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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Spridget Suspension

I’m going to fit the Mamba front damper kit, is it worth / possible to fit MG B rear lever arm dampers to a Spridget ?

Thanks
Malc Gilliver

MGB dampers will be stiffer, but they will also be bigger and heavier. The mounting holes are further apart and the holes and bolts are a larger diameter.

Also, I think the arm might be slightly shorter, but don’t quote me on that 😀
Dave O'Neill 2

The arm on the lever of MGB rear shocks is different (shorter) and MGBs have 25% uprated valves to improve the damping. Don't overdo the damping on Midgets.
Rob
MG Moneypit

I have been talking to Malc about Armstrong damper valveing and have a decent selection of valves and springs and I am planning on messing with the options with the MGB dampers and wondered if changing the rear bodies was worth the effort but thanks for info I’ll stick with the Sprite ones - Ta
Malc Gilliver

There's always Armstrong adjustable lever arms.
Dave O'Neill 2

Now, I have an understanding of how they work I’m looking forward to playing with the std ones
Malc Gilliver

Rear ones? The Mamba kit does front mgb ones and as well as increasing the rate they add an extra arm and much better triangulation.
Rob Armstrong

Hi Rob,

Yes, I agree about the fronts hence asking if there were any gains with fitting MGB rears.

I have tweeked the engine a bit and even with the old worn out motor in can remember the back axle feeling underdamped when hitting a rut at 70 mph
Malc Gilliver

Malc, ive bought the Mamba kit last year to replace my Frontline mk1 kit.
Im going this route for the triangulation like Rob says.

Also bought "adjustable" MGB dampers to fidle arround to see what setting feels best for me.

Sadly been to buisy to start putting it in, hopefully this winter.






A de Best

@Arie,

Yes, I've just bought that kit, as I have the car on the ramp with the wings off I was hoping to fit it this week, but Mamba are on holiday, so it will go on next week.

I have been chatting to Malc Le Chevalier about the internals of Armstrong lever arm dampers and managed to amass a few set for a few pounds of eBay - I also have an MGB based kit car ( NG TC) that has lever arms, so very happy to play with swapping the valving to get the ride I want on my Sprite and then be in possesion of the required knowlegde when I start to play with the kit.

The reason for posting was to check if it was worth messing with the rear dampers - I have MGB, AHS and a set from an A30 ( with the rear anti roll bar) but decided against the rear a/r bar.

Why didn't you go back for another Frontline kit ?
Malc Gilliver

No connection to any company but wouldn't it be a lot easier to add a triangulation bar as in the Peter May kit for the front? Then blend the oil a bit thicker or change valve to get same effect?

P Peters

@ P Peters.

I can see your point, but the PME setup is more expensive, doesn't have adjustable camber and tbh looks a bit heath robinson to me.

I have had one lever arm damper pull out of the taper under braking - I took it to Stevson Motors for a rebuild - he just binned it and got another one out of a box, I just lost faith at that point, even the PME setup still has only one arm damping

I got the impression that the PME setup is something to do with racing regs not allowing certain changes to damper setups.

While I recognise this is subjective - the MGB set up is IMO "how it should have been done originally".


I have the PME rear panhard setup and I'm very happy with that, so no issue with other PME stuff.

Malc Gilliver

Malc,

Have you had your MGB front dampers rebuilt or know that they're in good order. If worn you could get undamped motion just as can happen with the standard dampers. IIRC it has been mentioned here that the arms need repositioning for use on a spridget, is that correct, looks like it would require removing one arm and pressing the spindle out of the damper.
David Billington

Hi David,

I wasn't aware of the repositioning, no mention by Mamba motorsport - I have a press if needed and will report back.
Malc Gilliver

Malc,

I've had a look in the archive and it may have been this thread where it mentions the need to check the articulation, some comments near the bottom http://www.mg-cars.net/mg-midget-sprite-technical-bbs/mgb-dampersagain-2016112420463131473.htm . vandcengineering rang a bell but only turned up midget and sprite technical thread 'mamba plates midget to mgb damper conversion' from March 2024. I thought someone had a pair of MGB dampers rebuilt and the arms set to account for the differing mounting angles of the damper bodies on the car. I've spent enough time in the archives for one evening.
David Billington

Malc,

Midget and sprite technical thread 'Front dampers - again!' August 2024 Bernie Higginson said

"Sorry for being late to the party, but my MGB shocks from V&C are excellent. Not only did they reduce the resistance for the lighter Sprite, they also altered the “droop” on the shocks to allow them to fully contact the bump stops because on the B they are mounted flat, but on the Spridget they are angled upwards.
V&C are very friendly and when I suggested that our other members would like to see how they operate, they said they could give us a guided tour if we can get numbers together and give them sufficient notice."
David Billington

I too bought my mgb dampers from V&C, very friendly company/people and they were quick on delivery.
I got their reputation from here, probably the same thread David refers to.

Ididnt know about resetting the B-damper arms...?
I dont know if I mentioned its for a Midget so dont know if the adaption is done on mine...

How can you tell before mounting it to the body?
A de Best

@David

Thanks for the link, got the impression there was enough droop on the standard dampers, but will soon find out.In fact I got the impression the limit was likely to be the Mamba motorsport mounting plate v camber angle - all good to know.

@Arie

I should have the damper plates next week and if I do they will be fitted next weekend.

I will record the swept angle of my AHS v MGB dampers before fitting, so you will have numbers to check yours with.

Malc
Malc Gilliver

thanks Malc, I appriciate it!
A de Best

I've just remembered I bought a set of Spridget Wishbones back when they were around - does anyone know what happened to them, I know they were up for sale ?

Looks like my sexy new MGB dampers will be getting to play with stronger wishbones ! ( if I can find the bloody things !)
Malc Gilliver

You mean the Barry King wishbone's?
I have them too, they are very solid, very pleased with them.
Barry stopped his buisnes years ago and try to sell his moulds&machinery but that didnt happen as far as I know.
His son use to be on here years ago.

I bought another set just before he stopped.

photo 1 is a standard next to a Barry King wishbone

photo 2 beter view on the extra reinforcement he did




A de Best

Thank Arie,

That’s right I bought them from Barry King.

I couldn’t remember his name, do you have any contact details?

Malc
Malc Gilliver

No Malc, no contactnr or whatsoever.
Guess if his tools/oulds didnt sell its all scrapped by now.
Would intresting to hear if its still arround when you do fing contact with Barry or son.
A de Best

Company Dissolved 2019, I did talk to him about buying it but needed an industrial unit then, I have one now and might see what happened.
Malc Gilliver

Would it be worth it Malc? Would their be enough customers for it? Esp' as costs have risen a lot since then and that could make the retail selling cost far to high.

But then again, I just looked, and Moss are charging 186 quid for ONE new oe pan, and 119 quid for after market.

And we all know what NEW quality is like these days, oe or after market. Often, CRAP.
anamnesis

Not sure, I remember JL Heap looking into a new front end set up, that guy got the SKF bearing properly faced and then seemed to disappear and there is the fact that none of us are getting younger and I'm not sure there are too many younger ones that interested.

It would be nice though !


ANNNND I bought those wishbones some years ago - I've had the car on a ramp for year !
Malc Gilliver

" -- the fact that none of us are getting younger and I'm not sure there are too many younger ones that interested. "

Exactly.

I suspect the time has passed, and now most buyers want standard originality.

Even t9 conversions may become a liability in that respect.

Even if parts are crap, as long as it drives well enough to cover a hundred miles or so a year, on sunny days, to a show, sadly, that probably satisfies many owners now.

Not me. I use mine all year round, but I haven't seen or passed a B or another Spridget or a Spit, or pretty well anything so call 'classic' this year.

They're all used less and less, sadly but inevitably. Exceptions granted to those who do still use theirs a lot.

I confess though, although mine is all year round use, and my only car, it's much reduced usage.

My uncle stopped driving his Spit a couple of years ago. He turned 81 two days ago.

I wonder what the average owner's age is now?





anamnesis

Age need not be a barrier. My brother organises a trip to the Spa Classic every year for Daimler Darts. The oldest person in the group this year was an 87 year old woman. She drove down from Shropshire to Folkestone. Stayed overnight then on the shuttle and then drove to Spa the next day. Spent 4 nights there then drove home and all without a sat nav, only maps.

Trev
T Mason

Good for her. Good for exceptions. But at 87, her time is limited wouldn't you say?



anamnesis

It's not the age per se, it's more at what age are they likely to be buying upgrades for a classic car.

I suppose the answer is more, can I buy the gear and sell it to the racers / restoration businesses ?


A quick search found this - http://www.mg-cars.net/mg-midget-sprite-technical-bbs/new-improved-wishbones-2013113022564524678.htm

Shame to hear about Prop and while I was 'away' what happened to Lawrence Slater ?
Malc Gilliver

" -- If the premium race bK last for 42 years as well il be in my 90s age wise before i need another new wish bone....at that point, im sure will be using Mr fusion as a powernsource, when that happens we wont need roads where we are going

Prop --"

Are there roads where you are now Prop?

Are the angels hell in heaven? We'll all see ya later Prop. Lol.

anamnesis

It's a shame if the tooling for the Barry King wishbones was scrapped but it happens. I know in the case of DFS Machines Ltd who made high end sheet metal shrinkers and stretchers in the UK that the technical data, jigs, fixtures etc end up in a skip. Having spoken to the guy that last run the company it was closed in 1996 due to a recession in the aerospace industry and when he closed his main business in 2004 IIRC, DFS was a small part of what he did, the works were cleared and the stuff ended up being thrown out. He hadn't started the company, that was Douglas Frank Salt hence DFS who had designed and improved these devices over decades and that work is now lost except for remaining devices of which there seem to be many tucked away but due to their cost tended to be used by the likes of aerospace. The jaws shown are 44mm (1.73") diameter.





David Billington

I have found contact detail for Barry and dropped him an email.... I'll update if I get any response
Malc Gilliver

This thread was discussed between 08/06/2025 and 17/06/2025

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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