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 MGB Technical - MGB Rear Leaf Spring Replacement

Trying to finish up a refresh of rear leaf springs and all related hardware and finding it almost impossible to fit the damper plate to the bottom of the leaf spring onto the u-bolts. Seems like a manufacturing tolerance issue as the holes in the new plate do not perfectly match the bushing pad facing plate. Managed on one side to force them into place, but the final side is just not close enough to make it work onto all four studs.
Has anyone else seen this and maybe have a solution?
Thanks!
RW
Ray Walsh

The bottom plates are new?? They are so thick they don't usually need replacement. The distance between the inner edges of the holes in the plates should be the same as the axle tube diameter. i.e., hole centres will be tube dia + 3/8'. Check this out.
Allan Reeling

The tube axle and banjo axles have different plates. Did you order/recieve the wrong ones?
Roadwarrior

If the bottom plates are new then these days it is possible that the holes are not correctly aligned. Even when they are nominally correct you may still need to squeeze the U-bolts to get them through all three plates once they are round the spring and the rubbers. But if the holes in all three plates aren't close enough to get the U-bolts through then you will have to file one or more holes until they do.
Paul Hunt

Do all the components align with them off the car?

I've found with the best will in the world this is often a pain. In the past I've resorted to using a G-Cramp to help the U-bolts align with the bottom plate. Then gently top of U-bolt/bump stop plate from above.

Peter
P A Allen

I am doing a similar job as Ray and have just removed the rear suspension and rear axle on a 68 MGB-GT. My question is firstly, to refresh the leaf spring is it possible (advisable) to separate them for cleaning and repainting? Is that a feasible project? Or is it best just to wire brush the leaf spring unit and paint it?

Then what is the best procedure re-installing the rear suspension and axle? I have a restoration manual...have not yet read through the chapter. I am going to be reusing the original parts. My big concern is getting the axle somewhat stable to connect the U-bolts with the damper plate as Ray has indicated. Does the leaf spring require some compression to raise it a bit? I have an MGA as well and I am not sure if information from someone posted on the MGA side, like Barney Gaylord, would be compatible to this procedure? Any advice on the reverse procedure would be welcome.

Good Luck Ray...

Steve Lofaro
Simi Valley, CA
Stephen Lofaro

My system is to have the wheels on the axle. Trolly jack on dif, and do up the u bolts plates etc. Then the axle will swing up. If the springs are new or re-tempered, place a couple of pieces of timber or ply against the chassis rail and jack until the shackles line up.
Allan Reeling

Sorry, forgot to mention front eye bolts in place!!!
Al
Allan Reeling

I think I just positioned my axle in about the right place, probably with the rebound straps and axle stands, while I fitted the springs to that, same as when changing springs. Be sure the straps are the correct reinforced ones and not the 'rubber bands' that snap the first time they are asked to take the load of the axle.

I've changed springs on both RB and CB and simply jacking under the middle of the spring will push the rear eye back along the bottom of the chassis rail until you can get the rear shackle inserted. (A bit of ply will protect the paint where required).

Some have said that the shackle can jam in the position as you jack the spring further up to attach it to the axle, but that has never happened to me in several spring changes. You should end up with the shackle near vertical, with the lower part slightly rearward of the upper part, and a curve in the rebound strap, as here http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/springs.htm. However in the past several have commented that they could only get the springs flat enough to get the rebound straps attached with a lot of extra weight on the back of the car. That's simply not right. Having said that V8 springs are a little more arched as they are harder but carry the same body weight.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 18/04/2015 and 11/05/2015

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB Technical BBS now