{"id":52861,"date":"2026-05-28T15:27:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T15:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/?p=52861"},"modified":"2026-05-28T15:27:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T15:27:28","slug":"mga-tech-talk-mga-safety-inspection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/mga-tech-talk-mga-safety-inspection\/","title":{"rendered":"MGA! Tech Talk – MGA Safety Inspection"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TechTech Talk<\/span>
\nwith Bob Shafto, Technical Editor<\/em><\/p>\n

Compiled by Fred Horner
\nWith input from Rick Smith, John Twist, Don Tremblay and Bob Shafto <\/em><\/p>\n

On the ground<\/h4>\n

Brake operation: <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Even track with brake apply (does it pull left or right?)<\/li>\n
  • Pedal height ok \u2013 1\u201d to 1 \u00bd\u201d travel before taking affect<\/li>\n
  • Pedal firm (no fade)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Suspension operation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Front suspension – Damper bounce<\/li>\n
    • Rear suspension – Damper bounce<\/li>\n
    • Distance from ground to wheel arch equal on both sides (not safety)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Electrical checks: Check with engine running<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Activate light switch and check for loading or dimming.<\/li>\n
      • Low beam<\/li>\n
      • High beam<\/li>\n
      • Parking lights\/ rear license plate light<\/li>\n
      • Dash lights (if possible)<\/li>\n
      • Turn signals<\/li>\n
          \n
        • Delay? (not safety)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        • Brake lights<\/li>\n
        • Horn operable<\/li>\n
        • Rubber boot on battery cable at starter switch? (2)<\/li>\n
        • Proper engine ground (not safety) \u2013 Good electrically and mechanically<\/li>\n
        • Brake light switch wiring connections <\/li>\n
        • Corrosion at connectors (including battery)<\/li>\n
        • Frayed wiring <\/li>\n
        • Review fuse box connections<\/li>\n
        • Wiring harness condition (may not be safety, but could be if in very poor condition)<\/li>\n
        • Battery hold down in place<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Under the Bonnet:<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          • Coolant level, hoses and fittings<\/li>\n
          • Crankcase ventilation connections<\/li>\n
          • Oil level and color<\/li>\n
          • Master brake cylinder fluid level and color<\/li>\n
          • 1\/16 master cylinder pushrod free play<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Windshield:<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            • Pitted\/cracked\/scraped in front of driver<\/li>\n
            • Washer – working if installed<\/li>\n
            • Wiper blades in good condition<\/li>\n
            • Wiper arms park fully home (not safety)<\/li>\n
            • No extraneous noises or slow motion due to friction or lack of grease<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Door Latches:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                \n
              • Secure on second latch position<\/li>\n
              • Door latch pulls (roadster)<\/li>\n
              • Door latch operation (coupe)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Fire Extinguisher: Proper type – ABC<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  \n
                • Present and charged<\/li>\n
                • Date if available<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Hand Brake:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Holds vehicle from moving under light load?<\/li>\n
                  • Full stop on lever arm at three clicks (see below for cable inspection)<\/li>\n
                  • Brake M\/C has proper pretravel<\/li>\n
                  • No wheel drag when brakes are released<\/li>\n
                  • Brake pedal pivot bushing does not allow excessive side play<\/li>\n
                  • Fork arm trunnion pins are not severely worn and cotter pins present<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    Seat Belts:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • Anchored and operating properly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      On the lift<\/h4>\n

                      Front suspension:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • Check for broken springs\t<\/li>\n
                      • Check trunnion bushes\/king pin<\/li>\n
                      • Check inner tie rod ends<\/li>\n
                      • Check outer tie rod ends<\/li>\n
                      • Check steering rack boots\/leaks<\/li>\n
                      • Check steering pinion to rack firm\/play<\/li>\n
                      • The four bolts holding the rack to the frame are inserted from the bottom with nuts on top (not safety)<\/li>\n
                      • Steering rack drag and alignment to dash (not safety)<\/li>\n
                      • If wire wheel, check for broken spokes and spline slop<\/li>\n
                      • Front bearings tight<\/li>\n
                      • Same wheel spin on both sides of at least two revolutions<\/li>\n
                      • Tire pressure set to tire factory recommendations\t<\/li>\n
                      • Tire wear\/depth of tread\/age <=10 yrs<\/li>\n
                      • Check for shock oil leakage<\/li>\n
                      • Bolts tight on A arms, front spring pans lower control arms to frame, and shocks<\/li>\n
                      • All cotter pins in place on castle nuts <\/li>\n
                      • Dust seals examine \t(not safety)<\/li>\n
                      • Flex brake line cracked\/aged (1600 support bracket in place)<\/li>\n
                      • Flex brake line not fouling on suspension when wheels steered<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Rear Suspension:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • Rebound straps present \/condition<\/li>\n
                        • Leaks on axle seals<\/li>\n
                        • Rear spring shackles and bushings in good order<\/li>\n
                        • Rear shocks not leaking<\/li>\n
                        • Damaged leaf springs (broken)<\/li>\n
                        • U-bolts all double nutted (not safety \u2013 lock nuts?)<\/li>\n
                        • Shock links arms in good condition<\/li>\n
                        • Rear lever shock fasteners tight<\/li>\n
                        • If wire wheel, check for broken spokes and spline slop<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Propeller shaft:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                            \n
                          • U joints have no play<\/li>\n
                          • Sliding joint functioning correctly<\/li>\n
                          • All flange bolts tight<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Exhaust:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                              \n
                            • Look for leaks<\/li>\n
                            • Examine straps<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              Brake lines (General)<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                \n
                              • Check for excessive rust or damage on all hard brake lines<\/li>\n
                              • Check brake flex lines condition, not cracked\/aged (3)<\/li>\n
                              • Brake cylinder boots in good order<\/li>\n
                              • Leaks at brake wheel cylinders<\/li>\n
                              • Parking brake cable ends lubricated and swiveling<\/li>\n
                              • Parking brake cable ends secure and cotter pinned<\/li>\n
                              • Parking brake cable equalizer lubricated and swiveling<\/li>\n
                              • If parking brake inspection failed above, is there adjustment left in the cable?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                Fuel:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                  \n
                                • Signs of fuel leaks on tank or fuel lines<\/li>\n
                                • Carb float bowl breather\/overflow lines routed below exhaust<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  Body and Frame:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                    \n
                                  • General condition of metal supporting structure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                    Tech Talk with Bob Shafto, Technical Editor Compiled by Fred Horner With input from Rick<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured-tech-sessions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52861"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52861\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52862,"href":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52861\/revisions\/52862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/namgar.com\/NAMGARMAIN\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}