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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 - MGB Sway Bars on MGAs

The links supplied with MGB front bars will not work on an MGA without modification.

I just went through this on my 62 and took pictures and posted a description here:

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/f/Fitting_an_MGB_sway_bar_to_an_MGA.pdf

It may be os use to some MGA owners wanting to do the same thing.

Bill
Bill Spohn

Yes I did mine the same, simply shorten the links, not rocket science but a good description of why.
Bob (robert)

Bill, very timely comment for me as I'm still dithering about ordering parts. Barney Gaylord's site has a fix for the upper mounts - special brackets. Presumably when top=mounted, the links don't need sgortening?
Art

G,day Bill from OZ,
That's a beaut set of photo's and a great description. I have saved it for future refence for when I restore my "A" This unselfish sharing of eperiences is the sort of thing that is really good about this site, thanks again from down under!
maurie prior

Thank you Bill for the information and stellar work in its presentation. You discuss nessesary mods to an MGB bar. Moss offers "MGA" anti-sway bars and installation kits for various sises of bars. e.g. part # 454-948 for the 3/4" bar installation kit (which I've got in a box so far). This is also an under the frame-extension installation. Do you or dose anyone know if modification is needed to the Moss MGA kits? Thanks, Steve
Steve Meline

I don't know if the installation kits Moss supplies just has the usual MGB hardware - it certainly has the lower A arms, and the mounting stuff, but it doesn't say whether it is for above (MGA) or below) MGB mounting.

Kelvin - if you are out there, what links come in the kits?
Bill Spohn

I am informed that the Moss kits contain totally useless MGB links.

I wonder what they tell MGA owners that buy them and try to make them work?

Bill Spohn

Steve, exactly what do you get with the Moss installation kit? How long are the connecting links?
Art

The Moss kit is really an MGB kit, not an MGA kit. To use it on an MGA, you need to get or make the proper factory-style bracket (not available from Moss, but available from us or Scarborough Faire or several UK vendors) and the proper bushing (Moss PN 280-605). A picture of an MGB sway bar on an MGA is located at: http://www.eclecticmotorworks.com/mgbsusp.html
(note it has MGB kingpins and brakes, too, but the swaybar works the same with MGA kingpins and brakes).

Installing the sway bar in the factory location is no fun if the body is on the chassis and that is why Barney Gaylord and others choose to install it "down low" using MGB or other mounts. This is what Bill has done and why he needed to shorten the links. Bill has done a great job documenting this!

--Carl

Carl Heideman

Bill & Art, my installation kit is in the box, in the car, at the body shop right now so I can't access it for a proper inspection. I did e-mail Kelvin inviting a reponse.
Carl, as always your input and time is appreciated. Specificly what parts are availible from you, or anywhere that you know of, to facitate a below-the-frame-extension installation. Can it be done with availible parts without fabricaion? Thanx again. Steve
Steve Meline

Gentlemen:

Steve: Thanks for the direct e-mail.
Bill: Great documentation.
Carl: Keep on bugging me about the brackets.

As stated in the Moss US catalog, the parts supplied are MGB components. Ever since the MGB came out, people have attaching the B bar to MGA front ends. Back in the dawn of time, someone suggested Moss should offer a kit of the MGB components to make it easier to do. The level of knowledge at the time, was that "gee I know it can be done, lots of people have done it". It was known that some fiddling was required, but vague recollections resulted in a catalog statement of "Some fabrication may be required". Now with the advent of the internet and digital cameras, an incredibly high level of documentation can be readily distributed if there is someone who is willing to take the time to do so. For that Bill deserves major cudos. After reading the excellent presentation, I can go back and rewrite the catalog description so it more accurately reflects what has to be done. This is the kind of material that is invaluable, as there is only so much development work that can be done by the suppliers. Much knowledge has been lost, and those of us still in the British car business really do appreciate the efforts to keep the knowledge alive.

BTW. Carl did not mention that he has the jigs to straighten and repair MGA front extensions, and that he also has the dies to hot form the factory style sway bar divot. Most original extensions have "history" and insuring that they are true is a good investment before trying to fit bumper components.

Kelvin.
KJ Dodd

Glad it was useful, Kelvin.

It might be a good idea if Moss offered either a fitting kit with MGA style clamps and rubbers or a kit with short links for the under the extension option, or both. Then people could make a choice - as it is, of course, the kit currently offered will not provide the parts to complete either style of installation.

Feel free to use any pics you want (or request different sized images, or whatever) if it would be of use to you.

Bill

Bill Spohn

Bill, Do you have any inclination to fabricate those short links? If so let me know your price. Thanks Steve
Steve Meline

I didn't plan to get into the link business, Steve.

If Moss doesn't pick up the ball now that Kelvin knows what is needed, just buy the new MGB links and take them to a fabrication shop and tell them to make them 4" shorter without changing the angles etc.

Anyone with sense and a MIG welder should be able to do the job without frying the rubber in the joint.

We used a tubing sleeve over the ends butted together, then crossdrilled all the way through and installed bolts to hold it all together, welded the tubing at the ends, cut off the bolt heads and tips, and plug welded them. Overkill, but it ensures that the links don't break in service.

I'd have gone with Heims as I do on the race car, except that without more attention to cleanliness and lubrication than anyone (including me) would give them, you are asking for wear problems. On the race car, I use Heims for that and for the tie rod ends (and for the rear track rods, and the Panhard rod, and.....)

Don't forget to use a piece of drilled band iron to reinforce the other side of the cages - that sheet metal on the front extension needs it.
Bill Spohn

Bill:

Carl has been ragging on me to offer all of the factory original components, which I will do as soon as I can pull a free minute together.

I'll update web text soon to explain the MGB links better, and get the info in the next catalog update.

Fabricating, or modifying the end links in-house would put the parts out of reach. Currently the cost of MGB links is very reasonable due to quantity breaks, but our shop overhead is not. I'm voting to continue to offer the MGB components as a set, but with more complete information.

Thanks very much for permission on the images. I'll get with you so that a more complete tech article can be generated, giving you credit.

Kelvin.
KJ Dodd

I think people have to realize that as a front suspension part, unless factory supplied or engineered and offered by a major aftermarket company, who will only do this with sufficient incentive (money)this will always be a do it yourself job. Insurance companies have coronaries over this type of thing.
mike parker

Well, yes and no - they don't seem worried about new suspension bits like negative camber lower A arms and such.

I think Kelvin's comment is right on, though - the MGB links are a reasonable price now, but if they sent them out for modification and that doubled the cost, that would drastically reduce the chance of selling them and the number sold.

So in the end you are probably right, it WILL be a do it yourself sort of deal, unless someone can talk to whoever makes the MGB links and say "How about making us a run that are exactly the same except 4" shorter for the same price?"

Kelvin, you may want to at least ask that question of your suppliers.
Bill Spohn

This thread was discussed between 31/12/2004 and 06/01/2005

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