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MG MGF Technical - Wheel wobble

I was wondering if any other F owners have experience wheel wobble when driving at asteady 60-65 mph?. I have just had the suspension pumped up on my 97 VVC, as well as having the tracking aligned the wheels have recently been balanced and there still is an annoying shake at these speeds which is the average speed I do on the UK roads.

I have spoken to a fellow F owner and he said this was the MGF wobble and they were prone to this. Is this correct I find this hard to believe on a car that only when new would have been nearly £20,000.

Comments please.
Alun

Mine's never wobbled! <ooer>

Expect nothing less than a perfect wobble free ride.

P.
Paul Nothard

This must be about the only "they all do it Sir" that hasn't cropped up on the BBS.

No problem with mine.
JohnP

I've got the same problem, which I first noticed when I had the rear tires replaced. I've had all 4 wheels balanced, which improved the problem, but it's still there. It's much less apparent with the roof down. I'd also be interested to hear if any one knows what the problem might be.

Cheers,

Lewis
Lewis

No wobbles thank you!
Ted Newman

Did you buy your car new?
Has it always done this?
if it's 2nd hand and always done it, it could have been pranged by a previous owner!
Kingsley

I had new rear tyres fitted last week (admittedly cheap ones) and ever since the handling has been noticeably worse.

Driving on the motorway is quite scary and the slightest movement from the straight-ahead sets the thing rolling like a ship. Also it feels far to easy for the rear to step out.

It has been lowered and has adjustable Avo shocks fitted, will ask B&G to look at it when it goes in for 5 year service next month.

I assume it should feel far more steady, safe and predictable than my Rover 200, but it doesn’t.

Any suggestions?
TIM

Tim ,fit better quality tyres to the rear, poor tyres especially at the rear are dangerous and will cause handling problems.HTH.
Alun, depends on what size/make of tyres fitted, you could have a ball joint worn or a shock bush shot.HTH
Mike.
mike

The tyres I got are 205 50 R15 V rated, they are called 'Lee' and are manufactured by Goodyear in the UK.

All in cost, including vat and fitting was £97 for the two.
Tim

Tim

The V rating shows what speed the tyres can travel at without falling apart - that is all!

As we know from previous discussions the tyre build, materials etc make much more of a difference and good tyres are expensive - thats life.

Ted
Ted Newman

Tim, I know that replaceing these tyres might hurt as they are new, but it might save your life and do you want a car which feels dangerous for the next year or two?
Go on take it to north weild and burn the rubber away- it will make you feel a lot better about replaceing them ;-)
Will Munns

I could have got the MGR recommended (apparently)
Goodyear NCT's for around £140. The £40 seemed a lot when my wife has given up work to look after our newborn and I have just serviced our Rover 200, and booked the VVC in for its 5-year service at B&G in a few weeks.

So if tyres are the cause of handling problems:

a) What is the chance I can get a discount or part refund form the back street garage I got the Lee's from off the price of something reasonable?

b) If I buy new rears would anyone be interested in a brand new pair of 205 50 R15 Lee's with about 100 miles on them?

c) What would be the cheapest good quality tyres I can get, and where from? What about these nearly new places you see doted around.

Cost is a big factor in my decision.

Any advise on this often repeated and probably boring to many, dilemma I am in.
Tim

Tim, did the garage advise you of handling diffrences? I know that there is some sort of central body for tyre fitters who have a buliten about fitting any tryes upart from NCT's quoting somthing like
'alternative tyres can be fitted if the customer is advised about diffrences in handling'
Will Munns

Just found some prices at on-line comanys:

Eagle NCT 3 £68.38
Eagle F1 GS-D2 £67.00

Dunlop SP Sport 2000 £64.80

These are supply only, I was thinking that the garage might fit for free after the screw up.

What do you think of these, which is best?
Tim

I had a few wobbles. It so turned out that the wonderful MG rover garage from which I bought my MG had accidently swapped one of the front and rear wheels so each axle had 2 different sized wheels.

I was driving around like that for 2 years before I realised what the problem was.
Ian Clifford

This thread was discussed between 25/06/2002 and 28/06/2002

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