MGB GT - Heavy Steering
Discussion
Hello all
Actively looking for a B GT as a first car - interested in some people just confirming something about the something.
Am I right in thinking the curb weight of a B is ~840kg? If so, I assume it'll not be too heavy to steer? Especially at low speeds.
I'll be learning in a car with PAS then (hopefully) going in to a B. I've done my research on everything else but the steering was just a thought that popped in to my head.
TIA
43034
Actively looking for a B GT as a first car - interested in some people just confirming something about the something.
Am I right in thinking the curb weight of a B is ~840kg? If so, I assume it'll not be too heavy to steer? Especially at low speeds.
I'll be learning in a car with PAS then (hopefully) going in to a B. I've done my research on everything else but the steering was just a thought that popped in to my head.
TIA
43034
Done your research so you'll have invested in a copy of the Handbook then as a potential owner? - http://www.mgocshop.co.uk/catalog/Online_Catalogue...
No a BGT steering is not heavy but will seema little heavier at first after coming off something with very light PAS
Unless of course it has really oversized wheels and tyres or far too small steering wheel or has steering or suspension faults
I'm sure you've probably seen my advice to potential owners but if not just ask and I'll post here
No a BGT steering is not heavy but will seema little heavier at first after coming off something with very light PAS
Unless of course it has really oversized wheels and tyres or far too small steering wheel or has steering or suspension faults
I'm sure you've probably seen my advice to potential owners but if not just ask and I'll post here
-Pete- you've not parked a Capri then 
I'll only put the bits about buying here as they don't posted quite so often
I know 'my advice usual advice to new and potential owners' is good because it cost me a fleet load of MGs to aquire- just wish I'd have learn it sooner but I'm stupid, niaive, impulsive, impatient and very forgetful
My other advice, except 'my advice usual advice to new and potential owners', now that does vary greatly in quality
Advice:
look at and test drive as many good examples as you can including some well out of your buying budget to see how good the cars should be and that you may need to increase your budget
It usually works out less expensive to buy a good but higher priced example than a poor lower priced example
Take advice from many sources but give some weight to those who use the cars regularly throughout the whole year for more than say 4,999 miles per year (and not just one high mileage trip counting for 60-70% of the annual mileage)
Good luck, I wished I'd researched before buying my cars
I'll only put the bits about buying here as they don't posted quite so often
I know 'my advice usual advice to new and potential owners' is good because it cost me a fleet load of MGs to aquire- just wish I'd have learn it sooner but I'm stupid, niaive, impulsive, impatient and very forgetful
My other advice, except 'my advice usual advice to new and potential owners', now that does vary greatly in quality
Advice:
look at and test drive as many good examples as you can including some well out of your buying budget to see how good the cars should be and that you may need to increase your budget
It usually works out less expensive to buy a good but higher priced example than a poor lower priced example
Take advice from many sources but give some weight to those who use the cars regularly throughout the whole year for more than say 4,999 miles per year (and not just one high mileage trip counting for 60-70% of the annual mileage)
Good luck, I wished I'd researched before buying my cars
43034 just seen where you mean, I've quoted from you on another thread
I'm not being big headed now as my advice is very basic stuff and know to many but I'd suggest you take a copy of my full usual advice and hyperlinks as I know people have found it very usefull and even helped them with problems
:bye:
I'm not being big headed now as my advice is very basic stuff and know to many but I'd suggest you take a copy of my full usual advice and hyperlinks as I know people have found it very usefull and even helped them with problems
:bye:
I dont think you're being big headed (not sure if you think I suggested you were? :S ) - I admit i'm a novice when it comes to things such as this and there's more experienced people out there than me.
I was just stating that I have read your advice on other threads.
Or have I got my wires crossed here?
43034.
I was just stating that I have read your advice on other threads.
Or have I got my wires crossed here?
43034.
The steering will feel heavy to begin with. It will also vary with the size of the steering wheel fitted - many owners have replaced the standard large wheel for a mountney or similar 13" wheel, which makes the steering more direct, but also heavier.
You get used to parking properly i.e. by driving a few inches forward and back to turn the wheels, rather than relying on a motor to do the work for you. The pay off for this is that there's less wear and tear on your rack and other steering components!
There are options which will help if you decide it's still too heavy - there are shims which fit into the front crossmember to alter the geometry which are supposed to be pretty good (not tried this myself yet) and aren't too expensive. You can fit PAS, but it'l be ££££.
You get used to parking properly i.e. by driving a few inches forward and back to turn the wheels, rather than relying on a motor to do the work for you. The pay off for this is that there's less wear and tear on your rack and other steering components!
There are options which will help if you decide it's still too heavy - there are shims which fit into the front crossmember to alter the geometry which are supposed to be pretty good (not tried this myself yet) and aren't too expensive. You can fit PAS, but it'l be ££££.
i moved from a punto to a spitfire, and although the steering is heavier, while your moving at any speed the steerign is actually much more enjoyable and is in my opinion a plus side and not a negative. when parking it is more noticable, but in all honesty, you wont notice it after a few days, its defiently not something worth considering in my opinion.
when i bought by first mgb, the first car i test drove had the full size origional 70's steerign wheel i think and it was huge. which ment that it was easyer to turn while parking , but on the road it wasnt for me,and i bought the b with the 13" and i love it.
drove a pas car recently after a year of spitfires and an mgb and i found the pas a nightmare at high speeds. didnt like it at all.
when i bought by first mgb, the first car i test drove had the full size origional 70's steerign wheel i think and it was huge. which ment that it was easyer to turn while parking , but on the road it wasnt for me,and i bought the b with the 13" and i love it.
drove a pas car recently after a year of spitfires and an mgb and i found the pas a nightmare at high speeds. didnt like it at all.
43034 said:
Or have I got my wires crossed here?
43034.
yes 43034.
ETA: unless you have physical difficulties you wont need PAS, good advice about moving the steering wheel as the car is moving
Personally I like the original size steering wheel (it appears even larger in the smaller Spridget cabin) I think it gives a nicer feel to the steering, just my opinion - course you do have to be slim like me to fit round it
You probably seen the threads on tyre and wheel sizes and suspension though
Edited by na on Tuesday 26th April 12:55
na said:
Personally I like the original size steering wheel (it appears even larger in the smaller Spridget cabin) I think it gives a nicer feel to the steering, just my opinion - course you do have to be slim like me to fit round it
]
I totally agree. Possibly the single worst item you can fit to an MGB is a wood-rimmed Mota-Lita steering wheel. ]
In the old days (MGB days) only big barges owned by rich folk had PAS, so we plebs didn't know any different anyway.
You'll just thicken those arms up a bit, and next time you drive one of those modern cars adapted for weak women you'll be all over the blinkin road.
You want to try driving an old truck without PAS.
You'll just thicken those arms up a bit, and next time you drive one of those modern cars adapted for weak women you'll be all over the blinkin road.
You want to try driving an old truck without PAS.
BGT was my first "proper" car... loved it and still regret selling it.
In fact, the reason I'm passing through is that almost 20 years later, and now with the budget to do some of the mods I couldn't afford back then, I'm thinking about getting another one.
Don't worry about the steering weight - you'll soon get used to it. Mountney wheel is good mod (but far from the smallest wheel I've driven on non-PAS cars).
In fact, the reason I'm passing through is that almost 20 years later, and now with the budget to do some of the mods I couldn't afford back then, I'm thinking about getting another one.
Don't worry about the steering weight - you'll soon get used to it. Mountney wheel is good mod (but far from the smallest wheel I've driven on non-PAS cars).
mgmrw2003 said:
Currently looking at buying a B GT as a project/weekend car and both me and the OH are tall, so a small steering wheel would be a must. Will this completely knacker the ability to park it?
and are there any other options?
I'm not sure being tall automatically means you need a (much?) smaller steering wheel as the B has a long footwell but as I'm short I can't say for sureand are there any other options?
if the car is fully and properly serviced and maintained then a small steering wheel will not make parking difficult - see all previous posts, some prefer a smaller steering wheel others like myself don't
if you need or want to then aftermarket PAS can be added but is expensive
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