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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 Midget and Sprite Technical - Polybush for rear shackles.

Rear shackle/hanger rubber bushes knackered, not that long ago I replaced them.

So what's the best, most forgiving, least harsh ride polybush, to use instead of more crap rubber?
anamnesis

Ive replaced all for Poly because of better performance but also because modern rubber is crap.
Apperently the recepe for making proper rubber got lost somewhere after the millenium.

Also on the Jaguar im replacing every old rubber for poly, not for performance as its a completly different car and driving experience but purely just because of the reputation of modern rubber.
There is different softnes-hardnes in Poly so pick what you want for your car.
I dont trust new rubber anymore.

10 ish years ago a mate of mine replace the suspension rubbers on his MG Magnette and within 1000km they were all knackered again... :(
A de Best

Put a set of graphite impregnated urethane bushes in a mate's MGB a couple of years ago. They were as hard as a rock and had to be squooshed in with a G clamp. I thought at the time that they'd be hard enough to transfer noise and maybe ride hard, but no, quiet as and no noticeable extra noise transfer but it certainly made the rear of the car feel way less floppy.
Got them from British Parts Northwest--don't know if they do them for midgets but there'd be a good chance I'd reckon

willy
William Revit

They used to be colour coded for hardness; blue, red, yellow, though not necessarily in that particular order. I went for blue as being quite compliant, not too harsh. I have been happy with them, following an initial issue of quality control, or lack of!
I bought Polybushes (note the capital, different from generic copies, being polybushes) from a well know supplier in the Welsh borders. I got a full car set. Most were in sealed packs but others were loose in the packet. They broke up within a very short time, going crumbly and simply disintegrated. After a fair bit of to and fro with the supplier they admitted they had run short of stock and with supply train delays they had bought in from a different source. They put it all right, plus gave me an 'ex gratia' for my troubles.
Anyway, the point is get from a known supplier, hopefully branded products or at least labelled correctly;
GuyW

Ok thanks chaps. I need to study the form a bit then, to see what's what, and where from.
anamnesis

I thought the 'racing' members here might have had advice for you Anam.
I know that other than that slight deviation, I was happy with my choice of blue ones at the time. Like the 3 bear's sleeping accommodation, not too hard and not too soft but just right. And they seem to last very well, without question longer than modern rubber.
GuyW

I fitted the Super Pro Blue Poly bushes several years ago on my 1500, I swapped the bushes over the Christmas holidays but it was a pig of a job probably made worse being so cold, some of the old rubber bushes were a pain to remove but they did look as thou they'd been there for well over 40 years, but after much swearing and cursing the ride was much improved and all the knocks and clunks disappeared. Quite a transformation for a little over £100 at the time.
Tim Lynam

An
Thinking back, the graphite bushes might not have been urethane bushes, more of a hard nylon--they were a dark grey/black (graphite i guess)colour and yeah I thought they would be too hard-but no ,they were fine.
The guy that owns the car drives the ablolute nuts out it and the bushes are still perfect.

willy
William Revit

Willy,

Maybe they were MoS2 filled nylon like https://www.par-group.co.uk/engineering-plastics/plastic-rod/nylon-6-rod-availability/nylon-6-rod-mos2-filled-extruded/ .
David Billington

That 'looks' like it David. I've hurt my head trying to remember, I think they were called Nylatrene or Nylatron, something like that. We got a competition front bar and bushes (same stuff) and had just ordered shackle bushes as well and when it all arrived the bushes were these hard ones in a kit with new shackles, nuts etc -from memory they weren't very expensive.
willy
William Revit

Thanks chaps.

What's the opinion on these?

Says, "THE SLEEVES ARE IN STAINLESS STEEL, --".

There aren't sleeves in the rear bushes when using rubber. At least mine never had a sleeve in the rears. Is this wrong, or does poly need a sleeve?

" THIS IS A REAR POLYURETHANE SUSPENSION BUSH SET FOR EITHER THE MG MIDGET OR AUSTIN HEALEY SPRITE, IT WILL FIT ALL MODELS FROM 1963 ON PROVIDING THEY ARE HALF ELIPTIC SPRING TYPE, THE KIT INCLUDES THE REAR SHACKLE BUSHES AND THE REAR SPRING TO AXLE SADDLE BUSHES.
THESE WILL PROVIDE MUCH MORE POSITIVE SUSPENSION LOCATION WITHOUT GIVING A HARSHER RIDE, THEY ARE ALSO EASIER TO FIT THAN THE ORIGINAL RUBBER ONES, THE SLEEVES ARE IN STAINLESS STEEL, THERE IS ASSEMBLY GREASE INCLUDED AND THEY ARE MANUFACTURED IN 80 SHORE POLYURETHANE.
PLEASE DO NOT CONFUSE THIS BUSH SET WITH CHEAP POORLY MADE IMITATIONS, THESE BUSHES ARE THE ONLY ONES WE WILL FIT IN OUR WORKSHOPS, AND WE EVEN USE THEM IN OUR COMPETITION CARS, BUT ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE A PRODUCT FOR EVERYDAY ROAD USE."

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266582516944



anamnesis

Or these from mgoc?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253913477149


anamnesis

Hi,
I went with superpro front and back. Have to say have been impressed. Handling has been much better than I thought it would be.
James Paul

I had a nagging feeling I should check my spares stock. Just as well I did. I've got a full set of (crap??) rubber. I don't remember buying it, but I might as well use it up for what it's worth.

I haven't been unhappy with the handling with rubber bushes. It's only that the rubber doesn't seem to last long now, that I'm looking at poly. But as I already have a full rubber set, I'll whack it on and see what it's like in a year or so.


anamnesis

I had Nylatron bushes in my race frogeye car in the 80's. They were fitted to the Inner wishbone, anti roll bar, rear springs and radius arms. (I used adustable spherical rod end bearings on the top link and roll bar ends) They indeed were very hard. Fine on the track but probably a bit too stiff for the road
Bob Beaumont

I use superpro for >20 years > 100.000miles: Expensive but perfect fit. Never had to replace them. Poly bush did not fit (20 years ago)
Flip
Flip Brühl

I use superpro for >20 years > 100.000miles: Expensive but perfect fit. Never had to replace them. Poly bush did not fit (>20 years ago)
Flip
Flip Brühl

This thread was discussed between 13/06/2024 and 17/06/2024

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.