I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications : MG Motorsports Forum : MG Experience Forums : The MG Experience

I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #1
Dwight Dwight McCullough Ham Lake Minnesota, USA	Posted: July 31, 2012 12:53PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,153

I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications......

This is one where you remove one of the leaves and change sumthin or sumthin else and it helps to stop the bad acts of bump steer in turns.....

Anybody out there can show me the way????

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #2
Steve64B Steve Opitz Phoenix, AZ, USA 1966 MG MGB	Posted: July 31, 2012 01:36PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 8,469

In reply to # 2134283 by Dwight I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications......

This is one where you remove one of the leaves and change sumthin or sumthin else and it helps to stop the bad acts of bump steer in turns.....

Anybody out there can show me the way????

Dwight,

Once you get all the bark out of the engine bay... go to the Fab-Tec site and read the link.

http://www.fast-mg.com/grip_tech2.htm

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #3
Dwight Dwight McCullough Ham Lake Minnesota, USA	Posted: August 01, 2012 10:19AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,153

Bark?

OH, you mean from hittin' that durned 'ol tree.....

LOL

In reply to # 2134314 by Steve64B

In reply to # 2134283 by Dwight I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications......

This is one where you remove one of the leaves and change sumthin or sumthin else and it helps to stop the bad acts of bump steer in turns.....

Anybody out there can show me the way????

Dwight,

Once you get all the bark out of the engine bay... go to the Fab-Tec site and read the link.

http://www.fast-mg.com/grip_tech2.htm

Sponsored Links. You can hide this ad & support this site by upgrading to a Gold Membership ~ click here for more info.

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #4
Dwight Dwight McCullough Ham Lake Minnesota, USA	Posted: August 03, 2012 08:35AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,153

FOUND! Hidden deep within my emails from my son Brian......

http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/Easy-Traction.htm

I'm gonna try this....

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #5
Dwight Dwight McCullough Ham Lake Minnesota, USA	Posted: August 03, 2012 08:42AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,153

Ya know, I kinda wonder, if I had a locker/limited slip/ differential, maybe would have avoided this 'incident?

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #6
Steve64B Steve Opitz Phoenix, AZ, USA 1966 MG MGB	Posted: August 04, 2012 07:23AM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 8,469

It depends, you called the incident when the tree jumped in front of you a snap right, what caused the snap right?

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #7
Dwight Dwight McCullough Ham Lake Minnesota, USA	Posted: August 04, 2012 07:29AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,153

Well, I admit, it had been raining, but sorta dry and then there's the old [5 year old Kumho Victoracers, that i had applied a coating of tread softener. The stuff is meant for drag racers and may not have not have worked [apparently] within doing a 'burnout' Which by the way isn't real easy in a MGB.......

I happened so fast, I had no time to respond. It was over before I knew what was happening...

Maybe, ya think I should stick to autox?

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #8
pinkyponk Adrian Page Nova Scotia Canada, Canada 1971 MG MGB GT 1973 MG MGB MkIII	Posted: August 04, 2012 07:46AM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 2,874

What keeps the extra leaf spring from moving around(as it is unsupported) and sticking into the tire or whatever else might be in the vicinity?

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #9
Dwight Dwight McCullough Ham Lake Minnesota, USA	Posted: August 04, 2012 07:50AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,153

I dunno...... But Bill Guzman does. Let's ask him....

Bill?

My son Brian said: " Check springs rates in the MGEx race section. See what the road racers have to say.

Racers, where iz ya'll?

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #10
fast-MG.com Dave Headley Cortez, 4 corners, Colorado, USA	Posted: August 04, 2012 11:56AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 3,322

Dwight, snap oversteer is usually caused by something bottoming causing a "BIG" increase in spring rate. Things like bottomed out shock, hitting bump stop etc. Also, a broken axle shaft might cause distress!

To soften rear rates, remove the longest non-full length leaf. You can also move the shortest two leaves to the top of the stack.

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #11
Steve64B Steve Opitz Phoenix, AZ, USA 1966 MG MGB	Posted: August 04, 2012 12:05PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 8,469

Dave:

Do you recommend shortening or trimming the bump stop to a more progressive shape?

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #12
fast-MG.com Dave Headley Cortez, 4 corners, Colorado, USA	Posted: August 04, 2012 12:24PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 3,322

Steve, I remove them on race cars. I think you could cut the MGB factory one in half.

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #13
Steve64B Steve Opitz Phoenix, AZ, USA 1966 MG MGB	Posted: August 04, 2012 12:34PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 8,469

Dwight,

The idea is 40 years old and given what Dave just posted not applicable for an all out race car, but for the street I think having bump stops might be a good idea.

In the 60's Bob Sharp shaped the front and rear bump stops to adjust under/over steer.

here's a link to a site where you can download the PDF file.

http://www.datsun.org/roadster/resources/compmanual.html

I've trimmed the rear bump stops so they are very pointy and much more progressive. Rather than snap oversteer, there is a progressive increase in spring rate and oversteer... but the rear doesn't just "step out"

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #14
Steve64B Steve Opitz Phoenix, AZ, USA 1966 MG MGB	Posted: August 13, 2012 12:54PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 8,469

Dwight,

What are the current suspension mod's you have in place for the car?

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #15
Dwight Dwight McCullough Ham Lake Minnesota, USA	Posted: August 13, 2012 05:23PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,153

I have stock springs/shocks, original parts. Never replaced...
I re-installed the stock sway bar and installed lowering blocks made of square stock steel, using longer 'U' bolts...

The front has modified lower control arms with about 1-1/2 to 2" lower and capable of camber adjustment. Using stock front springs/shocks original parts....
Works well with good tires.....

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #16
pinkyponk Adrian Page Nova Scotia Canada, Canada 1971 MG MGB GT 1973 MG MGB MkIII	Posted: August 13, 2012 08:02PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 2,874

I didn't know the bump stops did anything beyond absorb some of the smash when you went over a wheel eating pothole/crater so you didn't break all your teeth. These things actually touch/do something in cornering?

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #17
Steve64B Steve Opitz Phoenix, AZ, USA 1966 MG MGB	Posted: August 13, 2012 11:08PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 8,469

In reply to # 2144876 by pinkyponk I didn't know the bump stops did anything beyond absorb some of the smash when you went over a wheel eating pothole/crater so you didn't break all your teeth. These things actually touch/do something in cornering?

Adrian,

If you bound over a pot hole in a straight line all you lose is your fillings, but if you come up against the bump stop in cornering the spring rate goes to infinity (and beyond) and that end will quickly lose grip.

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #18
fast-MG.com Dave Headley Cortez, 4 corners, Colorado, USA	Posted: August 14, 2012 09:00AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 3,322

What Steve said X2.

Dwight, when you added lowering blocks, did you also swap the lower plates side to side. This inverts the flange for shock link and centers the shock travel.

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #19
Dwight Dwight McCullough Ham Lake Minnesota, USA	Posted: August 15, 2012 08:05AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,153

"What Steve said X2.

Dwight, when you added lowering blocks, did you also swap the lower plates side to side. This inverts the flange for shock link and centers the shock travel"

Didn't know you should do that........

First, I'm going to install all the ancillaries and get it running, drop it back on the ground to see how it sits.......

The springs look normal and can't find any bends or kinks.....

Still worried the body might be damaged beyond repair....

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Re: I have been looking in vain for the MGB rear spring modifications #20
mjamgb michael anderson NORTHERN NEVADA, USA 1954 MG Magnette ZA 1967 MG MGB 1973 MG MGB 1974 MG Midget	Posted: August 21, 2012 03:10PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 6,403

"What keeps the extra leaf spring from moving around(as it is unsupported) and sticking into the tire or whatever else might be in the vicinity?"

The extra leaf is long enough the ends won't stick the tire.

The spring mounting pads are "trough" shaped so they tend to keep things in order.

Lots of production vehicles have rear leaf springs with no clamps whatsoever... I used an old Dodge firetruck that the spring leaves were never in the same relative position twice. Unit mechanic said not to sweat it and it never gave any actual trouble.

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