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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - ARB finally lets go!

I am aware of the weakness of the ARB mounts and had my chassis rails and mounts seam welded a few years ago. Despite this the nearside mount has finally ripped itself off the chassis rail.

I know that various solutions have been discussed on this Board before, but I'm thinking that the simplest repair is to weld a heavy gauge flat piece of steel under the chassis rail with some nuts welded to the inside. When bolted to this new metal the ARB would be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch higher than before. That seems trivial to me but as I know nothing of suspension geometry I thought I'd ask if that change would matter (or have I overlooked anything else)?
Chris Hasluck

I guess my intended approach is OK since no one has replied!

Chris
Chris Hasluck

Chris, that is pretty well what l did. The only real difference being l cut a single piece of steel in a"C" shape to reinforce the underside of the front cross member and the "dumbirons" all in one piece. Plus my car is lowered so l suppose raising the ARB pivots was going some way to retaining the same geometry, although l don't think this is critical anyway.
Guy Weller

Chris
What you suggest will be fine and won't affect the geometry at all.
Andy
A Cross

Thanks Guy and Andy. Nice to know there is someone out there!
Chris Hasluck

What Andy says +1

A
Anthony Cutler

Just to conclude this thread, I had the chassis rails rebuilt professionally (I cannot trust my welding). The whole of the bottom back to the front cross member was removed and replaced with a 3mm plate (seam welded to the rail) and to which the original ARB mounts were welded. OK it cost me a bit but it looks really nice and tidy and should be really strong. I can recommend Classic MG in Lye (near Stourbridge) who did the work (I have no connection).

Great - back on the road again! NB I'm surprised the car got it's MoT in March given that the cracks were appearing even then!
Chris Hasluck

This thread was discussed between 09/08/2014 and 13/08/2014

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