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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Lever arm drop link

I have removed the Avo shockers and fitting lever arms are per original. This is on a 67 vehicle so it has semi elliptic. The reason why I'm doing this has been documented sufficiently for me to have bored the vast majority or readers.

I dont think levers have ever been fitted since the whole lower section of the body shell is a heritage unit (warning bells?).

Having got one shocker in position and fitted the drop arm it is 30mm out of alignment. Assembly has been as per moss catalog so there don't seem to be any packing pieces missing. It is all sitting square (although in the pic it looks out a little) and i know the bracket at the lower attachment is inverted but correcting that won't affect the poor alignment.

At the moment I am considering spacers between the panel and the shocker to move it towards the car c/l but I am wondering what's out. Any suggestions?

(Vehicle is wall mounted for working comfort, or Iphones keep rotating pics in an annoying fashion; take your pic)


Graeme Williams

Graeme

there aren't many variables! Assuming the spring is fitted correctly then it could be
1) something wrong with the SA mounting plate
2) something wrong with the drop link (have you got another to compare?)

Is there enough movement laterally if the spring mountings are slacked and moved??
if not then packing pieces may be the answer.
Bob Beaumont

Try checking the distance from the car centre line (or edges of transmission tunnel) and the triangular stiffening plates that the SA bolts to. It should obviously be the same on both sides.
GuyW

What is it like on the other side ?

Could your axle be off centre ?
Chris Madge

Could it be that they are the wrong shock absorbers? Presumably Armstrong made lots of similar ones for various cars, with different arm lengths, arms installed at different angles on the splined shafts, etc.

Or it could be that the Heritage shell's wrong...
Jonathan Severn

Graeme
You are using shockers from a Frogeye.
There was a change at AN5 4332 which I believe was a change in the arm.
Whereas the shockers from that chassis number will suit all marks you may have the earlier versions.
You may need to construct a 30mm spacer with longer bolts.
Alan
Alan Anstead

Shocking misuse of language here.

I-can't-do-it-phones should only really be used as tyre wedges.


Nigel Atkins

Alan: I think the earlier shockers had a straight arm and then changed to a cranked arm which was continued through the rest of the range. These have a cranked arm. The straight arm would make things worse.

I have not looked at the other side yet but no reason to suspect the springs or axle are out. I wonder whether the triangular panel which supports the shockers is wrong, although, saying that, the Frontline shockers lined up spot on with the lower attachment. Could be the new link arms are made incorrectly (they are the semi elliptic style not the "reversed" quarter style.

Spacers will sort it. But shouldn't need them.
Graeme Williams

Consider an extension on the top of the link? I could turn something up for you on the lathe.
Alan
Alan Anstead

The top link need to be shorter unfortunately and there isn't enogh material to remove. Bought a pack of 5mm ally plates to make up spacers.
Graeme Williams

This thread was discussed between 22/08/2019 and 23/08/2019

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