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MG MGA - Front susp. spring pan/spring base

Evening all:
I'm rebuilding the front suspension - yesterday took it apart, and noticed that the spring was resting on a ring of hard material, which looks like it was poured into the spring pan. It looks like some kind of concrete but is very hard, like a metal. It had crumbled so, thinking I could get a new part, I tried to chip the rest of it out, but it resists a hammer and cold chisel. I do not see it in the parts catalogs. Is this original? Or has someone tried to make up a difference in spring length with a "shim?" I haven't taken the other side apart yet so I can't tell if it is the same. Can't get to it because the car is in the corner of the garage, left front in the air. Thanks for your thoughts,
Jack, Lexington, VA
John Bissett

The spring pan is just that - a depression in the metal to fit the end of the spring, no other fittings or substances. Could it be collection of road debris?
Art Pearse

No, this is formed and very hard. It looks like it was intentional. I guess I'll worm my way over to the other side and see if I can see the other spring. Thanks for the comment.
John Bissett

Worth measuring the spring to see if it is short on length. That will likely give the logical answer.

Car chassis up to 15151 = 9.28"
Post 15151 = 8.88"

Steve
Steve Gyles

There are all kinds of spring spacers available from the generic aftermarket. Perhaps some previous owner added some for some reason. You can do a Google on coil spring spacers to see some examples.

What you describe are not MGA factory parts.
Chuck Schaefer

John, When I did mine, there was only steel spring on steel, but PO could have removed something. I remember being instructed to just put heavy grease in the tray and set spring on it during assembly. good luck.
Harley
Harley Johansen

Follow-up. This seems like molded metal, so maybe it IS an after-market spacer. The spring is right on spec in length. The right side does not seem to have it. I don't see any chassis twists so maybe the right side has a longer spring and this was to raise the left. I do see some sloppy work - missing thrust washers and non-original pin seals. I'll remove this "spacer" and put it all back together right and see what I find on the right side! The car drives straight and well, and the swivel links on the driver side are in surprisingly good shape, due to light use, and I hope removing this "shim" doesn't cause me grief later. The grease in the pan sounds like a good idea. Thanks for all the helpful comments.
John (Jack)
John Bissett

This thread was discussed between 14/03/2011 and 15/03/2011

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