Mgb Suspension upgrades

[wildoliver]

Just working on a new project, wondered if anyone knew where you can get the following:

Mgb front springs lowered and higher spring ratings.

MGB rear springs as above.

Telescopic front kit that uses a proper top link as opposed to using the old shock absorber.

Uprated front anti roll bar.

I'm the worlds biggest supporter of the original lever arm suspension, but this car wants to be locked up pretty hard, at the expense of rough road handling and comfort.

Oliver

[driverrob]

Thinking back to the two MGB GTs I owned many years ago, one of which had age-induced lowered suspension, I can't see any joy in stiffening the suspension unless it's for track days.

[wildoliver]

This ones going to be a toy, low, stiff, on modern rubber got a set of 4 pots to go on the front. Eventually may get an engine upgrade.

[[k]arl]

I would say the first ports of call would the the MGOC store, Moss parts or perhaps one of the classic motorsport suppliers like Cambridge Motorsport.

I upgraded the suspension on my chrome-bumber '72 Roadster with 33% stiffer dampers all round (recon lever arm version), 3/4" ARB and Superflex bushes all round, though I retained the standard springs. The car runs on 6x14 Minilites with 185x65xr14 Pirelli P2000s. The combination works well for fast-road work, but you may want something more adjustable for the track.

HTH

[k]

[wildoliver]

Cheers Karl i was hoping someone had a specific seller of a telescopic kit for the front that removed the lever arm though. Might be a home brew job if not.

[MG Mark]

The easiest way to stiffen your suspension up is to use polybushes, a 7/8 anti-roll bar and fill the lever arms with EP80 or 90 gear oil...you'd be amazed at what that does - it's what a lot of the racers do/did.....

It really depends on whether you're doing this for looks or handling. If you have a chrome bumper car, I'd be wary of lowering it.


MG Mark

[[k]arl]

I don't know if it would fit your needs precisely (am slightly too intoxicated to address my mind to it fully) but the MGOC offer a full front suspension upgrade to something equivalent to MG RV8 spec. It replaces the whole front suspension (and crossmember) with more modern shocks, needle bearings to replace kingpins and 4-pot calipers. However, I must confess that I don't remember specifically how the suspension has been altered to accomodate the tubular dampers. Might be worth checking out though. There are also a few places which offer fully independent front and rear suspension conversions, such as Hoyle Engineering, which might also suit your needs.

My alcohol-induced haze also enables me to recall reading in 'Enjoying MG' about a homebrew fully-independently sprung MG that was converted using Jag XJ6 components. However, IIRC (not guaranteed) that also required a Sebring-style flared arch kit to clear the converted suspension, so that might not be an option for you.

Not sure that helped at all, but you never know

[k]

[wildoliver]

Thanks guys, didn't think anyone was offering what i wanted but thought you might know. What I will be designing and building will be a top link to replace the lever arm. I am well experienced in the filling of lever arms but I am going a different way on this project.

Bought a new engine today.........

The car won't have much MGB left when I'm done!

[wadgebeast]

The club parabolic rear springs are absolutely brilliant if you were going to replace them at all. And you can get fast road bushes for them and the appropriate ride height too.

Transformed mine when cornering on pitted roads - no shuffling off sideways at all.

[[k]arl]

TBH, if you're going to really go all the way with the suspension, you might as well ditch the cart springs altogether and get fully independent rear suspension with rear disc brakes. Hoyle Engineering, who I mentioned above (also Maidstone Sports Cars IIRC) offer such a system along with matching front-end conversion. They seem to use tubular dampers all round and hence are similar to what the original poster was after. However, that said, I've not seen any reviews of the kit or have any knowledge of its effectiveness or quality so I guess some further research will be in order.

HTH

[k]

Edited by [k]arl on Monday 17th September 18:24