MGB Suspension Lowering Kit
Discussion
Depends on what you want to do! Rallying is very different from fast road, which is very different from sprints and circuits.
I've got a 77 B lowered to chrome bumper height. the front kit was from the B Hive in Cambs and is slightly lower springs and I've uprated the dampers. the rear end is koni adjustables over parabolic springs (chrome bumper height) with an uprated roll bar. The handling at the front is rock hard (read teeth shattering on poor roads), but the grip in the dry is tremendous and gives plenty of feel in the damp. I've got fast road yellow bushes at the back and V9 bushes on the front. I'm using continental tyres (185/70s) which are brilliant in the damp / wet - beforehand the front used to understeer too badly.
Don't go too low - Bilstein offer a kit which is really only suitable for the track. Don't use negative camber wishbones unless you like replacing your tyres every 4000 miles and have biceps like a rugby player.
I've got a 77 B lowered to chrome bumper height. the front kit was from the B Hive in Cambs and is slightly lower springs and I've uprated the dampers. the rear end is koni adjustables over parabolic springs (chrome bumper height) with an uprated roll bar. The handling at the front is rock hard (read teeth shattering on poor roads), but the grip in the dry is tremendous and gives plenty of feel in the damp. I've got fast road yellow bushes at the back and V9 bushes on the front. I'm using continental tyres (185/70s) which are brilliant in the damp / wet - beforehand the front used to understeer too badly.
Don't go too low - Bilstein offer a kit which is really only suitable for the track. Don't use negative camber wishbones unless you like replacing your tyres every 4000 miles and have biceps like a rugby player.
Sorry, but the comment on negative camber wishbone arms is rubbish.
It is castor not camber that increases steering weight, the B is hardly lightweight on steering anyway.
Get the tyre presurs correct and tire wear is not a factor either.
I'm speaking from 15 years of MGB driving, at least 12 of those on negative camber wishbones. from simple road driving right through to regular podium finishers in cicuit racing.
They are an excellent mod to improve the cars front grip and use the modern tyres better.
It is castor not camber that increases steering weight, the B is hardly lightweight on steering anyway.
Get the tyre presurs correct and tire wear is not a factor either.
I'm speaking from 15 years of MGB driving, at least 12 of those on negative camber wishbones. from simple road driving right through to regular podium finishers in cicuit racing.
They are an excellent mod to improve the cars front grip and use the modern tyres better.
I disagree with both of you, technically neg camber will lighten the steering as less of the tyre will tend to be in contact with the road, although once scrubbed down possibly slightly more but I'm sorry in the real world the difference is not noticable.
I don't think the MGB has heavy steering, I'm not small by any means but there are far heavier, as long as the kingpins are kept greased I find the B relatively light.
But IMO Neg camber bottom arms total waste of time on the road and they will accelerate wear of tyres.
I don't think the MGB has heavy steering, I'm not small by any means but there are far heavier, as long as the kingpins are kept greased I find the B relatively light.
But IMO Neg camber bottom arms total waste of time on the road and they will accelerate wear of tyres.
Thanks for your replies. I only use the car for pleasure runs so I'm not bothered about "fast" road use etc, I have other cars for that. I had several B's about 30 years ago, and frankly I'd forgotten what their performance was like. The previous owner of mine imported it from the States and spent crazy money converting it, and turning it into RHD. I just think it looks awkward at it's current height. Given the money spent on it and as previously stated I am just interested in buying the best quality lowering kit available.
Thanks to all
Thanks to all
wee_skids said:
Sorry, but the comment on negative camber wishbone arms is rubbish.
It is castor not camber that increases steering weight, the B is hardly lightweight on steering anyway.
Get the tyre presurs correct and tire wear is not a factor either.
I'm speaking from 15 years of MGB driving, at least 12 of those on negative camber wishbones. from simple road driving right through to regular podium finishers in cicuit racing.
They are an excellent mod to improve the cars front grip and use the modern tyres better.
It is castor not camber that increases steering weight, the B is hardly lightweight on steering anyway.
Get the tyre presurs correct and tire wear is not a factor either.
I'm speaking from 15 years of MGB driving, at least 12 of those on negative camber wishbones. from simple road driving right through to regular podium finishers in cicuit racing.
They are an excellent mod to improve the cars front grip and use the modern tyres better.
Just speaking from experience with mine. Put negative camber wishbones on it and the steering load was excessive and it scrubbed through three sets of front tyres in a year. Took them off and the steering was lighter and the tyres lasted 20 thousand miles. didn't make that much difference to the handling either...
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