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MG MGF Technical - Handling Problem Sorted

Guys,

All my handling issues are over after replacing rear bushes.. YIPPPPEEEEE

Regards,
Mike
Mike

Hi Mike,

Any chance you could post the handling issues / symptoms you were getting (I'm interested, and also be good for the archives!)

Leigh
Leigh Reid

Mike

I'm really pleased for you as this has been bugging you since about September last year if I remember correctly.

Leigh
Search the 2003 and 2002 archive for "mike gibson" as it is all there already. Mike has been pretty good over the past few months about documenting the problems, asking for help and reporting back.
JohnP

Hi John,

Just thought it'd be good if Mike could list the problems he was having here, then anyone searching the archives gets the problem and a potental solution!

Leigh
Leigh Reid

bored at work too early on a Sunday morning , so here goes:

07 November 2002 at 12:38:54 UK time
Hello guys,

I still have a problem with my R reg VVC's handling, feels a bit wobbley on corners. Snakes very slightly.

Anyway went to the garage and had, tyres, shocks and suspention checked and it all seemed fine.

So still don't know what the problem is.. Any ideas team?

They also said that it could be bushes but he kind of checked them and thinks that they are fine too.

Regards,
Mike Gibson

07 November 2002 at 12:49:34 UK time
Guys,

forgot to add that I also had four wheel tracking done and that was fine.

Will what sort of noise/feeling will I get from wheel bearings gone?

Regards,
Mike Gibson

21 November 2002 at 09:00:01 UK time
mate,

I think that I'm going throught the same thing with my F. Feels though you are driving in high winds almost?, bit wobbly.

I could be my rear tyres as they are looking a bit worn lately.

I have always used Eagles on mine..

Regards,
Mike Gibson

21 November 2002 at 10:09:06 UK time
Hello Rob,

what is 'flat-spotted' exactally and how do you over come it?

Regards,
Mike G

21 November 2002 at 14:10:48 UK time
Guys,

If the ride height was wrong what would that feel like, on the handling?

Regards,
Mike Gibson

22 November 2002 at 13:16:11 UK time
Hi guys,

think that my handling problem could be the wheel bearings, what do you think.

How would I know if the wheel bearings had gone?

Regards,
Mike Gibson

22 November 2002 at 14:49:16 UK time
Tom,

I did that last weekend at my friends garage, but no movement.

Just don't know what this handling problem could be, I suppose it could still be bushes.

Weird to explain whats happening, it's like driving in heavy winds, juddering sort of feeling and not much traction.

Regards,
Mike Gibson

26 November 2002 at 09:14:38 UK time
Fellow F'ers,
I have checked just about everything now to sort out the handling. I know that the back tyres are worn to about 2mm at the moment and the limit is 1.6mm, they are also worn in the middle of the tyre (which means that the guy before over inflated them).

But could this have anything to do with the bad handling problem I keep having, it seems like it should be more then just the tyres that are doing this. I just won't let myself beieve that it's the tyres, if it is I'll kick myself.

I get like a floating/drifting feeling from the back end at all speeds and in different situations. Like driving in heavy wind sort of feeling.

Any ideas. I will change one of the tyres for the spare at the weekend just to test it.

Regards,
Mike Gibson

January 2003 at 16:51:07 UK time
Guys,

just a quick one on this, at the moment I have Eagles all round but soon to change the back for new ones, would it be ok to change them to F1's, it would mean that the front would be different to the back.

Is this a problem?

Regards,
MG

30 January 2003 at 11:16:44 UK time
Hi guys,
Just about to have some Pirrelli P7000's put on the back (£87 each) - anyone used these before?

I already have Goodyear NCT3's on the front, will these go ok together?

Regards,

Mike Gibson

30 January 2003 at 13:01:22 UK time
Rob,

just had a look at the tyres that they have fitted and they are not P7000 but P6000, when I asked he said that they don't do P7000??? is this right?

Regards,
Mike Gibson

31 January 2003 at 10:47:46 UK time
Guys, Rob,
thanks for all your advise on the tyres.

The guys at the tyre place are normally good but I dealt with the new guy so as you can expect, just thinks that he knows everything!!

Very happy with the tyres but think that I got charged for P7000 instead of the P6000 that I have. Plus I was told that all tyre prices went up in January - but it wasn't the tyre dealers that told me this, does anyone know if this is true?

Regards,
Mike Gibson

13 February 2003 at 08:19:21 UK time
Hi guys,

just to let you know that my MGF nearly went at the weekend - nearly sold it to buy an Audi A4.

Reason being is that since the HGF I haven't been able to trust it not happening again, people don't realise how much things like this put you off a car.

Anyway came to me senses and pulled out - still a proud owner of a R-reg VVC F with on going faults!!, at least these problems keep you on your feet!!

Regards,
Mike Gibson

13 February 2003 at 14:32:53 UK time
Neil - Dave,

how do I know that the garage did a proper job as they will always say they did, this is what's worrying me.

Regards,
Mike Gibson

14 February 2003 at 08:52:07 UK time
Rob,

the only fault now is the steering as it seems to wonder quite a lot and pull to different sides..

Regards,
Mike Gibson

14 February 2003 at 08:56:58 UK time
Guys,

anyone suffered from wondering steering and pulling from side to side before?

It's a real pain, your drive on a motorways and the steering just decides to pull a different way - it's only very soft by you can well notice it.

Also on bumpy roads it's all over the show - I get pulled from side to side.

Any ideas guys?

Regards,
Mike Gibson

14 February 2003 at 10:05:22 UK time
Tony,

tyres are nearly new front and back - are the bushes easy to fit, which ones?

Regards,
Mike Gibson

14 February 2003 at 10:45:28 UK time
Tony,

which bushes do you mean mate?

Regards,
Mike

14 February 2003 at 13:44:46 UK time
Tom,

I look through the archives the other day and found your string there which helped out a lot. What do you think to the bush idea that the others mentioned?

Many thanks

Regards,
Mike G

14 February 2003 at 14:02:48 UK time
Guys,

just took the car out for a lunch time drive and the handling was crap - even worse then before..

Going to have a good look at these rear ball joints I think

Regards,
Mike

01 April 2003 at 12:33:19 UK time
Guys,

I have just had some Pirrelli P6000's put on the rear and I noticed the other day that they are actually
205/55 and NOT 205/50 is this going to be ok?

Regards,
Mike Gibson

11 April 2003 at 12:11:33 UK time
Guys,

All my handling issues are over after replacing rear bushes.. YIPPPPEEEEE

Regards,
Mike

JohnP

I haven't put this list in as any form of intended putdown of Mike but as an example of the way we can all get sidetracked where our car is concerned.

As we see, back in November 2002 Mike reported handling problems and consulted a dealer who suggested it could be bushes. In April 2003, Mike replaced bushes and cured the problem.

In the intervening 5 months Mike has considered and /or tried many of the suggestions put forward on this BBS.

Several times a quick 'please have a look and tell me what you think' visit to somewhere like TechSpeed was suggested and this may have defined the problem some months ago at little cost. I accept that the cost element may have held back solution for a while.

Several people suggested getting a ride in another F as a comparison to see if 'thats as good as it gets etc' or getting somebody else to drive Mikes car for a second opinion.

It seems that Mikes problems are now solved following some usefull advice on the BBS and, I'm sure, we all hope Mike enjoys his car throughtout the coming long hot summer months.

Over the past 12 months I have got some excellent advice from this BBS and have also discovered some problems that I didn't know I had. I shall continue to logon every day and hope to continue learning and enjoying.

Once again Mike - I really am pleased you seem to have the handling sorted now and that you also recovered from an HGF in the middle of all that. It never rains but ....
JohnP

Nice one Mike :o)
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 11/04/2003 and 14/04/2003

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