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Front Suspension

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robmgb74 Avatar
robmgb74 Robert D
Maitland, FL, USA   USA
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1974 MG MGB
Front Suspension on my 74B is original except for shock replacement about 1996.I have minilite type wheels on wire hubs. I have a clunk in the right front at times when breaking. Concern is what to fix and replace. With wheel off I grabbed the spline and can get some front to back movement. I think this indicates I need to put on some rebuilt swivel axle assemblies and replace all the bushings. I am hoping my splines are not worn as I don't want to replace them and the wheels. Should I also replace the shocks? Was thinking about the coil over conversion. Expensive but it replaces a lot of old parts also. Thoughts? Should I replace WW hubs while I am in there?

Rear suspension: Replaced rear springs about 1996 also and I think the rear shocks. I had a rear axle clunk but tightening the wheels and adjusting breaks seems to have taken that away at least temporarily. How long should the lever arm shocks last?

My drive to work is over some rough brick roads which especially vibrate the front end enough to make significant part of the ride unpleasant. Any thought on this and above as to what would help make brick roads more bearable?

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Basil Adams Avatar
About 12 miles from Sears Point, CA, USA   USA
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You're going to have to do some diagnosis. A clunk could be a wheel bearing, a bushing, a king pin a tie rod end, a motor mount, a cross member pad... I'll send you a PM. Basil 707.762.0974 basiladams@yahoo.com



Basil C. Adams
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jkabrown Kenny Brown
Reno, NV, USA   USA
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1967 MG MGB MkI
1976 MG MGB
As Basil said. It could be something simple like a loose nut/bolt or a bushing/cross member pad that has deteriorated. Make a plan and be thorough.

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ACE2 Robert Kinzey
Palm Bay, FL, USA   USA
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1970 MG MGB
Check the shock mounts for security. With the wheel on, have someone apply the brake and see if there is play in the wheel. If so, you may have a worn spline problem. Check the lower control arm rubber bushings for wear. You have upper and lower bushing as well as the kingpin and up and down allowable play which should be minimal. You also have inner and outer tie rod ends that should be tight. The wheel bearing should have a slight in and out play and no up and down play. Lack of grease on the splines causes spline failure and the three grease points on the swivel assemblies can lead to excessive wear to the kingpin bearings as well as ovaling of the lower control arms-common clunk issue. Some outer tie rods have grease fittings as well. Torn boots on the rack assembly can lead to wear on the inner tie rods as well as the rack assembly.

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rrmgb Silver Member robert schau
Ft Myers, FL, USA   USA
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1973 MG MGB
1973 MG MGB
All good posts so far.
Sometimes there is play/some movement where the front pads ride in the calipers.



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mjrnova Mark Reed
Northern Virginia, USA   USA
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1979 MG MGB
My crossmember pads were shot and I had a clunk when I cut the wheels to the left hard. I've replaced the pads today and expect this will fix it.

I've also heard and read that the front spring inner pan bolt holes can get oval-ed and this can cause a clunk.

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