MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 MGA - Car sits low on the passenger side???

Although my passenger side shocks seem to be working properly, my car seems to sit lower on the passenger side. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can fix this?

I've attached a picture.

gerard hutchinson

Gerard,

It is not the shocks but either the front and/or back springs. Most likely the back springs. They can be re-arched but do the pair together so that they match. Loads of good information on the exact dimensions on the MGAGuru's site.

If it turns out to be the front springs search through old threads for the subject. It is hard to find new but correct MGA front springs.

Looks like you are making good progress.

John
jbackman

Gerald,
I'm not the expert, but I had an MGA a few years back that sat low on one side and it turned out to be the rear spring, front bushing was rusted and held the spring in one position. Since the car had been sitting for years with a flat tire, the rusted bushing held the car in that same position. I pulled off the springs, replaced the bushings and the car sat fine.
You might want to take the springs off the axle and at the rear and see if there is any motion at the front bushing.
C
Cleve Crews

I had exactly the same issue with my car. Upon disassembly, I found one rear spring had sagged. My mechanic had them re-arched but the car isn't back together enough yet to tell if it fixed the problem. I'm pretty sure it will though.

Larry
L Wheeler

Excellent!!!

I was talking about my MGA project recently to someone and they were amazed at the amount of help & advice available from fellow MG owners!!!

Thanks again!!
gerard hutchinson

Yeah, the MGA community is great. I have had the pleasure of being on one other automtive site where people are just as helpfull, well mannered and trustworthy. A third site I belong to has people that are less then honest in their business dealings. They go so far as to have one section where you can post bad experiences with members and name the bad traders. I really don't know how the different groups can be so different. The MGA community is a group of great people.
Chuck Schaefer

Just a thought:

if the car is slightly low on the passenger side......

it should sit perfectly level when you the driver sits in it?

Steve (being overly helpful ....grins)
S L Bryant

Hi Gerard,

To add to my previous comment, I have now found one of my shocks was frozen and two of them flopped with no resistance. Between re-arching the rear springs and getting the shocks rebuilt I'm fairly confident I should have a level car once it gets put back together.

Regards,
Larry
L Wheeler

Wait a minute. Are you sure you need to re-arch the rear springs? Leaf springs being too tall is VERY BAD THING. See here:
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/suspensn/rs104.htm
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/suspensn/rs104a.htm
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/suspensn/rs105.htm
Barney Gaylord

Hi Barney,

In my case, one of my springs sagged and was re-arched to match the other one. Can't say if that's Gerard's issue, it will be hard to tell until he gets them pulled so they can be compared side-by-side.

Larry
L Wheeler

hey... so... what if I don't have any rebound straps?!! Is that bad?!!
gerard hutchinson

Yes.
Barney Gaylord

This thread was discussed between 16/10/2011 and 04/11/2011

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGA BBS now