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MG MGB Technical - Ron Hopkinson steering kit

Looking through the paperwork that came with
my 1975 mgbgt shows that it is fitted with a Hopkinson steering kit. Anyone know what this consists of? The car has telescopic dampers. Would the rack have been included in this kit?

Rod
R E Merrall

I've heard of a Ron Hopkinson handling kit, but not steering.

Have a look at Paul Hunt's 'site.

http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/suspensiontext.htm#arb
Dave O'Neill 2

Telescopic dampers would be additional to the RH handling kit. As far as steering changes go it could be castor wedges, but whether they were ever available under the RH banner I don't know. I don't think I've come across a different design of rack except for some types of power assistance.
paulh4

Thanks for your help. I take it I use oil for the rack. I noted a thread which recommended injecting a tube of molybdenum disulfide into the rack; is this acceptable/wise? The steering is stiff a low speed which is fairly normal but I have difficulty pushing from lock to lock with my little finger as suggested by Paul earlier; can do it with index finger though! Would moly free it up at all?

Rod
R E Merrall

The Ron Hopkinson front handling kit consisted of;
1. Top wishbone,
2. Top inner pivot
3. Bilstein telescopic dampers with bracket to bolt to the standard lower wishbone,
4 Top, Goose neck, anchor, for the damper.

If your rack is OE then use gear oil.
Some of the later replacement racks usually come greased and are not internally designed to allow oil to flow all the way through.

Stiff steering could also be down to;
a. over adjusting of the damper pad on the rack. Often done to reduce "slop" near the centre on a worn rack. The steering then gets tighter on lock.
b. Tight, dry or corroded TRE's
c. Dry kingpins.
d. Non alignment of the pinion shaft and the steering column.
Allan Reeling

When greasing king pins should the wheels be hanging or supported on a jack? Incidentally I notice that there are 3 nipples on one side but only 2 on the other. Is this normal?
R E Merrall

Usually 3 nipples, but recent ones maybe not. Just check one has been broken off or plugged.
I'm usually doing mine with the car jacked up, both for space and also to rotate the hub for easier access and to encourage grease spread..
Allan Reeling

As Allan says--the whole idea of the kit was to convert to tele shocks and I think from memory the sway bar is slightly larger as well

On the rh side there is a nipple on the bottom and 2 out the front, on the lh side there is a nipple on the bottom ,then the very top one faces forward but the lower (middle) nipple faces rearwards
And yes leave it all hanging to grease it
William Revit

Ron Hopkinson marketed several suspension mods for MG's, (don't know about other makes).
A/R bars front and rear were on his list of parts, but not included in his front kit unless you asked for one.
I still have his front kit under a bench somewhere. I had to modify it somewhat, when I lowered the R/B crossmembered, roadster, years ago.
It was an OK kit and I fancy it reduced the castor a touch too. But was compromised by still having the original spring position.
Allan Reeling

My understanding of the 'handling' kits is that they covered to the ARBs only, as per the attached. It was the suspension kit that covered the other parts.

I don't think squirting grease in will help much unless you are lucky, it would need to be dismantled and all surfaces coated.

Early king pins only had two grease nipples, later three, and the recommendation is to add the third one which is at the lower end of the king pin. On the right-hand side both swivel axle nipples point forwards, but on the left the lower one points backwards. Both straight but the lower one is normally longer as it is close to a bulge in the casting. The trunnion nipple should be angled and may need to be unscrewed slightly to get the grease gun on it square.


paulh4

Thanks for your comments
R E Merrall

I recently refitted my Ron Hopkinson rear ARB and noticed that the lower brackets had been welded up by a PO. Made and fitted some stronger brackets - didn't like the idea of the chance of them breaking off again. Updated my blog with more photos at:- https://mgb.tips/category/projects/rear-antiroll-bar/

steve livesley

Steve, do you have a part number for the rear anti roll bar bushes please. You suggest they are Astra.

Colin
Colin Parkinson

Colin I got them off eBay. The description gave dimensions which were spot on. No part no.




steve livesley

Thanks for that Steve.

I now have a full set of bits to make a complete kit. All parts powder coated, plated, new nuts bolts washers, bushes etc.

For sale £50 + carriage.

Any use to anyone?

Colin

Colin Parkinson

Bargain!
steve livesley

Everyone, I have now listed this on Ebay, and got a bid already at £50.

Item finishes next Saturday.

But I do have just a rear Hopkinson anti roll bar as well. That is powder coated and ready to fit. If you have all the other bits!

Colin
Colin Parkinson

Here is the other rear anti roll bar that is surplus to requirements.

Colin

Colin Parkinson

This thread was discussed between 29/01/2020 and 31/03/2020

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