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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - MGB differential casing, how strong?

How strong is the top of the MGB differential casing? Does anyone know if the metal of the diff casing is the same thickness on the top as it is on the bottom?
I’m setting up a three link trailing arm suspension , four links if you count the panhard rod.
To attach the upper middle arm to the top of the diff’ I will need to attach a bracket.
The back end of the bracket can easily be attached to the diff’ cover bolts. The front anchorage point of the bracket is the difficulty. I could extend the bracket forward and clamp it around the front of the diff’with a very large U bolt. However this makes for a big heavy bracket.
Or I could simply drill a hole through the top of the diff’ and bolt straight through, with a plate underneath/inside to spread the load. If the metal of the diff casing is the same thickness on the top as it is on the bottom of the case then the diff’ is easily strong enough because I often jack up the car from underneath.
Peter Sherman

Peter,

I don't know the relative thicknesses, but when I fitted my C axle I cut the driveshaft casings off my old B axle to make it easier to take it all to the skip. Even with just the diff casing and diff I could barely lift the thing, there's a lot of metal there.

I also spent afew hours fishing around down inside the pinion end looking for the split pin after I dropped it and got the feeling I was looking at a lot of metal work.

Perhaps you could take off your diff cover plate and do some geometry? or drill a small hole which you could then tap and bolt shut later, to find out?

Liam
Liam

Thanks Liam,
I also posted this in the MGB technical section. Both Jim and Mike very kindly went and had a look for me. They both apparently happen to have the diff cover off at the moment. I was hoping someone would. This board is an invaluble resource. Some where between three and four sixteenths(around 5mm). Not exactly pared to the minimum! Which is good from my point of view. I'll need to have a preliminary discussion with an engineer and it helps if I can tell him its the same thickness on the top as at the bottom, and I jack the whole car up on that!
I read somewhere that that axle plus diff weighs about 145lbs, most of it would be in the centre too. you did well to get it off the ground.
Peter

You got lucky Peter, I hadn't disposed of the last one I wore out yet.

Jim
Jim Blackwood

This thread was discussed between 19/11/2006 and 21/11/2006

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