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 - Ron Hopkins MGB front suspension

Can any one of you wonderful guys tell me where to go ( left that wide open for yo'all) for the Moss discontinued Hopkins suspension? Is there a "better" one out there? I'm thinking, if I'm agonna drop the front end for coils, swivels, kings, I'd just as well do the conversion. That's the way this summer-is-gone pea brain's been working lately! Vic
vem myers

Maybe you could try emailing the Moss derby shop.
It's the same one that use to be Ron Hopkins before it was taken over by Moss. They may have some lying around at the back of the warehouse.

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk
derby@moss-europe.co.uk

Andrew
andrew.horrocks

A better one, Vic? Sure. The RV8 front suspension, available from the BMIHT. Bring your banker.
Steve S.

Might want to give Doug Jackson's system a try. It is the same as the Hawk system for England. Very pleased with it.

Shareef Hassan

Frontline have a front set up similar to Ron Hop but with adjustable Camber and a number of brake alternatives, no idea of cost.

Paul
Paul

I have a coil over on Dee's Gt and it along with rear tele shocks, Solid antiroll mounts and 3/4 bar makes it the best driving B I have ever plunked my rear in. I recommened it at any cost. Excellent Excellent !!!!! Bob
Bob Thompson

http://www.fast-mg.com/Pricelist.htm

I have not personally used the above fabricator, but find his website to be compelling. He has talked to me in the past about handling issues and is a willing sounding board. He is a successful B racer and does all the things you are contemplating and may offer a package deal. Doug Jackson (along with this BBS!) has been my greatest upgrade resource - for the Panhard rod and other consultations. I have found his Panhard to be the most important improvement beyond simply restoring the suspension and mounting good tires. I have the 7/8" bar with solid mounts, original dampers with uprated valves, negative camber lower control arms, and hard poly bushes all around. For autocross, the results have been quite good. I would have to experience the expensive RV8 front end to believe it is worth the price. For that matter, I would only convert to adjustable coil overs if I somehow gained the mental ability to comprehend the advantages of any adjustments I might make for a given course. I am still in the "driver development" stage, so that level of suspension development is way down the line for me.

Dean
Dean Lake

The Hawk coil-over shock kit mentioned above is manufactured by John Hoyle and is very well made. It is fully adjustable and costs about £600 (GBP) over here. The crossmember has to be modified to fit it.
Mike Howlett

re: Deab lake/
http://www.fast-mg.com/Pricelist.htm
and Dave Headley

I HAVE used stuff from this guy and am impressed with some of the thought behind it.

I first met him anout three years ago at a vintage race at Phoenix. After one practice session with the E/Production group thay swiched him into the C and D/Production race group. My brother in law and I took a look at the car and compared notes- it was a legal car as far as we could tell.

I can say his stuff is good quality and works- I started buying stuff from him- and am a repeat customer. That as good an endorsement as it gets
Greg Fast

Hi!

I checked the link to Fast MG that Dean (and Greg) provided and found the following bit of text:

"Cars with wider than stock tires and wheels may experience tire rub. Many people install a panhard bar to limit axle lateral movement. I personally do not like panhard bars for MGB’s. These devices are difficult to mount correctly, and usually cause uneven handling in LH & RH corners. Also, it is difficult to provide good anchor structure on the subframe in a location with correct geometry. These cars were designed to absorb lateral cornering loads through the spring mounting brackets. A simple low cost system is available to positively locate the springs through these points with out the added cost and weight of a panhard bar. Reducing body roll further improves tire rub tendencies." (source: http://www.fast-mg.com/grip_tech2.htm )

I remember a thread a while ago where someone suggested a Watts linkage. There were lots of great responses, perhaps there's anyone who can explain the system that Fast MG suggests? Does anyone have experience with this system? Might be an 'easy' solution for the people that own a car with a Banjo axle...

Fwiw,

Alexander
Alexander M

Re: lateral axle locator, the simple system works best with dearched (nearly flat) race springs. It also adds no weight, ok about 50gms, and was first conceived in 1972 om my SCCA MGB. It is currently being used on what I believe are the fastest vintage race MGB's in the USA Where tire flares are minimal or non-existent.Watts linkages will provide similar consistent cornering but will add weight and require added structure to work. Sincerely, Dave Headley
Dave Headley

Dave convinced me his axle locator was a good option - just as my Panhard was being delivered, doh! I am satisfied though, because Jackson's well-engineered kit has solved, or at least accomodated, any major concerns about Panhards. On my car, in my application, there has been no perceived uneven handling. I think most B drivers would be surprised to learn just how much the rear end slops around and should consider using a locator of one type or the other. Daves kit is an inexpensive way to experiment and I will try it on my next project.
Dean
Dean Lake

I have the Ron Hopkinson's sway bar kit which comprised an uprated front sway bar and a rear sway bar that actually works (compared to the one's on the rubber bumper models)
My car is a daily driver not a race car so I am not after a flat stiff ride however have found the sway bars to be very good and with standard shocks (new) and poly bushings everywhere with new springs the ride is very pleasant
I got my kit directly from the UK about 7 years ago
Cheers
Steve
SW Tompson

Dave
Re: lateral axle locator

How does it work? I'm interested to see an alternative to panard rod and watts linkage type systems... That is unless it's a "trade secret"
Stuart Robson

Does the Rear Traction Link sold by Frontline prevent lateral movement of the rear axle? It looks as though it should. www.mgcars.org.uk/frontline

Mike
Mike Howlett

Stuart and Mike:
I found these line drawings & brief explanation of lateral locators for solid rear axle cars. The RTL is a form of Mumford Linkage (the last item discussed in the link).
http://www.geocities.com/markianfox/
...and a working copy (lower case .jpg) of the photo link from this article:
http://www.billzilla.org/mallock11.jpg

A better picture of a Muford Link is half way down the page on this Lotus 7 clone site:
http://www.superformance.com/s1_more.asp

~Jerry
Jerry Causey

I got an emailed newsletter from Moss a few days ago. They now have a new coil-over front suspension setup for MGB's. You might try their website to see what you find. (sorry couldn't find the link).
glq Greg

Mike,

The RTL was taken from single seat racing and applied to midget and B but certainly along the lines provided by Jerry, should locate rear axle and not interfere with Springs, I only have preproduction details.

Paul
Paul

The coil-over that Moss is selling here in the states is the same one that has been sold by Moss UK for the past several years. They want over $900.00 for the unit. The Hawk system that is sold by Doug Jackson is much better and not that much more.
Jim Lema

Thanks Jerry, the Mumford link is exactly what Frontline is selling. I saw it in the flesh at Silverstone. Looks nicely made.

Mike
Mike Howlett

This thread was discussed between 08/09/2003 and 14/09/2003

MG MGB Technical index

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