite hard. In which case Dave's method of fitting the rear shackle first may work better.

You fasten the front spring eye to the mounting plate, position it loosely up against the floor panel (right way up!) and then support the spring with a jack under the centre of the spring pan. Fastening the rear shackle will pull the front plate rearwards a bit and you then wind up the jack which flattens the spring, extending the front end forwards so you can poke a screwdriver into one of the bolt holes and align sufficient to get the bolts in.
Guy W

They aren't new, but when I refurbished them I swapped every other leaf between the two springs in order to ensure more even springyness when they were put back on the car.

I don't want to have to unbolt the front again... :-( It is on and happy! Boo!

Malcolm.
M Le Chevalier

"""I don't want to have to unbolt the front again... :-( It is on and happy! Boo!

Malcolm."""

Come on malcolm....that type of thinking can lead to a very boring and mindless brain dead afternoon.

Hahaha

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Think we are sorted. Here's what I did:

Jacked car up at the sill and placed a stand under the axle (not actual touching).

Wedged my two foot breaker bar through the gap in the shackle with it sticking out the wheel arch.

Pushed the bar down and round with one leg (pushing behind me like a donkey kick) whilst leaning forward to wind down the jack whilst balancing on one leg and trying not to fall over.

Lowered the car onto the stand so the weight was on the axle/suspension.

Did other side the same. Still didn't fall over.

The shackles are now vertical-ish, maybe a few degrees slanting forwards. However when I bounce up and down on the wing they swing backwards in the proper manner so I am calling this one a win.

Next job: one of the rear brake adjusters is rusted firmly into the back plate. I have tried welding nuts onto it but to no avail, so it is currently baking at 180 degrees in the oven (no I don't have a blow torch either!)

Cheers,
Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

oops... I think wifey might smell what I have been up to when she gets home! ha ha

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Malcolm: if you get away with the oven trcik, next try washing the wire wheels in the dishwasher.
Graeme Williams

This thread was discussed between 23/02/2014 and 24/02/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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