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MG MGB Technical - More clunks and pops

Maybe it's just that it's springtime and all these old cars are starting to wake up from hibernation, but my 74 CB roadster has started making noises too. Sadly, the symptoms seem to be reminiscent of my own body as I get older.

The new one is a definite "pop" when I turn the wheel far to the right or left, especially when backing out of a parking space for example. The front end is very tight on this car, no shimmy, pull or vibration at any speed.

The second is a pronounced clunk that was there last year, then disapeared and now has returned. This one happens when the brake is applied at low speed, like coming up to a stop sign. It does it occasionally, but it sure feels like the first one of the drive is the worst. It feels like a hammer blow right under the driver's seat.

I will be pulling the motor and trans soon (leaky oil seal and clutch) so I will definately be replacing the trans mounts which look like black jello at this point. Could this clunk be the trans shifting upward as the whole engine & trans shifts upon braking?

Thanks in advance for any comments.
Tony
Tony Grasso

The clunk could be a loose brake caliper or perhaps a suspension component. Also check the leaf spring front attachment points. If they are loose or oblong they could move.
Steve Simmons

Hi Tony,
The clunk may be worn rubber control arm bushings.
They can wear and the car will still steer OK, but as you turn the steering wheel when going slow the control arm(s) will sort of reposition themselves in the bushings and make a clunk. You can see the ends of them a bit with the car jacked up. If they are all cracked they should be replaced. Sometimes they are half missing as the cracked sections have fallen off.
Some people replace them with the metal backed type which I believe are from the MGB V8.

Ralph
Ralph

This thread was discussed between 01/04/2004 and 03/04/2004

MG MGB Technical index

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