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MG MGF Technical - Can you tell?

If the suspension (F) has had lowering knuckles fitted or the hyrdragas has been let out? My suspension is 325 mm all round (+ or - 5mm). This has left me confused, I wanted to lower the car but I was shocked when I drove past another F that looked like a 4x4, thats why I measured my suspension.

I assume the car hasen't been lowered properly as the car is as stock as the day MG made it.

Am I right in saying a properly lowered car handles better thaan one wuth less hyrdragas?
Kevin s

325 mm is rather low, knowing that a stock F is 368 mm, measured at the front from the centre of the wheel to the rim of the wheelarch. With lowering knuckles this would be 30 mm lower.

Generally speaking, a lower car handles better because it has a lower centre of gravity, thus leaning less to the side when cornering.

Johan
Johan Slagter

>> Am I right in saying a properly lowered car handles better thaan one wuth less hyrdragas

Yes and no, the car won't handle _much_ differently but the ride will be a lot softer if you just let out some hydragas. So you get the lower look and slight handling improvement but lose the ride quality and make it easier to bottom your suspension out (not good). The best way to tell is to get a hydragas pump attached to the car I'm afraid. The pressure should be around 400psi for the suspension to be at the previously mentioned 368mm. This then drops to around 300psi for a car at 350mm. So it'll be pretty easy to spot if the pressure is low. Anywhere that services Metro's should have a hydragas pump and should be able to get the pressure right for you. Then you can get it lowered properly. The generally accepted Guru's of F suspension are Techspeed nr Leamington Spa, but if you are just going for the knuckles you can get these fitted at pretty much any specialist (B&G, MGFC, Mike Satur all do them).

HTH
Phil Brindley - Leicester

And 'just letting the gas out' will lead to lots of tyre wear as it screws the tracking.
Will Munns


> And 'just letting the gas out' will lead to lots of tyre wear as it screws the tracking.

As do lowering knuckles.
You need to re-track the car if you lower it in any way.

P.
Paul Nothard

I understand all of the above but is there a way of telling IF lowering knuckles have been fitted?
Kevin s

AFAIK, Basically not without taking it apart or attaching a hydragas pump.
Phil Brindley - Leicester

This thread was discussed between 09/08/2004 and 11/08/2004

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