MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - HELP.don't know what to do anymore

Hello everyone,

i'm having serious headaches over the mgf's suspensio i.e tyre wear.
my rear RH tyre is totally worn on the inside.First had the wheels aligned and the rear RHS showed over a degree in negative camber. they told me to sort this out first and come back when car car was ok.
also the ride height was low so i had the suspension refilled yesterday by the Rover's HQ's workshop here in Portugal.

Before refill data:

front were even but the ride height was 350mm.
the rear was 350 LHS and 345mm RHS.

After refill data:

Ride height throughout the car is approx 350-355mmm.
Measurements taken 24hrs after refill.this seems low to me as the factory settings are 375mm?am i right on this?

The camber is still negative even visually. you can see it from behind. The tyre stands like this Engine /.
Dieter told me the camber is not adjustable only the toe is.
When i rang and complained about their service they asked me why i hadn't asked for a wheel alignment in the fisrt place as the camber IS adjustable.

HELP.

Many thanks
bruno

MGR Spec for std MGF 1.8, 1.8vvc (not Trophy)

Ride height measured wheel ctr to wheel arch at ambient = 17 deg C. Height alters at +/-0.6mm / deg C.

Fronts 368mm +/- 10mm
Rears 363mm +/- 10mm

Do not check or adjust after a raod test. Allow vehicle to stand for two hours to let temperature equalise and pressure balance.

Car standing on level surface, handbrake off, unladen (fuel qty doesn't seem to make significant difference), steering straight ahead.

Bounce vehicle both end few times, roll fwd and back a few times, push down on front, allow to settle, measure trim heights.

Providing all are within tolerance MGR say OK. In fact they said mine was OK at F355 and R363/365. It seems that it is not that critical... Also some folk suggest running at low height - there's a lot about this in the archives.

Rear Camber -ve 1deg +/- 30min (6.71mm +/- 0.315mm)

There's nothing in the manual about camber adjustment but I had 4-wheel alignment and it was adjusted by my dealer.

Regards

ian
Ian Walker

Normally the camber is not adjustable on the MGF. Mike Satur does however, sell some ajustable rear tie bars which he designed specifically for this problem and allow for the camber to be adjusted. I don't know if anyone has fitted them. They are expensive though.
Spyros Papageorghiou

Spyros is right I have made a limited number of these arms and yes they were expensive to make! Compared to tyre wear, safer improved handling, weight saving the advantages out weigh the costs IMO.Have recently fitted them to a Trophy and have had good reports back. Chris??
mike

Hi,

thanks for your comments. booked the car next wednesday at the same dealer to align the wheels. i'm curious what the outcome is.i'll let you know.

bruno
bruno

Bruno,

Forget the camber term. Wrong camber will never lead to tyre wear at the MGF. Though, if the rear subframe got bended then may be, but this can easy be checked by comparing the look of the right and left suspension fixture at the subframe. ... and one degree is IMO not visible.

I know you don't know about what could have happened to the car before you got it. An impact to any of the four wheels could cause 'Dackellauf' and this is out of tracking.

http://www.mgfcar/tracking/technik.htm (intro)
http://www.mgfcar.de/tracking/bspur.htm (german)
http://www.mgfcar.de/tracking/ebspur.htm (english)http://www.mgfcar.de/tracking/ebleein.htm (english)

I'd suggest to stay there when they do the four wheel alignment. *never trust a dealer *
The car must stand on four sliding supports when the adjustment gets done. Measurement heads must be centered each on each wheel individual.
The same bounce as above mentioned by Ian to the rear and front must be done before they start. And the suspension should settle in any way.

However, before doing alignment they should check the all joints condition front and rear, also the rear control arm bearings and whether the rear tie bars are not bent.

HTH
Dieter
Dieter Koennecke

This thread was discussed between 28/03/2002 and 29/03/2002

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now