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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Radius arm bushes - again

I posted a similar thread last year which came to no conclusion so I'll try again.

I need to replace the radius arm bushes on my mk2 Sprite.

The were an advisory on last year's MoT, I effected a finely crafted repair with epoxy and it has passed fine this year but it would be good to do something 'proper'.

These were new radius arms for Spridget 50 so they only lasted four years and I'm therefore reluctant to put another set of the standard ones on.

There seem to be two alternative options, Superpro which Leacy do and Frontline do a kit (which may well be Superpro I guess).

I really don't want to make the ride any harder, in fact a bit more compliance would be nice. Does anyone have any experience of either of these two bushes?

Also, has anyone replaced these bushes, is a press required or can they tapped in and out.

Thanks

Jeremy
Jeremy Cogman

What do you mean by radius arms? Drop links? Have you got a conversion fitted?
Lawrence Slater

Quarter-elliptic.
Dave O'Neill2

Radius arms , Lawrence. Its a MK 2 Sprite. Quarter eliptics
Guy W

Ah yes, thanks chaps. I Haven't played with one of them since my brother sold his.
Lawrence Slater

Jeremy,

Maybe have a look here http://www.robush.co.uk/pdf/1519%20Robush.pdf and see if you can find one with the correct dimensions. IIRC the bore was mentioned as 7/16" (11.1mm) so it looks like there maybe some candidates on page 13, I don't know the other dimensions.

Looks like you'll have to copy and paste that link due to the embedded space.
David Billington

Jeremy, surely even the standard ones shouldn't wear out in less than 4 years. I haven't assembled mine yet but there doesn't seem to be a lot to them anyway. What is there to wear out that your MOT man didn't like?

I suppose the rubber in the metalastic-type bushes might perish eventually but that type of bush usually last for years. Maybe the repro ones use an inferior "rubber" compound. QNA
Guy W

Id think you could match up some poly ...they might need.a little machine work to fit properly

Id think 4 years is short lived...I could see 10 yeard to replace...very odd.

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

David, thanks for the link, once I can get one in my hands I'll measure it.

Guy, yes I was surprised, I do wonder if it is inferior rubber. You can see a bit of a gap because rubber has partially torn between the inner and outer tubes. It was a bit eagle eyed, I suspect most testers wouldn't have noticed and in fact this years* didn't spot it.

*The tester has changed at my favourite classic friendly test station. Fortunately the new chap seems very nice and with a healthy dose of pragmatism.
Jeremy Cogman

I had to replace the radius arms on the sprite when we rebuilt it as the old ones where home made crap.

Only supplied I could find at the time where Moss and unfortunately the superpro bushes I had just slip straight through the holes!

Superpro where slightl flummoxed and despite taking loads of measurements they never really came back with a solution.

Most likely a design "change" *cough* on the Moss parts side but just a word of warning if you do find them not seating properly.

The superpro bushes on everything else are fantastic though.
D Paul

Jeremy,

I solved the superpro bushes slipping out of the holes by adding some tin solder in the radius arm holes. It lasts for years and >20000 miles now

Flip
Flip Brühl

This thread was discussed between 18/05/2013 and 20/05/2013

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