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MG MGB Technical - Rear end jumps

This year I noticed that rear axle jump a bit when I turn in the corner to the right. It feels like that I drove over hole or bump on the road. I can feel that only when I am turning right and when it jumps, rear end again feels stiff. I checked under the body if maybe some bolts of leaf springs are loosened but everything looks fine. All rubber parts made less than 10.000 km on the car. Can anyone identify the problem?

toni
Toni Kavcic

You may have a right rear wheel bearing problem. RAY
rjm RAY

Another thought, check the amount of movement of the lever arm shocks, if fitted. And is it smooth in all directions( up, then down.) Mike
J.M. Doust

My first thought was shocks, too.

Herb
Herb Adler

This could be an extreme example of the offset rear axle MGBs often display. Maybe to the point where it is fouling the wing? If so the tyre may show some scuff marks.
Stan Best

My left tyre used to foul badly when I first fitted wire wheel conversion hubs to a stud wheel axle but never caused jumping. It's normally the left side that is closer, and that will rub on a left bend not a right. Unless the problem is rubbing on the inside of the arch rather than the outside.

Can't see it being wheel bearing either as unlike the fronts the rears are bolted to the half-shaft so any play will only cause up and down movement of the wheel not rocking from side to side like at the front. Does sound more like a damper problem on the left side, either no damping at all or sticking then suddenly moving. Compare the travel and stiffness one side to the other.
PaulH Solihull

Thanks foe help and for many helpful inputs I checked left damper and it looked OK. After long persuading from my brother that is maybe damper not bolted tight enough I took wrench to my hand and found that was he correct. It does not mean that were screws completely loosened but I made quite a few turns with wrench. That also miraculously cured strange noise that was present when I hit a hole on the road – I was convinced that is exhaust pipe hitting something.

This is already my second lesson that every bolt that is under the body should have either stiff nut with nylon insert or some Loctite compound. First time happened just 2 months after rebuilding of front steering when lower triangular bracket lost 3 nuts. In both cases I used new spring washers but it looks that is that not enough.
Toni Kavcic

I've had those nuts/bolts work loose repeatedly on one side as well. Got the noise, but not hopping.
PaulH Solihull

This thread was discussed between 30/06/2011 and 02/07/2011

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