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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MG Y Type - Front coil springs

On seeing the price of coil springs for my YB I feel that I have to ask anyone who has ventured down this path what are the pros and cons of using MGB springs, or even TD/TF ones. On looking at the specs it seems that the later MGBGT RB ones are about the right ride height but may be somewhat harder (and a lot cheaper). Has anybody done this and what are your experiences? Should I save my money and buy the proper ones?

Regards
Ian Thomson
ian thomson

Buy the real proper ones Ian. Yes they are a little spendy but who said owning a Y Type was cheap? It is about experiencing that wonderful feeling of driving when the car was new - you wont regret spending the extra, and at least you are in the UK so shipping and exchange rate won't kill you too!

Paul
Paul Barrow

My investigations about coil springs give the specifications as follows;
TD/TF, wire diameter .498", free length 9.59".
Y/YT/YB, wire diameter .538", free length 9.82".
MGB, wire diameter .512", free lengths 9.1", 9.32", 9.9", 10.2", according to model.
MGB/RB, wire diameter .528", free length 8.42".
So using T type springs will cause a Y type to droop at the front. RB springs have thinner wire, so will be softer, but appear to be too short. It looks as if MGB springs will be softer, and the 10.2" items might even give the correct ride height.
Ofcourse, this is only looking at the written data. If any of the data is wrong, I would appreciate corrections.
R WILSON

RW
Nice list, and I agree with your take on it, but it will also depend on how the springs are wound fine/course as the total length of wire in the working coils ,together with the wire dia. control the spring rate
willy
William Revit

The MGB springs are almost 0.7mm smaller in diameter and 9.4% less in cross section area. So assuming the ride height is correct, as well as giving a slightly more comfortable ride, they will give more stability on roads with bumps and potholes, including around corners - provided the shock-absorbers are working correctly.
R WILSON

Thanks for your comments folks. I will have to mull this over.
Ian
ian thomson

This thread was discussed between 31/08/2018 and 04/09/2018

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