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MG MGB Technical - Leveling the suspension

I am at the end of my wits trying to level the suspension of a '74 MGB and nothing works. The front and rear springs were replaced, supplied by Moss, by a repair shop before I purchased the car. The left rear is two inches lower than the right. If I jack up the front the rear is level, and if I jack up the rear the the front is level. The car is straight and has never been in an accident. What gives?

Thanks Ermit
r starnes

Ermit,

Jacking up the car loads the opposite end and compresses the springs into a more consistent position. I take it from your post that the front is OK when all four wheels are on the ground, that only the rear has the problem with all four wheels on the ground.

It sounds like the solution is to loosen all the suspension nuts and bolts front and rear with the wheels on the ground and bounce the car until it evens out, and then tighten all the bolts again. If that doesn't solve the problem, you have a sticky shock holding up the chassis until it is loaded, or you have a spring that is initially over sprung until it is loaded. If that is the case, you will have to start removing components in pairs until you find the offending piece.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

I was under the impression that the springs on the GT were different from the roadster. Maybe you have one of each. Perhaps one spring is from a different make or model, check numbers, usually stencilled on each spring. Perhaps one bushing is frozen. Replace the offending spring with another. There is always a solution. Or replace them both.

Kim R.
K Rutherford

A heavier/lighter wife as required :)

At the rear you can completely disconnect the rear shocks to make sure they aren't affecting things. At the back there isn't really much that can affect the height except the springs themselves.

If you swap the rear springs does the lean change direction?
Simon Jansen

2" lower in one corner is a *huge* amount, usually the problem is sagging front and rear on the drivers side, Abingdon only allowed for 150lb per person! I can't see how the other three corners can be correct if the car is on flat and level ground, unless one corner of the chassis rails is damaged, or your reference points for measuring are incorrect. How are you measuring? It should be from the centre of the hub to the bottom of the bright trim strip that runs the length of the car, which removes most effects of wheels and tyres from the equation. However it does depend on any wing and/or trim strip replacement having been done correctly, but 2" out in one corner beggars belief.

The rear dampers will only affect static ride height if they are siezed. If you can move the rear corners up and down at all, other then just tyre flex, they aren't siezed.

Different springs side to side *will* have an effect, but a soft, weak or broken spring in one corner is bound to raise the diametrically opposite corner.

If you did suspect springs then it makes a lot more sense to swap them side to side than simply buying new, with all the problems that involves, when there may be nothing wrong with the old ones.
Paul Hunt

Thanks for all of your comments.

I am measureing off of the trim line. The front springs have a dab of orange paint on them for a visual identification. I did replace one front spring from Moss and it had orange paint as well. The rear springs still have the Moss stickers on them. I am thinking that the A arm bushing may play a part as Dave suggested. I am not sure if they were replaced when the springs were swapped out. The car performs well on the highway and does not pull to the left or right.

Regards
Ermit
E.R. STARNES

What Simon said, swap over the rear springs. That should answer the question. Because they've been done recently it will not be hard to do. I usually grease the bits that need it and use lock tight very mild thread locker (the blue stuff). Partially for peace of mind, but mostly because it prevents corrosion and makes nuts and bolts very easy to get apart again.
It sounds like one might be a rubber bumper spring and the other a chrome bumper.
Peter

Many people have tried unsuccessfully to get the bachelor lean out of their MGs.

This summer I have rebuilt my front and rear suspensions and still have the lean. Searching this and other forums you will find others have had the exact same experience.

Mine is off by 7/8"....sagging on the drivers side both front and rear.

BH
BH Davis

This thread was discussed between 11/08/2009 and 16/08/2009

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