MG Midget - Pulls to one side when i accelerate

[MichaelAndrews]

Hi there,
I have an MG Midget which for the past 3 months has been great. Just one problem has cropped up today when i was driving it. When i accelerate the car pulls to the right and when i litf off pulls to the left. It also feels quite light and loose at the back end.
Any Ideas?????

[uk66fastback]

Leaf springs on these isn't it - was on my old B roadster ...

If so, then check the mounts and also the U bolts on the axle or to see if one is broken maybe. If it is, then the axle could be moving fore and aft and you're getting rear wheel steering in effect!

When you say it's going left or right, how much is it going left or right - enough to throw you into the kerb or jut a gentle meandering?

What year is your car? RWA model or later?

Edited by uk66fastback on Monday 19th November 17:45

[evil len]

I'd say either something is lose suspension wise, or something is pointing in a direction it shouldnt be (e.g. a wheel) ... but if this has just started, I'd probably say the former (unless you've badly clobbered a kerb recently). Lift each corner up, wiggle every wheel heavily, plus the suspension, see if anything's loose.

[wildoliver]

Tighten your rear U bolts. If they snap replace them and fit new pads at the same time.

[mad4amanda]

Have you checked tyre pressures?

[Skyedriver]

wildoliver said:

Tighten your rear U bolts. If they snap replace them and fit new pads at the same time.

Leaf spring broken - been there did that (back in the 70's)

[remmoc]

Brakes binding on one side slightly will do this
Tyre pressures
Tracking / ball joint fail.

[SMGB]

Dont overtighten the U bolts though. you can squash the axle.
I agree that these are the most likely culprits, then a broken leaf in a spring.

[Hooli]

Or bushes. The front leaf spring bushes are in a box built into the floor plan that rots nicely so you can't change them. They'll give you play in the axle location if they are worn out.

[na]

I'd say U-bolts or tyre pressures (your can get a book with this info) or less likely broken spring

so in the end who did you get your insurance with then ?

[TISPKJ]

I had a 3 litre capri that used to do that when I put a different size spare wheel / tyre on.

Car had a limited slip diff and I was running massive 205-60-13 tyres instead of the 185-70-13, got a puncture and had to use the spare wheel but if you took hands off the wheel and pulled away you could control direction via the throttle.

Not suggesting this is your problem but something related to the thread that came to memory from the archives.