Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[IanAl]

Got a MG Midget ashley coupe which has been professionally restored by a specialist. The suspension is the standard lever arm dampers and leaf springs but the car sits lower by about 1.5" on the OSR than the other 3 wheels? On inspection there is no obvious cause for it but just wondered if anyone has any ideas why this might be?
Cheers

[Salopian]

The obvious answer is a broken leaf in or a tired spring - a faint memory tells me early versions of this series of Midgets had quarter elliptics later marks semi elliptics but feel free to correct me if wrong.
Long shot is incorrect restoration of the body hence faulty mount positioning. Could I suppose be completely worn out bushes as well but if restored?
_________________
Jonathan Butler
Alvis SD 12/50 1928 MG TD 1950

[Farmer John]

Hi Ian. It is not possible to look at a leaning car and know whether the fault is at the front or rear. If one corner is wrong and the other three are correct then the car is bent.
To find which spring is causing your problem you simply isolate the car from the suspension of each end, one end at a time.
A plank or two, or a piece of steel, of a size that both front or rear wheels can sit on it. Also a piece of tube or bar, two inch diameter approximately.
So the two wheels will be on the plank which will be sitting on the pipe which is lying on the longitudinal axis of the car, and is exactly between the two wheels. Critical that it is exactly between the two wheels.
Measure each side from the ground to somewhere reliable like chassis subframe. Commonly measured from the top of the wheel arch because if you get those right the car will look level even if the arches are different shapes. You choose.
Have someone in the driver's seat to keep the brakes on so that we do not roll off the plank, also gets the weight distribution right, it is important on a sports car.
Do both ends this way. This will only diagnose lean, ride height must be taken into account when deciding on repair.
John

[IanAl]

Thanks for the replies, will have to make time to have a better look at it

[Jim.Walker]

A false ride height can often be caused because on some vehicles because spring and/or shock absorber mountings and bushes have been tightened up with the vehicle on jacks. All suspension pivots etc. should be tightened with the full vehicle weight on all wheels.
So obvious, but often missed.
Jim.
_________________
Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then!