MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 MGB Technical - Rear Springs Too Springy?

I bought a set of rear leaf springs from Victoria British a while ago for my 1969 B GT, and I finally got them on two weeks ago. I also took the opportunity to install Energy bushings and pads. After installing them, the rear of the car is WAY too high - it looks like the later "federal" ride height, even though according to the Vic Brit catalogue I have the correct ones for my car.
After I installed the new springs, I noticed my car was bouncing all over the place on the road. The rear shocks were quite worn, so I installed Moss' Monroe tube shock kit. It helped a little bit, but the car still sits way too high in the rear and the ride quality is almost intolerable. Has anyone had a similar experience with these springs? Or am I doing something completely wrong?
Adam Birnbaum

Adam,
You'll find several threads in the archives about this. I went round with VB on this very issue. Their springs do not have the correct arch. They exchanged with me for a set of rally springs which allow my car to sit at about the correct height.
Some say the springs will eventually settle and some carry weighty objects in the trunk to speed that process along.
Personally, I think you should call VB's customer service, you'll not be the first.
Dave
David Steverson

Adam-
We've been hearing this same complaint about Victoria British's rear leaf springs for two years now. Try Brit Tek at http://www.brittek.com/
Steve S.

Steve,

I've put off buying rear springs for my chrome bumper car for some time, waiting for a resolution to the "sits too high" issue. Does Brit-Tek have a different source than Moss/Vic Brit which offer correct springs? (I was under the impression all of the US suppliers had the same problem.)

Thanks.

Matt K.
Matt Kulka

I can tell you for sure that the springs will NOT settle to the correct ride hight with time. Mine have been on for about 5 years and are still too high. I know that it is possible to renew old springs by having them rearched at a spring shop, but can the amount of arch in springs be reduced by these shops? Dave
David DuBois

Matt, I haven't bought any springs from Gordon at the B Hive but he gives good straight information when asked. It may be a good idea to call him and ask about the springs he sells. I do know he gets most of his parts from the UK. http://www.thebhive.com/index.html

Dave, I used to belong to the Jensen mailing list while keeping my son's Interceptor. One of the members took his Interceptor to a spring shop in Florida and told them where he wanted the height. He had to leave his car with them a couple of days but he said they did it right. If the spring shop knows their business they should be able to re-arch the springs to a lower or higher setting. Finding a good shop may be a problem.

Adam, I would do as David said, call customer service at VB.

I guess I was lucky when I got a set of correct height springs from Moss around five years ago.

Good Luck all, Clifton


Clifton Gordon

Matt,

Steve's right. You can get the proper springs at Brittek. About 6 onths ago, I asked the guys there the same question, about 6 different ways. Then swallowed hard and ordered. They came with a "Made in England" sticker on them. They fit perfectly and they're the correct height. I couldn't be happier.

TL Goodell
Terrence Goodell

Matt-
Terrance is right. The rear leaf springs from Brit Tek are in fact made in jolly old England and are the correct springs. I helped a friend put a new set of them on his 1971 Roadster back in September and they fit like a glove. Right ride height, right ride.
Steve S.

Boy I wish I saw this thread 3 months ago! I also bought the springs at Victoria British during their winter sale and I too have the "hot rod" look and bad handling for my 1963 B. I just ordered a new set from Engel Imports which I understand are the proper ones for the car.
Mike

I hate to ruin a good thing guys but the set of rear springs I got from Brit Tech were way too archy... Bob was very helpful and took them back but it was quit a hassle in the mounting and removing area. Did it at least twice. Also had to pay shipping ... Maybe mine were just labeled wrong, never did figure it out. They did say "made in England". I want to reiterate, Brit tech did take them back, but I could not use the springs they sent me. I finally reconditioned my old springs and they work fine.

Moe
Moe

My springs were sourced through a local shop who (I think) got them from Moss. Despite the "Made In England" sticker the car sits high.... Caveat emptor.
Rob Edwards

Just fitted new rear springs to my CB 74 GT. Got them from the Proper MG, they are made in England and fit great. Just bought another pair from them this week for my 67B and will fit them tommorrow. Will let you know how they fit and look tommorrow night.

andy

BTW they are having a sale on a pair of rear springs at the moment. Take a look at their web site. propermg.com

Andy Preston

Adam, I also bought the vicky brit monster truck springs. My solution for my mga was to take the bottom 3 new leafs and put them on the top 3 old ones and vice versa.

One set is on my driver and the other on my resto. You want to read the mga archives and get tons of info.

Oh yeah, my VB monster truck springs were, "made in England".
Fred Horstmeyer

I just dropped a set of 'made in england' springs (from Leacy MG) on our roadster and although the car sat very high at first, it has settled to very nearly the correct height after a few days and about 25 miles. I'm sure they'll settle more in the next couple of weeks as I put more miles on.

A set of midget springs that I helped fit to a friend's car a few months back did the same thing, car is now sitting correctly and has been for some time.

I guess more than one manufacturer is making springs in our sceptred isle! Either that or there's a huge quality control issue.

hth,
--
Olly
Oliver Stephenson

Adam,

Is it possible that you tightened everything down with the rear axel hanging? Just a thought. I replaced the springs on my BGT (from Moss) and my Midget (from VB). They both seemed a bit higher at first, but then the old ones were pretty bad. I feel they did settle into the proper position and the ride is improved, not worse. Good luck! Dennis
Dennis Hosier

Installed new rear springs from the Proper MG on my 67 roadster today and everything went according to Hoyle, or the shop manual. Springs fit correctly and at the correct ride height, so far so good.

One of therear springs that I also bought from the Proper MG and put on my GT about 2 months ago is showning signs of sagging. Will investigate and let you know what I discover.

Good Luck, which ever way you decide to go.

Andy
Andy Preston

I spoke to VB about this, and they want me to remove the springs to get arch measurements etc before they will discuss refund or replacement. I don't know what's supposed to hold my car up in the meantime... The springs have been on the car for a couple of weeks now with absolutely no settling (although my chech straps have gotten stretched out). I don't think I can stand driving cross country like this, and I'll probably just take it to a garage here in San Francisco and let them source some springs and do the work.
Adam Birnbaum

Does anyone know what the arch measurements should be, so that I could measure springs before installing?
Greg Bowman

Guys,
I've had all the same problems with replacement springs. "Made in England" means little. Seven or eight years ago,I had a set from Moss that started way too high(the top of the tread was visible) and ended up settling so badly over 6 months that the top of the wheel rim was even with the fender arch and the car was bottoming out frequently. When I removed them, I could place them upside down on the driveway, bounce on them and make the center pin hit the floor. I weigh 250 pounds. Moss replaced them without a problem. The exact same thing happened with the replacements. Moss then sent me a set of GT springs(English) which were, again, too arched, but they quickly settled to a reasonable, but low, level. I replaced the fronts with GT springs at that time and they did the same thing. After about 10,000 miles, the car (chrome bumper) now looks like it's been lowered 2 inches from "stock" front and rear .

I seem to remember an article in one of the British car rags about a UK company that makes leaf springs for MGs. It seems to me that they were the only company in the UK doing so. Anyone else remember? I seriously doubt if there are more than a couple of manufacturers, anyway.

One more thing and I'll shut up. IMHO, there is no such thing as a standard ride height for an MGB. I know, I know. The book says it's x inches, for x year, but just look at contemporary photos, especially factory ones, and note that the ride heights vary tremendously from car to car of the same vintage.
David

I just fitted the ones that moss supllies i got the rubber bumper ride hight for my car being a rubber bumpered gt it does look high on the leafs even after a few months and 3000 miles. Were the rubber bumpered cars not always high though for american regs? Personnally i like the hight as thats why i chose to get the rubber bumpered spring hieght rather than lowering to the chrome hight. I find the hight helps visability and gives the car good ridehight for going through fields and farm tracks. I also dont mind the look of it asethically it sort of gives the car a volvo crosscountry/ subaru audi look.
jim

This thread was discussed between 13/06/2003 and 21/06/2003

MG MGB Technical index

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