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MG MGB Technical - Replacement rear shocks

Hi, I have a 1968 MGBGT. It's time to change the rear shock absorbers because they're leaking and I wonder if there's any consensus of opinion as to whether I should replace them with telescopic ones?
Roger Williams advocates this change but after trawling through the archives the opinion of owners on this BB is that it's not worth it.
The archive threads on the subject are quite old so perhaps opinions have now changed?
Thanks,
Mike.
Mike Christie

I think most people agree that lever arms are more comfortable, but getting decent ones these days is a bit of a lottery. They tend to be very variable in quality and damping rate. Getting two decent ones is tricky enough, getting two with the same damping rate near impossible. This is why most people go for telescopics, also they don't "go off" as the oil heats up. However there is a chap in the states who does a proper re-build and can even supply adjustable Armstrongs. I don't know of any one who does a similar job in the UK, more's the pity!!
I've used the usual Spax units. They behave slightly better on the heavier GT, but are harsh, even on the softest setting. Haven't tried Koni or Gaz.
Allan Reeling

I went back to OE last year after years of bouncing around on Spax, they were pretty uneven when they came off. I just regret not saving my money on the conversion kit, now the car is more comfortable and handles better particulary in tight low speed corners like negotiating mini roundabouts. If you want the brackets FoC just ask.
Stan Best

Allan has said I haven't tried Koni or GAZ. I have Gaz, it is still firm I would say on the lightest setting. But not bad. My original lever arms seemed to be ok also but I wanted a change. Sending them to you Mike might be rather pricey all round. Is there no one in Britain that can rebuild??? MIke
J.M. Doust

My V8 came with Spax which were just about bearable on their softest setting. One leaked and I had to replace the pair, then those got very bouncy. I certainly wasn't going to shell out for another pair so converted back to lever arms. Bought 2nd hand at Stoneleigh to use as exchange units if nothing else, but they lasted several years. When one leaked I replaced both as I couldn't be sure how the non leaker would match up with a replacement, but in the past I've only replaced them singly, and only ever had reconditioned, which are a fraction of the cost of telescopics. It *is* a bit of a lottery as the recon is only as good as the returned unit, but in probably three fronts and three rears on two cars over 22 years I've only had one that started leaking after about a year, they are really cheap, and easy to change.
PaulH Solihull

Back to the question of rebuilding the lever arms; My dad tells me and actually had published in 'Motorcycle mechanics' his write up of the rebuild of the 'Jam pot' shock absorbers for an AJS model 20 motorcycle,( I have the bike in bits in the shed, he never finished the project!) His account was, although difficult and with home built tools it was not impossible to rebuild the suspension parts. I shall ask him re these lever arms, ( he is 86 now does not do much!) Although we might say afterwards, never again! I wonder what the difficulties would be for the do-it-yourselfer? ( In fact, where did I put them? I'll have a go myself!) Mike
J.M. Doust

This thread was discussed between 14/05/2012 and 15/05/2012

MG MGB Technical index

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