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MG MGB Technical - 1974 V8 Front Spring Height

I have a 1974 factory V8 and it sits very high on the front. The clearance between the top of the tyre and the wheel arch is approximately 3 ½ inches. I have checked both of my 1800’s and they are about 2 inches. I have recently rebuilt the front suspension with new bushes but used the original springs. Does anybody know the length of the standard front springs uncompressed? I have also let the car sit on its tyres then bounced the front before doing up the nuts on the wishbones. Car is also fitted with a Spax shock absorber kit with the valves removed from the Armstrong shocks.
I have attached a picture this was taken before the suspension rebuild.

a goldup

Hi
I'm no expert on std. v8 stuff but from what I can find in the data I have it appears that all V8's chrome/rubber had the same front spring. Strikes me as unusual but----

Pt.no. BHH 1077
9.32" - free length
6.84" - at normal ride height. not sure how you could get an accurate measurement at ride height but-
480lb/in. - spring rate

The only other 480lb spring on my list is the competition spring-

Pt.no C-AHT21
8.63" free length

If your springs are in fact 9.32 the shorter 8.63 length should drop it probably - approx 2"

Hope this helps Willy
William Revit

Height is normally measured between wheel hub center and the side chrome strip. Paul Hunt's website has a good coverage of this issue, with measures from a number of owners, and would be worth a look.

Always difficult to estimate but I would think you had a fair gap between top of tyre and the wheel arch lip in the photo you have provided.

What size tyre have you on the car?
Roger T

Are they new springs? I've had problems with these when I haven't with three sets of rear springs, which are the ones most people complaining of having problems with. Two sets (V8 and CB roadster) were both very high initially, but did settle somewhat. The V8 was never that bad as it is an RB but the roadster initially looked awful and still looks high, it's a good job I had already jacked up the rear a bit as otherwise it would have looked ridiculous. The attached photo shows four springs, the left hand an 'original' roadster, the other three V8/late CB GT with the first with just a few years on the roadster, the next an 'original' V8, and the last one new. You can see that the new V8/late CB GT spring on the right is very nearly as high as an old CB roadster spring, and considerably more than its spec free height. Also the second 'not very old' one is considerably shorter than the 'original' V8.

The other thing with the V8 (or V8 bushes on 4-cylinder cars) is to ensure that you only fully tighten the A-arm pivot pin nuts on the crossmember, if they have been undone, when the weight is fully back on the wheels.

PaulH Solihull

The height from the center of the weel cap to the bottom of the chrome moulding is 16" o/s/f 15 1/2 n/s/f. The spring where the ones that came on the car so I have no idea if they have been changes no mention in the history supplied with the car. Car was on the ground when the A frame nuts where done up.
I will get the springs out and give them a measure up.
a goldup

My V8 was initially 16.25 and 16.5 after the spring change, after a couple of miles that came down to 15 and 15.5. After a couple of years they are 14.3 and 14.6, roadster almost the same. 15.5 and 16 when they have been on the car some time is higher than I would expect.
PaulH Solihull

It's probably worth remembering that chrome bumper V8s had a raised ride height, so your car is probably correct. Has yours still got the raised bump stop pedestals on the back axle? I believe these were unique to the chrome bumper V8. Yours, Dave
DM Gibson

That's what the Parts Catalogue shows, and a unique drop-link and damper. The rebound strap is common to all RB cars, and the RB V8 shared all three components with the other RB cars. However none of those have any effect on static ride height, only axle travel.
PaulH Solihull

This thread was discussed between 31/12/2010 and 04/01/2011

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