The MG Midget uses independent front suspension with a live rear axle, a layout unchanged throughout production. The front is a coil spring and wishbone arrangement with lever-arm dampers; the rear uses semi-elliptic leaf springs, introduced with the Mk3 (GAN4) in October 1966 to replace the quarter-elliptic springs used on the earlier Mk1 and Mk2. Steering is by rack and pinion. While the basic layout is common to all models, component specifications differ between the 1275cc and 1500.
Front Springs
The front coil springs are model-specific, 1275cc springs are rated for the lighter A-Series engine, 1500 springs for the heavier Triumph unit. Fitting the wrong spring causes incorrect ride height and altered handling characteristics. Uprated springs and lowering spacer sets are available for owners seeking improved handling or a more aggressive stance.
King Pins
The king pin connects the stub axle to the wishbone. Shim pack thickness controls tightness, unusually, shims are added to loosen and removed to tighten the assembly. Complete king pin kits are available for owners undertaking the work themselves, and fully built-up reconditioned stub axle assemblies with new king pins already reamed to the correct fit are available for those who would rather avoid the specialist reaming work.
Top Trunnion
The top trunnion is one of the most critical wear points on the front suspension and a primary safety-critical inspection item. Replacement kits are available in rubber, road polyurethane, and race polyurethane. Grease nipples must be lubricated at every service interval, failure to grease the trunnion is the single most common cause of premature trunnion wear. The front hub assembly differs between steel and wire wheel cars, running on taper roller bearings with a spacer.
Anti-Roll Bar
Three anti-roll bar diameters were available: 9/16-inch, 5/8-inch, and 11/16-inch. The clamp bushes must match the bar diameter, all three sizes are different items and not interchangeable. Polyurethane bushes are available alongside the original rubber items for owners seeking sharper response.
Rear Suspension
The rear suspension uses semi-elliptic leaf springs with model-specific rates for 1275cc and 1500. The semi-elliptic arrangement was introduced with the Mk2 (GAN3) in March 1964, replacing the quarter-elliptic springs used on the small-bore Mk1 cars. Spring eye bushes and shackle bushes are the primary wear points, polyurethane replacements offer improved durability over the original rubber items. Lever-arm dampers are mounted to the body, with the damper arm linked to the rear axle.
Exchange lever-arm dampers must be primed with hydraulic fluid before fitting to avoid air-locking the internal valving.
Panhard Rod and Telescopic Damper Conversion
A Panhard rod kit provides lateral rear axle location, eliminating sideways body movement under hard cornering, a worthwhile upgrade for cars used in spirited driving. Rear telescopic damper conversion kits replace the original lever-arm dampers with modern telescopic units, offering more progressive damping characteristics and easier future renewal.
Steering Rack
Three steering racks were used across production: an early type to 1971, a revised type from 1972 (when a Triumph-pattern rack was introduced for the late 1275cc cars), and the 1500 specification. They use different track rod ends and gaiter kits and are not interchangeable. Rack gaiters should be renewed immediately if found split, as water ingress rapidly destroys the rack internals, particularly in the British climate where road salt accelerates internal corrosion.
Steering Column
Two steering column types were used: a non-collapsible column on early cars and a collapsible energy-absorbing column on later cars. A steering lock fitted to the column was introduced in July 1971 at GAN5-105501. The collapsible energy-absorbing column was introduced for UK-market cars during the mid-1970s (US-specification cars received a collapsible column earlier, from 1968, to meet federal regulations). The collapsible column must not be modified, as its safety function depends on its precise construction.
When fitting a column, correct alignment with the rack pinion is critical, the rack clamp bolts should remain loose until the column is fitted and aligned, then progressively tightened.
Steering Wheels
Three original steering wheel designs were fitted across production. A range of aftermarket wheels from Mota-Lita, Lecarra, Momo, and the MGOC Club range is available, each requiring a boss adaptor kit in one of three specifications matched to the steering column type fitted.
Suspension Rebuild Kits
Complete front suspension rebuild kits are available with rubber, road polyurethane, or race polyurethane bushes, providing a consistent specification across all the wear points in one ordered package.