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 Midget and Sprite Technical - Revolution wheels

Hi
I have 13" revolution wheels fitted to my MkIV Sprite.
I have to use spacers on the front. The back of the wheel is flat and doesn't fit flush on the hub due to the "webs" on the hub. The spacers are ok but I would rather not have them, I could get the rear of the wheel machined to clear the webs. Has anyone experienced this
Regards
Stuart

S G Macfarlane

Don,t know about the machining Stuart but I do know spacers can cause fatigue in wheel studs. Just trying to be helpful. Someone will no doubt either know or have some good advice re the machining.
Dave Squire

My Cosmic alloys need a 3mm spacer so that they clear the nut on the TRE. That's the minimum that l can get away with. I have driven it like that for nearly 90,000 miles with no apparent evidence of wheel stud failure.
GuyW

I only say I would rather not have the spacers because it stops the wheels tucking in the arches (car is low)
I dont think spacers are detrimental to the studs in anyway as its clamping force that secures the wheel to the hub. Studs get damaged because the wheel nuts are too loose (not enough clamping force) or the wheel nuts are too tight stretching the studs beyond thier elastic limit (again not enough clamping force)
As long as the wheel does not slip on the hub then there is no bending or shear load on the stud. Having spacers - or not - makes no difference sas long as the wheel is installed and bolted up correctly
As guy says - plenty of other things will expire before your wheel studs do.
I would also say there is far more clamping force (ie friction) on a flat backed revolution wheel with a spacer than there is on a rostyle for example.

S G Macfarlane

If my lathe were big enough i would offer to help.
So i guess its a job for a machine shop with a Mill or large lathe. . . .sadly i don't have either.
be interested to see how you get on, so do post once you have had the work done.
P Bentley

What are the webs that you refer to on the front hub? Aren't the disc bolt heads recessed flat to the hub face?
GuyW

sorry - I knew my description was poor - its the radiused(?) section that transitions from the vertical face of the hub to the horizontal centre holding the dust cap - if that makes sense, the opening on the rear of the wheel just needs enlarging slightly so it clears this area.
S G Macfarlane

Stuart,

Possibly a job that could be done on a mill with a rotary table. It would help to know your location in the UK.
David Billington

Hi David
I live on the Wirral
Regards
Stuart
S G Macfarlane

That could probably be done by hand with a coarse file, with a Dremel or a flap wheel in a drill.

You may also find when not using a spacer, that the tyre catches on the inner wing at the rear on full lock. The way to prevent this is to add a blob of weld onto the face of the little lock-limiting ears on the hub carrier at the bottom of the king pin.
GuyW

overtightening rostyle wheels deforms the wheel and bends the studs inwards - rostyles have minimal contact area - you are far more likely to have a damaged stud using rostyles than you are with revolutions and spacers.
S G Macfarlane

thanks Guy - as you say I may still need the spacers anyway to overcome issues with the inner wing and TRE nuts. I will have another look to see if I can chamfer the edge of the wheel by hand with a file.
S G Macfarlane

I found that my KN Minators didn't sit flat on the rear drums because the uprated half shafts were catching. I created some clearance using a file on the back of the wheels - what you want is a half round rough or bastard (yes, really! - eg www.uktoolcentre.co.uk/products/nicholson-half-round-bastard-cut-files-un-handled.html ).


Sorry, couldn't resist it.
Jonathan Severn

This thread was discussed on 04/04/2018

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now