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MG MGB Technical - Reversible suspension upgrades

Looking for comments, tips, hints.

Here are some ideas that I have to improve handling, this won't be an ultimate set up, don't want that? They are mainly what I've gleaned from the forum as a simple and straight-forward(?easily reversed?) setup for occasional track days use with a 72 Gt.

The car has a 3/4" anti-roll bar already.

Front:

Lower Front 1" with Front Springs 8" 550lbs
Uprate standard dampers with 5w motorbike fork oil.
V8 wishbone bushes (which others might be better)
Remove bump stops

Rear:
Rear Springs 1" lower & softer, remove 2 or 3 smaller leaves
Uprate standard dampers with 5 weight motorcycle fork oil
V8 bushes (which others might be better)
Remove bump stops

Later I might put in a triangulated v-link on the rear suspension.

Which uk tyres would be best on this kind of set up, with a) normal rostyles b) minilites.

Any comments?
Iwan Jones

Iwan-
Do not remove the bump stops. If you do the arms of your lever arm dampers will not be prevented from over-traveling and damaging the internal parts of your dampers.

5W fluid is far too light for the lever arm dampers. 20W is standard. Fit uprated damper mechanisms instead.

A 1" front stabilizer bar is too stiff for the street. I use a 7/8" front stabilizer bar coupled with a slightly shortened Rubber Bumper rear stabilizer bar to counter understeer. These will resist body roll just fine without having to go to the jarring ride of stiffened spring rates.

Lowering the car will force you to avoid every speed bump. It will also alter the steering geometry, introducing a tendency to bump steer on really big bumps.

RV8 front bushings are a good idea. Superflex polyurethane bushings (SuperFlex Part # SPF0012) last practically forever and will absorb vibration like rubber does.
Stephen Strange

Superflex blue bushings are, as Stephen says, excellent. I would use them over V8 bushes any day. The 550 lbin front springs will give a very hard ride.

Other than that I can't help much as my GT has a full Hoyle suspension package with 200 lbin front springs and 350 lbin rears. This isn't directly comparable with a "normal" MGB as Hoyle puts the foot of the spring much closer to the wheel, meaning a softer spring rate can be used.
Mike Howlett

Iwan,

I do not catch what you intend to do. Have a look in archives which will be usefull. I used both polyurethane bushings an V8 front bushings. V8 are my preferred ones. With you idea front springs will be too stiff and rear with 2 leaves removed will be too soft.
A cheap modif will be front damper stiffer by adding uprated valves and take gaz shock conversion route to rear.

Cheers,

Jean G.
Jean Guy Catford

Hi, thanks for the comments so far.

In the archives and in other places I've read, there is a train of thought that stiffening the suspension is not good for track cars, they become more like go-karts. I'm trying to head for this softer approach, especially on the rear suspension - but not with 5w fluid - sorry that was a mistake on my part.

I have looked in the archives and there seems to be a battle (well a disagreement really) between the stiffer-uppers and the go softer affictionados.

Another battle is the keep the Armstrong lever arm dampers crew versus the get rid and put in the gaz shock supporters.

Just trying to find out current thinking?

Ta

Iwan
Iwan Jones

Iwan-
A telescopic conversion might be worthwhile for racing use, but the Armstrong lever arm dampers are fine for street use. Instead, spend the money on rebuilding the suspension with SuperFlex polyurethane bushings.
Stephen Strange

Here is one article I found

'Then comes handling. Here it depends on how serious you are again about racing, and how much you're prepared to sacrifice on ride. You can start by stiffening up the suspension slightly, but stiffness alone doesn't equal handling, especially at the rear. On the contrary. If it's set up too stiff at the back a mid corner bump can send you spinning. Keep it soft and supple. Going up in stiffness at the front isn't so much of a problem.'
Iwan Jones

This thread was discussed between 16/03/2013 and 18/03/2013

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