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MG TD TF 1500 - Installing MGB V8 suspension bushings

Hello,

How can I install the MGB V8 bushings in the A-arms?

As recommended by somebody in this BBS, I have kept the bushings in the freezer for a long enough time, but even then I cannot force them into the hole.

I will appreciate any indication form you.

Thanks

Jesus
J. Benajes

Jesus
I always spray the bushes with WD40 [ do you have that in Spain? ],or any lubricant that will not affect the rubber. It is easier to dismantle the suspension and squeeze the bushes in in a vice, you will probably find that you will need to have a piece of tube on the other side of the arm to allow the bush to protrude through. Alternatively you could try doing it in situ
by drawing the bush in using a large nut and bolt and two large washers,but which ever way you do it use a lubrcant on the bushes, you may even get away with using washing up liquid. hope this is of some help

Harry Walker
H.E.W. Walker

Jesus

I have found petrol to be an excellent lubricant for rubber. It makes the surface very slippy but soon evaporates. Haven't used it for suspension bushes though but found it was the only way I could fit the "U" shaped channels to the bottom of side windows on my MG B.

Whilst on this topic has anyone experience of using polyurethane bushes. I have been considering them for my Mazda MX5 and note in the catalogue they are available for a MG B so presumably they would fit a TD /TF. Not cheap though the Mazda kit is nearly £200

Jan T
Jan Targosz

Try ordinary hand soap. When replacing a rubber driveline bushing in my old Chevy truck the old manual reccomended to lubricate with soap. I first tried liquid diswashing soap but it wouldn't work at all. A thin coating from a bar of hand soap and it went in very easily.
HLW
H L Wilson

You should not need lubricant but a tool which you can easily make on your lathe. It fits through the bush with a shoulder which aligns with the outer size.Using this it is possible to press the bushes inwith a bench vice.
Bob Marshall

Bob
That,s all very well if happen to have a lathe,I have done dozens of these by just sqeezing them up in a vice, and I still maintain that it is much easier to use a lubricant.

Jan
The MGB bushes will fit the TD.The bottom arms and spring plates are the same right through from TD/F,
MGA and MGB

Harry Walker
H.E.W. Walker

Thank you for all the comments and hints.

I managed to easily insert the bushes squeezing them in a vice, as suggested by Harry. Lubricating them with soap helped a lot. However, I noticed that the bushes are a little distorted in the hole (the portions that protrude on either side of the A-arm are not fully symmetric) because of the deformation produced by pushing them. Bob’s hint of using a tool for guiding the bush into the hole would perhaps avoid this effect.

Nevertheless, I am happy with the result, and hope that this small distortion will not cause any malfunction.

Best regards.

Jesus
Jesus Benajes

Harry
Would you happen to know if the Link-Anti-roll bar to wishbone (B&G part number TDF 1090/1) is the same as on the MGB? I have a 9/16" ARB plus fittings left over from an MGB upgrade which I might fit later.
John
John James

I just finished adding an MGB ARB to my TD. I changed the spring pans and front "A" arms to fit the links to the AR bar. The bar is mounted with the original type brackets to the bottom of the dumb irons betewen the bumper and the main crossbar of the frame. It fits together very nicely but I haven't had the car on the road yet being stored in the basement for the Winter. Being painted gloss black like the frame, it is hardly noticeable when viewed from the front unless you are looking directly at it.
Jim Merz

Jim
Are your dumb irons the chassis extensions forward of the X member, if so how easy was it to drill two hole in each side to take the fixing brackets? I understand an ARB greatly improves the handling of TD's and TF's.
John
John James

Yes the "dumb Irons" are otherwise known as the frame extensions (forward of the X member). The steel is fairly soft and was not a problem to drill through it for the bracket mounting bolts. I clamped the brackets in place to drill small pilot holes then redrilled the holes to full size after I was satisfied with their location. As I said, the car is in Winter storage and will not be driven until the Springtime arrives. I believe it will control the undesirable roll I sometimes experience while driving my TD.
Jim Merz

Thanks Jim. My TF is off the road for a couple of weeks while the bumpers and overriders are being chromium plated. It might be a good time to fit the redundant MGB ARB if the weather stays mild.
John James

John

My TD is fitted with an anti roll bar, and if it would be of any help I could take a digital photo of the installation and either Email it or send it to you by by ordinary mail.I have only actually owned my TD since August of last year [ having swapped it with Terry Bone for my PB ], and haven't used it very much so far.As a matter of interest it is also fitted with tele shock absorbers and having previously owned a TD I must say that it makes for a much better ride,easily as good as an MGB. Let me know if I can help

Harry
H.E.W. Walker

Harry
Thanks for the offer. I bought my TF through Terry last September! I'm happy about the fitting of a 9/16" ARB which came off my MGB when I upgraded the front suspension with a 3/4" ARB, V8 bushes and stiffer dampers. That together with Koni rear shock absorber transformed the handling. What type of shocks are fitted to your TD? They might be a sensible option when mine need replacing, which won't be long if our local roads continue to deteriorate at their present rate!
John
John James

John

I am not sure what make of shock absorbers are fitted to my TD but will check them this week end and let you know.
My car is also fitted with a brake servo [ mounted under the dash ]and an oli cooler!!,all sensible mods I feel.
Harry
H.E.W. Walker

For the record, I am going to change these bushes this Spring, and I have purchased neither the V8 bushes nor the Polyurethane, but rather Nylatron GS bushes which are Nylon impregnated with MoS².

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

John

The shock absorbers on my TD are Spax, the front ones being used in conjunction with the original lever type
Harry
H.E.W. Walker

This thread was discussed between 02/02/2004 and 09/02/2004

MG TD TF 1500 index

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