Midget rear shocks on Minor

[paulhumphries]

I've got a pair of reconditioned / uprated rear shock that were for my late model, 1500, Midget.

I'm being lazy and don't want to crawl underneath my car to check at this time of night / in the cold ;-)

Anyone know if they are the same type as fitted to the rear of a Minor ?

Thanks.

Paul Humphries

[paulhumphries]

In case anyone is interested I can now answer my own question
Midget rear shock won't fit a Minor.
They are physically larger but bolt holes line up so that isn't the problem.
The arm movement "arc" is different and totally unsuitable.

Paul Humphries.

[Kevin]

Well that explains why I have not heard of them being used before.

[jonathon]

As Squiggle would have us say ohhh 'balljoints'

[paulhumphries]

It has been raining so I couldn't tackle bleeding the brakes on my Minor (garage at home along with carport plus two lock-ups but I work outside in drive !)
I've had another look at the Midget shock alongside an old Minor item still attached to the bracket that fastens to axle U bolts.
The bracket has additional holes so it would seem Midget shocks will physically mount onto Minor brackets without any modification after all.
In the alternative position the lever movement arc matches that of the Minor shock
The actual shock arm hasn't the same offset as Minor item so that means although the link from shock to chassis will fit it'd be at a twisted angle.

I'll have to look further when I feel like lying under the car but can see with longer chassis bolts and spacers the links should be able to line up.

Paul Humphries.

[bmcecosse]

But is this all really worth it - when exchange dampers cost very little ? Why not just ebay the wrong dampers - and get the proper ones instead! Whatever you do - make sure that when the suspension is on full BUMP (and consider what happens if the bump stop falls off - they often do) - the damper is not at the end of it's travel or it will quickly tear the mounting out of the chassis member. The Minor rear damper has massive over-travel built in to allow for this.

[paulhumphries]

But is this all really worth it - when exchange dampers cost very little ? Why not just ebay the wrong dampers - and get the proper ones instead! Whatever you do - make sure that when the suspension is on full BUMP (and consider what happens if the bump stop falls off - they often do) - the damper is not at the end of it's travel or it will quickly tear the mounting out of the chassis member. The Minor rear damper has massive over-travel built in to allow for this.

I haven't bought the wrong ones - I used to have a Midget and there were bought but never fitted.
The actual " stroke" is EXACTLY the same as a Minor when the existing alternative bolt holes are used on Minor bracket.
That means there will be no difference to the arm "arc" than an original Minor item thus no more worry about "tearing he mounting out of the chassis member" than a standard shock.

Why use them then ?
Well -
(a) I already have them.
(b) they are new and not reconditoned - which a lot of exchange Minor items will be.
(c) they will bolt onto Minor bracket using existing holes without any moditication
(d) I can easilly make an extention for the upper link to chassis mount (longer bolt with machined spacer - I have a lathe and not a pile of washers !)
(e) Midget items have different internal valve setting to standard Minors so it's an upgrade without the normal welding required for a telescopic conversion thus allowing reversion to standard (but why ?) at later date.

BTW anyone tell me what the alternative holes in the mounting bracket are meant for (if not a a different version of the lever arm shock) ?

Paul Humphries.

[bmcecosse]

If the stroke is the same - then that's ok! But if you extend the chassis mounting, think of the additional leverage the dampers are now going to have on the poor weak chassis leg! I would find some other way to attach them to the chassis - without extending the pin. The arm need to operate in a vertical plane close in to the cahssis mount pin. Given that can be solved - then yes I agree - they are new and supposedly uprated - so go for it! The same brackets may have been used on the LCV (tele dampers) and/or on the Wolseley/Riley variants with different dampers.

[bigginger]

LCV rear dampers mount between the U bolt bracket pins and a chassis X member above the axle. Not sure about the cars, but I don't think there are too many similarities.