MG Car Repair: MG axle and transmission problem, u bolts, rubber pieces

Question
QUESTION: The axle on my '72 MGB has moved about an inch to the left, so that the bodywork fouls the tyre on sharper corners. I'm guessing this is because of a problem with the u-bolts on the rear axle. But I'm also getting intermittent vibration on acceleration and a clunking which feels as though it comes from the front of the car when I load or unload the throttle in 3rd or 4th gear. Are these separate problems or might they all be related - and what do you think might be causing them? Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Theo,
On the rear axle you need to first check to see that the axle is not loose and the wheel and all slides in and out. If it looks OK and has no free play you need to remove the "U" bolts to see if the center peg is in place. There is a center peg through the spring that fits into a hole in the lower and upper plate so it can't move at all unless the "U" bolts were loose and it beat out the rubber pieces and even if it did that, it can only move about 1/4 in. Also look at the spring support at the front of the spring and the shackles at the rear to see if the whole spring is moving over on a turn.

Nothing in the front can make the rear wheel move over. You will have to narrow "a clunk" a little closer to be able to even guess what it might be in the front. I can think of a 1000 things in the front that can "clunk" when you open and close the throttle.
Howard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, Howard. Just as a further pointer, when the car is stationary at the moment there is well over an inch of clearance between wheel and bodywork inside the RH wheelarch and next to none on the LH arch - hence its fouling on corners. I'm going to put the car on jacks at the weekend and have a look - but if you have any ideas about what I should check first, please let me know!

Answer
Theo, air up all of the tires and measure from the floor to the edge of the arch front and back. This will give you a true picture of the stance of the car. If it is lower on the left side front and rear, it may be the springs are sagging because most cars are driven with a driver only and that makes the left springs sag more than the right side. If the front is lower but the rear is not, then you may have a broken spring (if none of the suspension is broken).
Jack the front up and check for any free play in any of the suspension pieces.
Let me know,
Howard