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 - New rear springs, axle shifted left

I recently installed new springs from Brittek. Ride hight is better, but the axle is now shifted over to the left by about 3/4 of an inch. Left rubs fender when the car is loaded and either hitting dip or hard left turn. The springs looked fine. Any suggestions?

Mike
M.A. Barrera

Mike, I had the same problem. Turns out the new springs were not straight in the longitudinal direction which shifted the rear end over. I ended up taking my old springs to a spring shop to be rebuilt.

Tom
Tom Custer

Pretty-well all MGBs are like that. If yours wasn't before and was with new springs then maybe a PO had 'adjusted' the springs to compensate. Argument is rife over just what the cause is ...
Paul Hunt

There always seems to have been an issue with the back axle being off centre on the MGB, but it has never been fully explained and not all cars suffer with it, which confounds a real explanation. The rear springs though do have a part to play as I found out when I was looking to replace mine. In short I looked at several springs of a good manufacture, but could't find one pair that were laterally straight, the best being 6mm out of true from end to centre, the worst an unimaginable 12mm out. All were bent the same way throwing the axle towards the left of the body. When I addressed this with the manufacturer he said "the best the production process can offer is around 10mm, if you want them straight go to a specialist and have them straightened". It all adds up to, you get what you pay for and applies to most so called OE parts.
G Cherry

Try and select a pair which bend in opposite directions, or go to single leaf which seem to be more accurate. RV8's fit and can be spaced off the axle to level the car up as well.
Allan

I am going to take it all apart and check the springs for any curvature, side-to-side. My original spring/axle combo had only about 1/4 inch left bias, if that. I may be able to swap left to right and vice versa. If the springs are not straight, I'll be talking to Brittek. The are pretty reputable.

Mike
M.A. Barrera

Allan,

I have not seen single leaf springs available in the States. I saw Mark Evans use them on "An MG is born". They seemed to be a good alternative.

Mike
M.A. Barrera

Mike,
When you measure for this discrepency, do it from the chassis rails out to the wheels. There is often a difference between the outer wings, especially if they, or the cills have been replaced..............i.e.most cars. This "pulling in" of the wings can often be seen at the bottom, trailing edge, of the door, i.e., the corner of the door stands out.
Allan

That's exactly it, which is why I cringe when I hear of people cutting and rewelding the axle spring pads just to get the wheels balanced within the arches, not realising that the car is now crabbing!
Paul Hunt

The rear body is original. I know the axle is shifted because with the old springs, the axle straps were vertical. With the new springs, the straps are now angled to the left, from top to bottom. Have not had time to work on a fix, but I will and will post.

Mike
M.A. Barrera

This thread was discussed between 31/08/2008 and 08/09/2008

MG MGB Technical index

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