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MG TD TF 1500 - Front suspension disassembly TF

Somewhere, someplace I read an article about how to remove the front suspension without having the weight of the engine to hold things down. I not only lack the engine weight I have also placed my car on a rotisserie as well. Are there any suggestions from someone who may have found themselves in the same situation?

Dan

btw, I did a archive search as best a newbie can and came up empty handed.

DHN Nordstrom

Plenty in the archives. Search in the archives under "compress springs" under the "all these words" tab.

You are going to have to get it back closer to the ground, I'm afraid, and off the rotisserie to where a jack can reach and be chained.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair.
t lange

Tom,

I was able to find some good info using your directions.

Thanks for the tip.
DHN Nordstrom

Many, many years ago I used aircraft "tie-down' straps to remove the front wishbones and coils. It also took some 10 years off my life span!

Kev S TF6288
K Simonsen

I use a modified version of this type. Modified to fit through the spring pan hole and bottom hooks removed and a plate in it's place. Pan and spring comes off as a unit, separate the two when free. PJ



Paul S Jennings

PJ,

Yes, your method is what I'm going to try next. I did the same thing, although in reverse on the early Mustangs. I tried to insert my compressor into the MG spring, but its to big. I'm now on the hunt for a smaller one. Harbor Freight, maybe.

Thanks for your suggestion.
DHN Nordstrom

Get a floor jack and a strong piece of timber. A good piece of 2"x6" should work. Position the jack under the spring pan and raise the jack with the timber pushing up. Loosen the bolts and slowly and carefully lower the jack.

Frank Cronin

I actually used a ratchet strap running from one side to the other, through the springs on my MGB. As I recall, I tightened the strap with the springs compressed and released the tension on the suspension before I removed the pans, allowing me to remove the kingpins, etc. I eventually removed the springs too, to clean and paint them. On the MGA, I used the timber and jack method, only I used a steel rod from the oilfield instead of a timber, because that's what I had handy. It's a dangerous process, if not performed carefully. Caution and very slow, deliberate action is the key to avoiding a spring flying all over the shop, possibly causing personal injury and vehicle damage.
Cheers,
Frank
Frank Bice

DHN, Even the smaller version had to be modified as the upper hook base wouldn't go through the pan hole. So I ground the edges off until it fit. Works very well I might add. Got mine from one of the auto chains, I think it was Advance Auto. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Frank C, He has no weight on the chassis to use a jack. PJ
Paul S Jennings

There is a method of using a floor jack and a chain to remove the front coil springs. I found this picture on Dave Braun's site. Thanks yet again Dave. I think I have seen better images, but I can't recall whether they were Dave's pics or someone else's. I used this method and it didn't seem too terrifying...

Kirk

Kirk Trigg

I should add that I think the key thing was to make certain that the chain looped around the axle of the floor jack so that nothing could get too out of control.

Kirk
Kirk Trigg

They say...."Necessity is the mother of invention".

Well the necessity is:

1. Old age and a body that doesn't bend to well.

2. Already on the spit before I realized I didn't know what I was doing.

3. I'm kind of lazy.


So the image attached is your laugh for the day. But it worked rather well.

Dan

DHN Nordstrom

Yikes! Why not wrap a chain arround the jack and suspension?
David
D. Sander

David,

The 4x4 to the ceiling replaced the need for a chain. Had a chain been used it would have provided little as it would have been so long it would have had little value should the jack roll. The spring is set so far into the tower it would be very hard for it to fly out. In fact I had to pry the spring loose once all the tension was released. I did give it (the chain) and other alternatives some thought tho. I tried to figure out a safety lash for the spring, but came up with nothing. Like I said, it worked very well. I would do it again should the need arise.

Dan







DHN Nordstrom

I used the mobile version.

MG LaVerne

Twice :-)

MG LaVerne

MG LaVerne

Actually it was those two tractor pictures that gave the idea for what I did.
DHN Nordstrom

This thread was discussed between 24/11/2014 and 27/11/2014

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