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 MGF Technical - How does your MGF Handle

Bought my MGF the other week.. Love it too bits but the other day i went around a corner a tad to quick and it felt as if i was going to roll ??

Any ideas about how to solve this

I will be lowering it soon..

Chris Gray

Never heard of this before, how old is the car?

Maybe worn shocks and subframe mounts, I have never thought that the car would roll and includes doing 360 degree spins in the dry at 70+ (on a track). This is after doing nearly 94000 miles in mine.

You might find lowering wont cure this problem, what is the current ride height from the wheel centre to the wheel arch the std height is about 368 +/- 10mm.

Tom
Tom Randell

I agree with Tom; the centre of gravity is far too low to induce roll over in cornering.

Like Tom, I'd check the ride height, the dampers and the condition of the dampers. If you want to reduce the amount of roll you get in corners, then Techspeed, Mike Satur, Brown and Gammons and the MGF Centre can all help out with a variety of suspension tuning options.

If you want to see who well your car is capable of handling, and fancy some training, then I really would recommend one of Andy Walsh's driver training days (1st Lotus). MGoT do a 'taster day' which is a lot of fun - and at under 30 quid for the day, is pretty good value too :o)
Rob Bell

Sounds like the suspension is under pressure. I concur with Tom, check the ride height.

Take a tape measure and measure the distance between the centre of the front wheel, vertically up to the underside of the front wheel arch.

Normal F should be 368mm + / - 10mm

Trophy 160 F should be 340mm + / - 10mm

Measured on level ground.

If it is low, then either it is underpressurised (which could give you the symptoms you describe), or it has been fitted with lowering knuckles (which would mean the problem lies elsewhere).

No way to tell from inspection if knuckles have been fitted, only way is to measure the pressure in the system (which is doen with a Hydragas pump). Fluid pressure should be around the 400psi mark.

If the car is low, take it to a garage that deals with Metro's and ask them to check the pressure. If it is low AND the pressure is noticably lower than 400psi, then i recommend getting them to pump it up to the heights above, if the pressure is OK then you have lowering knuckles fitted (previous owner was an enthusiast).

Good luck

SF
Scarlet Fever

The car has masses of grip, but when it goes it goes quickly.
If you're in a habit of pushing it 'too fast into corners' then a 1st lotus day is for you - preferably before it rains next!

The car is not as forgiving as - say - a midget which will complain like hell and get you round (albeit on the wrong side of the road).

Any mid engine car is 'all or nothing'. Take care out there.
Will Munns

"take care"
especially in the wet, until you gwet a feel for when the backend wants to break away.
Mike :-)
Mike (Mersea Office)

Hi Chris

As others have said, when an F or any mid-engined car lets go, it tends to be pretty dramatic.

Having said that, the letting go could take the form of a spin or a spectacularly lurid slide, it is very unlikely to take the form of the car turning turtle. Unless something happens to prevent the car from sliding - such as sliding into a kerb or having a blow out - your car will always slide.

You simply can't generate enough sideways grip to roll the car onto its side.

James
J Reinhardt

Saying that.. since i replaced my goodyears the handling seems to have improved 100%

Maybe it was just bad luck.. just hope it doesnt happen again
c Gray

This thread was discussed between 27/09/2004 and 28/09/2004

MG MGF Technical index

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