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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 MGA - Front Shocks Supplier

My front shock absorber are on their way out, but drivable, hence I would like to replace over winter

Any advice on UK supliers as prices vary widely.
NTG = 209
SC = 117
Moss = 113
MGOC = 48
These ae prices for recon units and of course they want old units back although I have a couple spares I can use for exchange. Old unit deposits also vary widely with some requiring old units before they will ship.

Clearly on price MGOC win hands down.

Any advice on who to go with if it isn't going to be cheapest?

Paul

Paul Dean

I know you only asked for UK suppliers and shipping from the U.S. may be an issue, but Peter Caldwell is a well known & respected rebuilder of shocks here. A link to his World Wide Auto Parts business is attached and you can see what he charges for rebuilt shocks. It may be a stretch due to shipping costs, but having another comp point may be worth while:

https://www.nosimport.com/Lever-shocks-remanufactured/mg-a-lever-shocks
Nick Kopernik

Neil
Thanks for your comment.

I have looked at their web site but as they require the old unit returned to them I can't see it being economic to use a US supplier when there are several UK supplier. I did though use a Florida supplier for an anti rool bar during Covid.

Over to Uk users for more advice.

Paul
Paul Dean

Paul
That price from MGOC looks too good to be true. If it were me I would snatch it up quickly. But then I am a bit of cheapskate.
I replaced one of mine earlier in the year. Long story but I found an advert on ebay at a bargain price for new old stock which I bought. But when it arrived, it turned out to be a second hand, non refurbished unit, although it was working. I complained and got a partial refund.
The reason I mention it is, if you havent done the job before (although I suspect you have), I found it was much easier to replace three of the four studs with bolts. I will enlarge on that if you want me to
Graham V

Paul, of course it's your call.
But I have very often been very disappointed in reproduction parts, of all types. In regards to suspension, rear semi-elliptic springs have often been dreadful. (Way over-arched making the cars ride ridiculously high at the rear). Rubber suspension components are too hard, and often disintegrate before the car is even returned to the road.
You may care to look at my post towards the end of Nick Kopernik's query regarding wiper arms as another example:
https://mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/or17?runprog=mgbbs&mode=thread&access=&subject=6&source=T&thread=2023081419350120606

Fifty years ago there were many competent reliable rebuilders of Armstrong lever arm dampers. Unfortunately this is no longer the case.
My solution to fitting fresh front shock absorbers to my MGA and my MGB, (suggested by Mark Wellard, who like me is in Australia), was to buy a pair of cheap flogged out dampers in the USA and have them posted to Peter Caldwell as cores for rebuilding, to then be posted to me in Australia.
This way I only had to pay overseas freight on these bulky and weighty items once rather than twice. Additionally my car was not off the road for long.
I paid US $40 for a pair of front MGB dampers and US $50 for a pair of MGA front dampers. These items often show up on "The MG Experience" in their Buy, Sell, Trade forum, which is where I bought mine. The sellers are mostly in the US, are mostly enthusiasts, and were happy to send the dampers on my behalf to World Wide Auto Parts.
The postage cost (air freight) to Australia was roughly 80% of the charge to rebuild the two dampers. So it was not a cheap exercise. Postage to the UK from the USA for you should be significantly less than I paid.
T Aczel

Paul

In the recent past there has been correspondence and recommendations on Autoshrine for UK repairers of Armstrong dampers. I suggest that you post a thread there for recommended UK repairers.

Cheers
Dave
Bolney Coupe

My apologies. I completely failed to notice the prices quoted in the original post were for reconditioned/exchange units.
It's rather difficult to imagine that too much is done to a damper to recondition it for 48 GBP.
Best of luck in your search.
T Aczel

For Australians we have a great Armstrong shock absorber rebuilder here in Melbourne who goes by the moniker of All Lever Shock Absorbers. Makes them better than original. You’ll find him on Facebook if he is not away racing his orange A40 Farina.
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Try these https://www.vandcengineering.co.uk/
David Brenchley

David. Thanks for your advice. My spare shockers are now packed and going off to V and C this morning. Their price is £60 and they specialise in lever arm shocks. Interestingly I just found them on a search just before I got your response. Thanks.
Paul Dean

Paul

Please update us when you have the job done. I'm interested.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 30/08/2023 and 22/09/2023

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.