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MG MGF Technical - shocks

Hi all.I am looking to change the shocks on my mgf.I would like your comments on which are the best replacements to inprove the handling.Ihave put poly busher on the car which gave a slight inprovment and I am about to put 16 inch wheels with 215 40 16 goodyear f1 eagles on.Thanks Mick.
mg fletcher

I would recommend not going over 195 on the front wheels as MG Rover fitted to the TF 160. Any larger and the car is likely to tramline - i.e. follow imperfections in the road. Not a pleasant driving experience, but a problem with large tyres on the front.
Bilstein dampers from Techspeed are meant to be the ultimate for an F but you do not say if your car is an F or a TF as they have different suspension.
Dave

>>Hi all.I am looking to change the shocks on my mgf.<<

Dave, that might give a clue :-)

I've had my car lowered, with poly bushes and run Spax adjustables. It was Mike Staur that set the car up about four years ago and I've been quite happy with it ever since. I was out for a good long run in it at the weekend and it was a solid as a rock no matter what speed I was doing.

Also, I ran 205 width tyres on the front when I had 15" wheels and I still run 205s on the front with 17" wheels and I've never had any problems with tramlining. Mind you they have always been Toyo tyres and I don't think that they are as bad for this as some other makes.
David Clelland

Also meant to add that the MY2000 MGF VVC came with 16" wheels and 215s on all four corners as standard.
David Clelland

David,
wasn't this cause smaller Goodyear tyres like 16" 195 had not been available ?
Dieter

dave, can't believe that's been 4 years since you had the car down to mike's!
Leigh Reid

Hi

I currently run 205/40/17 on the front and 215/40/17 on the rear.

Rubber is Bridgestone Potenza G3; haven't had any issues at all, although the engine still has the ability to unstick them with a heavy foot, especially with a bit of lock on.
A M Cox

Dave Clelland, FYI as your car was fitted with the 16 wheels and 205 tyre option when new, I would expect it is fitted with the bump stop kit that MG Rover specified at the time when large tyres were fitted to the front.
This consists of replacement front hydrogas sphere securing brackets with the bump stop bracket welded in a different location.
Dave

MGR advised fitting larger bump-stops if pre-2000 cars were bought with 16" wheels as well. My dealer explained that if the hydragas suspension collapsed the tyre would foul the wheel arch.

Assuming the rolling radius of the tyre hardly changes between 15" and 16" wheel, (based on no change required to speedo gearing), I suspect some-one was after a fast buck and the real issue is tyre width.

Chris
Chris

>>Dave Clelland, FYI as your car was fitted with the 16 wheels and 205 tyre option when new, I would expect it is fitted with the bump stop kit that MG Rover specified at the time when large tyres were fitted to the front.
This consists of replacement front hydrogas sphere securing brackets with the bump stop bracket welded in a different location. <<

Dave, if you look at my last post you will see that I said that I used to have 15" wheels. My car did not have 16" wheels fitted when it was new and I don't think that 205 width tyres was ever an option on any of the model range. Since my car is a 2001 model as far as I know it does have the later bump stop kit fitted as standard. When I fitted the bigger wheels I asked Mike Satur if I needed to upgrade it and he said no.

Leigh,

It was Feb/March 2004 that I had the car lowered, poly bushes fitted, Spax shockers fitted and Mike's Big Brake kit fitted.


David Clelland

>>David,
wasn't this cause smaller Goodyear tyres like 16" 195 had not been available ? <<


Dieter,

Sounds very reasonable. To be honest I don't think that you need to go as big as 215 on the front. Apart from anything else it means that the tyres will foul the arch liners on full lock even easier when the suspension goes down a little in the winter.

David Clelland

Hi thanks for all your comments on tyres I will tell you what mine is like when I put them on.Hopefully in the next week or so.Please can I have more feed back on shocks as there are quite alot of different ones out there.I did have a simita with spax on but not sure if avo's or koni's will be beter on my MGF.Thanks Mick.
mg fletcher

My vote was Bilstein, not adjustable.
Work fine for me. Sourced nearly new from fleebay for less than 80 quid.
http://www.mgfcar.de/shockers/index.htm

Never heard of any other bad.
Wherein, there are some out with suspicious zink plating surface. I daubt these woulkd resist corrosion for longer. I don't recall which brand they were.
Dieter

Bought mine with GAZ Adjustables fitted; though I would agree with Dieter and go for Bilstein; top qualilty products from them.
A M Cox

Hi AMC, I too have the GAZ and set them at 6 clicks front, 9 rear; do you recall your clicks for adjustment? I do realise you have bigger wheels that my 15" Mpi originals. Anyone else?
They were good value from Rimmer Bros but I don't find them hugely better than the 90K miles old original shocks which may only have needed new bushes.
C.R.B. Simeon

i have just fitted gaz adjustables on friday the ride is now like new i brought them though there web site at 38 pounds each
Andrew
AR Cayzer

What settings have you used Andrew, and what model/wheel size? I am thinking 6/9 is a bit too soft.
C.R.B. Simeon

Hi again have any of you had trouble with the rear shock top mounts.Have you used the strenthing plats which are avalible if so do you have to weld them in place or do they just fit in the cup.Thanks for all your information so far please keep your coments coming so we all can find the best option Mick.
mg fletcher

From memory the plates have to be welded in place.
Leigh

Welded, Go to Rob's site and look at the Chamber of Horrors. The back of my F will fall of before those plates come apart!. www.mgf.ultimatemg.com
Andrew W Regens

i am not sure of the size of the wheels they are standard six spoke with the gaz shocks i set them in the middel range and it realy is a very smoth ride
AR Cayzer

I'm not sure what they're set at the moment as I have never had any issues with the handling since I bought it; I must ahve a wee peek at some stage.
A M Cox

Hi all.Ihave now put the 215/40/16 on and the car seems to steer just like it did before apart from a little less over steer.I have not yet tried it in the wet so do not no about any aquaplaning yet so I will keep you posted on that.I would like some comments on avo and koni shock if anyone as them on there car as I am now in the market for the shock upgrade.Thanks for all your comments Mick.
mg fletcher

You could look at SPAX and GAZ too.
C.R.B. Simeon

This thread was discussed between 13/04/2008 and 25/04/2008

MG MGF Technical index

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