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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - TF Rear Springs

How much additional rise to the rear of the TF after new rear springs are installed? Not interested in re-arching the old ones. PJ
PJ Jennings

PJ
I replaced mine several years ago because I thought the car was riding low compared to other TFs at a car show.
There was only 3/4 " rise when done. Now I like and I am used to seeing the "low"look.
I still have the old ones, no broken ones in the lot.
Cheers, Byron.
JB Warwick

It's been said that the new spring pads are thicker than the originals, does anyone have a thickness measurement of the new pads? If their thicker it might solve my problem, worth 30 bucks to find out, but they have to be thicker. PJ
PJ Jennings

Make your own. I doubt there is anything special about the rubber used. I made mine from rubber sheet (EPDM probably) cut into circles with scissors and a small pimple glued into the centre with cyano for rubber.
Dave H
Dave Hill

PJ,
Just fitted new rubbers to my TD and the polly bushings, The rubbers looked to be about the same and there is no change in the gerometry that I can see
The new rubbers are 10mm or a frogs heair over 3/8th
After taking my old ones off they were a little crushed by the clamp. I tossed them so cant confirm the new ones are bigger.
As for the spring? I fitted (I thought) TD springs The part no was 281-488 and the ride was about the same. I replaced the drivers side first because of the Single Persons Sag. It still sags :) but I am 100lbs lighter. So how much credence I put on the springs being different than the old ones Nil.

Rod
Rod Jones

Rod: 3/8"? IIRC the originals were about 3/16". I wonder why the change?
Christopher Couper

Not sure Chris,
The ones I took out to my eye were about the same. been in there on the pasengers side since I was in germany, 30 years ago.

I just looked at the Moss Catalog and the item in question - No 16 - is no longer listed??
I have a pack in my hand that have the number 281-488 Pad Set, Leaf Spring Seating. Qty 4. They are made of a hard runbber. I used 2 of them on the Drivers side when back in Maine 5 years ago. Ordered a new set from LBCC to do the pasengers side Friday. Everything went back together fine and it look correct ride wise.

I got the REAR SPRING part No confused in my other post. The correct TD number is 454-820 As to how much the set is different to a TF I don't know. I would have thought the cars weigh about the same.

Rod
Rod Jones

Here's a picture of my TD springs, one as removed from the car and one with new rubber pads. The new pads are thicker than the old squashed ones, but not enough so to appreciably change the geometry.
Joe


Joe Olson

What was the difference in the eye to eye measurement from new set of rubbers to old set of rubbers Joe? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I guess that is the confusion on my part. I was talking about the Pad Set - Leaf Spring. The other interleaf rubbers I do not have, as the newer suppled springs don't have them.
Rod
Rod Jones

Peter,
I didn't think to measure the eye to eye distance or the camber, so I can't really answer your question. Visually I didn't notice any difference nor did I notice any difference in the ride height of the car before or after inserting the new pads.
Joe
Joe Olson

Since I don't want to change the TF profile, I like the low look, TD springs are out. I had a conversation with Peter Caldwell, World Wide Auto this morning, asking if he was still open for business at this time and he informed me that the shop is fully staffed and conducting business as usual. I'm sending him my rear shocks for a rebuild and having stiffer valving installed, this plus new spring pads will hopefully alleviate the bottoming out problem. PJ
PJ Jennings

This thread was discussed between 22/03/2020 and 28/03/2020

MG TD TF 1500 index

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