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MG MGF Technical - Sub Frame Mounts

Advice needed please !!

A colleague at work has just bought a '97 F for his daughter, been fitted with usual extra's ( K+N, Stainless exhaust, later interor etc), but suffered from sticking throttle. Took car to local ex MGR dealer, who gave car full service etc, and changed throttle body for 52mm Trophy item.

While at garage, one of the mechanics noticed that the 8 sub frame mounts had been changed recently for the Trophy 'solid' mounts. The garage have advised that these be changed back to the 'normal' mounts to prevent stress fractures in the shell.

The garage have quoted my friend about £330 inc VAT to change them, which having looked at Dieter's site seems reasonable to me in terms of parts prices and labour, but is it necessary, or are the garage being a little 'over enthusiastic'?
Jay Smith

There is no reason to change them back. I have these on my '96 car to no ill effect.

It is true that the MGF Trophy had a number of upgrades to the body structure (as did all MGFs) however, subframe reinforcement was not one of them to the best of my knowledge.

Sounds as though they've got an enthusiast-owned car there - what are the details? It may be known to this forum?
Rob Bell

I wouldn't change back. In fact, if they do change back, I would be very interested in buying the solid ones from them :)
Sander

I have the solid ones on my 1995 car and have had them on there for a while and also have had no ill effects just tightens things up a bit!!!

Rick
R P Earle

Thanks for that, will pass comments on.

Is there an appreciable difference with solid mounts, versus the original ones?

Should I consider them for my 'F'?
Jay Smith

Jay, if you were preparing a car for racing, and had already stiffened up every other suspension mounting, then yes you'd fit them. But for typical road usage, you're probably better off sticking to the original mounts - the effort/expense required to change them wouldn't be worth it IMHO.
Mike Hankin

But since they've been changed already, you'd be keen to keep them, as it really tightens up the handling rather nicely :o)
Rob Bell

I have bought a set of the solid front ones and I am looking for enough time to fit them.
Steve Ratledge

The garage are correct. A friend who used to work for MG Rover in Body Engineering confirmed that the shell was re-inforced with the fitting of the solid mountings, as they had had failures when conducting Pave testing. This test is fairly extreme and consists of continual driving over a cobbled type surfaces, so you maybe unlikely to see many failures on UK roads. He did advise when I asked him about fitting solid mounts to my car to ensure that they fitted flush to the shell so that the load was evenly spread.
Hope this helps.
David Karle

Thanks for that info David - I shall keep an eye on my car's mounting points :o)
Rob Bell

David

As many of us substituted the rubber mounts for the solid mounts, it would be useful to know where exactly to look for the stress fractures ie any particular mounting points more prone to failure than others and indeed, is it the mounting points that fail or is it elsewhere on the shell or subframes?

Julian
Julian

I only fitted the solid mounts in conjunction with the subframe bracing at the front. I would suggest this in order for the loads to be fully displaced. Mind you, the rubber ones off my 98F were like jelly. A very worthwhile upgrade.
Sward

You can always go half way and rather than fitting solid mounts you can fit the latter mounts that were fitted from 2000 model year on (if your car is pre 2000). These can be identified by the green paint that they have on them. These do make a big difference, without the worries that the solid ones could lead to.
David Karle

I've had all three on my car - it must be said that the later alloy items are by far the superior.

Interestingly, the chassis guys @ VHS recommend these mounts for all MGFs - remember that these were the same chaps who developed the MGF and TF suspension. :o)
Rob Bell

<ensure that they fitted flush to the shell> ??
Is there another way?
Mike

Upside down perhaps ;o)
Rob Bell

Just bought some off ebay, will let you know how I get on :)
Jay Smith

This thread was discussed between 02/05/2006 and 12/05/2006

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