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MG MGF Technical - X-Power Springs

Back in October I replaced the standard TF160 springs with the new X-Power version. The car has settled a bit and now I'm suffering from the occasional close encounter with speed humps. The part of the car making ground contact appears to be the transporter rings. However, slightly more unpleasant is the awful thump, crash, bang that happens over, in and through pot holes. Has anybody else had the same concerns or is the solely due to the cr*p roads where I live?

To solve the speed hump problem I could get the car raised back to the original ride height. Don't quite know what to do about the thumping. Any suggestions?

Thanks

David
David Grant

>>>Don't quite know what to do about the thumping.
===re-fit the original springs, or only use the car on decent roads and circuits. Spring rates are always a compromise of ride quality on rough roads versus handling on good roads.
David S

The thumping is down to the springs being stiffer than standard. Unfortunately this is a downside of 'sports' suspension. I have the X-Power springs fitted and have to say I have no problems regarding catching speed humps unless I take them too fast (which I have now learnt not to do) ;o)
Could be worth measuring the height of the humps you catch as there is a maximum height that councils who install them have to abide to. If they are over this height you may have a case for getting them lowered or even removed :D.
Also, did your car have the -10mm lowered suspension when new, or the standard suspension?
I believe on some early cars that had the lowered, the lowering was done by fitting dampers with the spring mounting plate in a lower position, rather than by fitting different springs (which is how they do it now I believe). If you were than to fit the X-Power springs to these modified dampers, your car would be that extra 10mm lower and could be why you are having probs??
Techspeed only measured a 20mm drop on mine when fitted (believe it may have settled another 5mm or so) any idea how much yours has dropped by?
Steve White

Steve,

Thanks - mine is an early TF built in Jan 02 and as far as I'm aware it does have the standard suspension set up. The car did drop about 25mm (IIRC) at the front and 15mm at the back. I'm talking with Tech-Speed so it might be possible to raise the car a touch. As regards thumps I worried that something will snap - we'll see...

David - thanks. I might have to put the old springs back but as regards driving on better roads please can you try and talk with Borough of Reigate & Banstead - you might have better luck than I have.
David Grant

>>>please can you try and talk with Borough of Reigate & Banstead
===not their fault, the answer is a change of Government - as you should know, this lot have cut, cut and re-cut the rate support grant especially in non-red southern boroughs. My council tax is now equal to my mortgage interest!
David S

To me, the improved handling outweights by far the thumping issue... To the best of my recollection the TF160 sports supension was quite harsh anyway...
This Xpower kit defo is the best mod I undertook on my TF so far....
Stéphane

I understood in previous threads that the X-Power springs were making the ride less harsh, am I wrong ?
Because I'm planning to order them in the near future, and I don't want to be disappointed...
I am used to slooow down for speed bumps (my former F had lowering knuckles) and to watch the road for avoiding pot holes, so if these are the only downsides, I can live with.
Fabrice

Fabrice, from what I can gather, the X-Power springs give a firmer ride, yet smoother because they eliminate the 'bounce' you get with the standard road springs.

I think that this is the first thread where anyone has actually said that the ride is harsher - which is interesting in itself.

From the otherwise overwhelmingly positive response that I've heard from those with these springs fitted, I'd definitely go for it :o)
Rob Bell

Fabrice,

From my perspective the ride is definitely better. The problem that I appear to have is two fold

1). Occasional grounding of the transporter hoops when going over speed humps.
2). Pot holes / deep road holes can produce an unpleasant thumping / crashing of suspension

I am primarily concerned with issue 2 as I don't know if I'm doing some damage to the car. Issue 1 means that I'll have to go a bit slower of speed humps.

Hope that helps

David
David Grant

Thanks guys, I am reassured, I can pass the order to Santa ;o)
Fabrice

Do TFs still have grease nipples? - the reason I ask is when our TF had its service it came back quiet as a mouse compared to a bit of thumping from the front suspension that you could feel and hear, maybe they just tightened everything up?

Worth a look and maybe a quick squeeze of the grease gun if there is nipple to have a go at(oh err misses!)

Tony
Tony

David G,

I think we must have high speed humps in Surrey that in the Midlands. I have had this conversation with Steve before and came up with the same answer. Mine is a May 02 and putting it next to Steve's we couldn't see any height difference (I have XP springs as well).

As for point 2), I used to get that with the standard springs, but not really with the XP springs.
David M

DM,

I think that you're right - in Surrey we have some really crap roads. What worries me is that I could be doing some damage to the car plus the fact that I'm getting paranoid about even the smallest hole in the road. Tonight I drove from South Croydon to Redhill via Caterham and even on the primary roads I got some fairly heavy contacts. I want to have a driving experience that is fun and rewarding not to drive in fear and trembling!

I could put some spacers to raise the car back to the original height but this will still mean that I suffer from thumping suspension - which is, I think, more concering than grounding the car. Sadly, I think that the only choice is to put the original springs (which I thankfully kept) back - unless somebody has some ideas???

DG
David Grant

Tony, the grease nipples on the MGF were on the wishbone pivots. These have been completely replaced on the rear of the TF with a new multilink design, so I suspect no grease nipples there. However, the front suspension is more or less the same as the F, so yes, there will be a couple of grease nipples there :o/

The TF still shows its Mini ancestory in places! ;o)
Rob Bell

Thanks Rob, it certainly lost what could be described as a slight "chatter" on the front over bumps so maybe they had gone a bit dry. Congrats on the little one by the way - the first cold will make you think there has been a HGF!!

Tony
Tony

Thanks Tony - I've got a feeling that there will be plenty of little 'pleasant milestones' ahead! LOL
Rob Bell

DG,

I think you need to get your settings looked at. I have mud flaps and they only ground on road humps (and very very occasionally on very uneven roads). So if you are clumping things regularly then something is not right.

As for the crashing, even on very rough roads mine sounds and feels better than with the standard springs. With the standard springs I often felt it had bottomed out and crashed alarmingly. Certainly not with the XP springs. Get it looked at by who fitted them I would.
David M

This thread was discussed between 14/12/2004 and 22/12/2004

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