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MG MGF Technical - Rear shocks?

Dealer just phoned to say the Green Squirrel needs new rear shocks and bushes - price to do job 155.00 plus VAT, I declined their fine offer as I feel that I can do this myself - my question is:-

Which shocks to fit and should I be fitting some 'improved' bushes etc.

Any advice offered will be taken seriously - except 'go jump in a lake' or such:-)

Ted
Ted Newman

Jump into a swimming pool- it's usually safer.

Seriously though, it will probably be worth your while to replace all four at the same time.

If you do this, then there are three options:

1. replace with OE dampers- probably a whole heap of cash cheaper from B&G.

2. Replace with adjustables. AVOs are cheap, but other damper manufacturers retail suitable shockers. I do not know which are best, but I guess that the age old adage "you get what you pay for" applies. Downside (and an upside depending on your desire to 'meddle') is that you have to tune the dampers yourself. Steve recently started a thread on damper settings.

3. The Bilsteins that Techspeed fit are superb, are perfectly suited to the car out of the box, do not detract from the ride and reduce pitching of the suspension. Might be worth while asking whether they'll sell you a damper set (obviously, they usually undertake the work themselves).

Hope that helps

Rob
Rob Bell

Ted,
Did they say they needed replacing 'cos they are shot, or just because the bushes are split/gone? When mine was in for its 36k service (at 11k) they told me the same, but it was only the bushes. These I replaced in 1 1/2 hours.

If replacing with OE shocks, I would recommend buyng a set of poly bushes from Mike Satur, and use these instead of the standard installed chewing gum ones anyway.
Paul
Paul Lane

The BBS shows its merits again!

Thanks for quick replies.

Rob - I agree that if the rears are gone then the fronts must need changin as well but I think it is more the cas that Paul says it is just the bushes and the 'lazy bs' want to make a buck or two extra.

Ted
Ted Newman

I did wonder Ted! Unless the dampers are actually weeping there's no need to replace them- but I know you know that already.
Rob Bell

Re Bilsteins I did a quick search and came up with the following company:-

https://www.nedforspeed.co.uk

They have the said shocks at £80.00 each plus VAT - aint cheap are they - the shocks I mean - but as you sai Rob you get what you pay for!

Ted
Ted Newman

Re Bilsteins I did a quick search and came up with the following company:-

https://www.needforspeed.co.uk

They have the said shocks at £80.00 each plus VAT - aint cheap are they - the shocks I mean - but as you sai Rob you get what you pay for!

Ted
Ted Newman

Sorry about the double post but there was a typo error in the URL of needforspeed.

Ted
Ted

I got the MS bushes fitted at 30k miles, and there was a noticable improvement to the feel of the car.

just to add my few pennies worth
Matt

Ted

As Rob points out, if the shockers are ok then just replace the bushes which Mike Satur has had made specially - nice purple poly ones too ;-)

Of course MG/Rover don't make replacement bushes and will try to sell you whole shockers at £60 each!

One of my front shockers actually slid off the front due to the bush perishing a couple of weeks ago. I phoned Mike who posted out a bush set (less than £20) and it took me about an hour to replace them myself.

Hope this helps

Richard
Richard Eaton

Good site!

Bilsteins, part # BE5-2528

Same number specified for front and rear. Be wary about this as it seems that there is no differentiation between the two sets of dampers. This may be very important as the damping on the front should ideally be softer than the rear for the best handling compromise and comfort- as has been pointed out with respect to the adjustable dampers.

Techspeed talk about this alot (as you'd might expect)- but after finding the Trophy 160 a little too bouncy, I'd tend to see what they are driving at (no pun intended!)
Rob Bell

Ted,

I (plus Tony Smith) have the AVOs. These have suited my needs very well. Resonable price and better thsn the OE ones. Cost 190 incl vat (for all 4) and delivery direct from AVO UK. I can't comment on the Bilsteins but as Rob says you pays yer money ... in my case I wasn't prepared to pay the xtra.

Gaz
Gaz

Thanks for all the 'input' I will wait until I get the car back tonight (I hope) and have a look at the shocks myself.

Again many thanks lads!

Ted
Ted Newman

This thread was discussed on 31/05/2001

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.