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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - track rod end catching wheel

I have had the stick on weights on the inside of my minilite wheel getting ripped off by the thread that sticks out of the top of the track rod end, would it be ok to trimm the thread down a few threads. what is minimum number of threads to show through the nut.
mark heyworth

Should be fine to trim it down. I’d be happy with 2 or 3 threads showing.

The alternative is to move the weights, had to do this a couple of times. I usually try and remember to tell the fitters not to stick them in that area.
John Payne

My apprenticeship said 2 full threads from the topmost part of the nut. I have to say that I too had (equivalent) Minilites on my mk3 and the TRE was VERY close to the inside of the wheel. Like JP I asked for the weights not to be placed anywhere near it.
Oggers

I've got Shelby Viper wheels and I've had the same problem. I simply tell the installer to put the weights as close to the center of the wheel as possible. And I also had to remove some material from the tie rod ends since they were fouling against the wheels. That was 45 years ago and I've never had a problem since.
Martin

There are variations in TRE profiles so if the body of the TRE fouls that can be worth checking.
If keeping 2 threads on the std nut doesnt quite get you there, also available is a high tensile stiff half nut. Cant remember part no at present as there are a couple if variations, one of them Jaguar, so I would need to look st stock and sight them. If anyone wants that info remind me after the weekend.
Paul Walbran

Another solution, possibly in conjunction with shortening the TRE thread, is to use wheel spacers. It will depend on the wheel profile but on my Cosmics moving the wheel out by just 3mm gave lots of extra clearance.

With the 'upside down' orientation of the TRE on a Spridget it would be unlikely that the body of the TRE would foul on a wheel unless it was very bulky.
GuyW

Mark

Another solution (much simpler) is to just remove the wheel weights and drive the car to see how the wheel balance feels. I haven't balanced my alloy wheels in years(Minators). I'll be driving almost 200 miles tomorrow perfectly happily with 4 unbalanced wheels.

This radical solution might upset the purists, so I apologise in advance !!!

Ian
Ian Webb 1973 GAN5

Ian,
I was going to suggest just letting the weights rub down or sticking them more inboard. I always have the wheels weighted and toe-in check/changed with new sets of tyres, particularly at the front but with the crude Spridget set up I often wonder if it's worth the effort/hassle/cost.

The standard Spridget with 15.5" steering, 3.5"/4"/4.5" rim wheels with 145/80r13 tyres and steering and suspension in good condition at the front at least will tell you if something is seriously wrong and many deviations are just absorbed.

Nigel Atkins

I have recently had very bad steering vibration at 70mph, and found that all the weights had fallen off the wheels. My fault really, I swapped fronts and rears and forgot to check the clearance, so the TRE stripped off all the weights. These are 5" Minators. I found the clip-on weights also fouled, so it can be very difficult to balance these wheels.
Les Rose

just putthe sticky weights near the centre of the inner rim
David Smith

This thread was discussed between 10/09/2021 and 15/09/2021

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