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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 TD TF 1500 - Girling dampers/shock absorbers

I am in need of a pair of Girling PVA6X front shock absorbers/dampers. Mine were rebuilt back in 1996 and I feel that they are now getting tired. I have checked the oil regularly and there are no leaks, but as I have done 25000 miles, I would prefer to have them refurbished.
> However I do not want the car off the road, so am looking for a second pair which I will have rebuilt and can then attend to the ones on the car.
> Has anybody in the UK got a pair, rebuilt or in need of rebuilding, they are prepared to let go for an appropriate consideration.
> Hopefully, Keith
Keith D Herkes


Keith,

You don't state what year or model your car is but MGB shocks fit late TD's and TF's. Just a thought.

Regards,
Jim
James Neel

MGB shockers will only fit with modified top trunnion and MGB rebound rubbers.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

James, thank you for the suggestion and thanks to you Ray for the clarification. Appreciated.
The car is actually a 1952 YB, so should be the same as the TDs. Keith
Keith D Herkes

Do you by chance, have the horizontal damper set-up? If so, you don't need Girling or Armstrong. Tube shocks do the job. (Pix available on request)

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Hi Gord.
A good suggestion and I know what you mean, but when I restored the car I kept everything as original, so Girling PVA6Xs it has to be.
I'm sure some of my fellow Brits will be able to help out if they read this BBS.
Keith
Keith D Herkes

Taking this to the next step- ie home rebuild, does anybody have a copy of the original Girling manual for these dampers.
They are different inside from the earlier Luvax-Girlings fitted to TA,B,Cs and have valves and metering pins which in theory make them adjustable.
Any help appreciated.
Keith UK
Keith D Herkes

I believe that NTG do a swap service, when yours arrive they immediately dispatch a repaired replacement pair from stock.

That should give a very short turn around time particularly if you phone to check first that replacements are actually in stock.
Ian Bowers

Be very careful when buying reconditioned shockabsorbers. The main points for wear are the seals where the spindle enters the body. If the spindles are worn or rusty the only cure is to replace them or machine the cases to move the seal along the shaft. I don't think new spindles are available and have heard of some reconditioners simply cleaning up the spindles and fitting new seals. This set up will not last long.

I have fitted MGB rear shocks to my TF and all I had to do was bush out the holes for the fixing bolts. The B uses larger diameter bolts. They were brand new units and weren't expensive. The ride is compliant and very smooth.

I am uncertain how the arms fit onto the spindles on the front shocks but I suspect they are splined and then peened over. Has anyone attempted to remove them so they could be fitted to brand new MGB items?

Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

On a TF the side panels have to have a cut out to mount an MGB shock as their pistons are on the opposite side of the TF shock and won't fit without the panel being cut. Don't know about the TD. PJ
PJ Jennings

MGB Armstrong shocks will NOT fit. Different bolt pattern than the Girlings.
Phil White

PJ
Both TF and MGB have the piston chambers facing out.
I have an MGB front tubular shock conversion on my TF and it bolts straight onto the disabled shockers OK. Maybe early/late MGB's differ?
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Ray, here's the MGB shocks I took off my car when restoring it, the second photo shows what's on it now. PJ



PJ Jennings

Correct shocks,



PJ Jennings

Forgot to mention, the MGB shocks that were on the car were exactly like the ones on my 72. PJ
PJ Jennings

Just had a thought, if your original shocks fitted the top trunnion then they must have been MGA, the giveaway is the cover plate.
MGB lever arms are much closer together and the trunnion would not go in. If you use MGB shocks you have to machine the trunnion and pivot tube to suit. Or go the whole hog and convert to MGB disc brake setup (wire wheel only).
Ray
Ray Lee

Hi Ray,

I rebuilt to front shocks for the TF and my brother did the same. We both found the only issue was wear and rust on the main shaft where it rubs on the oil seals in the casing. We sorted this my dropping the seal recess in the casing by about 1/8" and fitting lip seals which now run on an unworn part of the shaft. I know brand new MGB shocks are now made and wonder if the arm that's permanently fixed to the shaft can be removed. The other are is secured with a pinch bolt. It would then be possible to either use a new MGB shaft in the T Series shocker or use T Series arms on new MGB units.

Jan T
J Targosz

Ray,I guess they must have been MGA shocks? It was quite a while since I had the 72 shocks rebuilt and my memory, not so good these days, made me think they were MGB shocks on the TF, but your comment made me think harder and your right, they were MGA shocks. They were probably put on as a quick fix after the car was wrecked sometime back in the 60s. The right front steering assembly had to be completely replaced along with the right dumb iron, which was ripped off. I guess back then you could still get chassis parts, as the dumb iron was replaced with a new one. PJ
PJ Jennings

Hey Guys,
Going back to my original post of 13th July, I am still in need of a pair of Girling PVA6X front shock absorbers/dampers to rebuild. This request really aimed at UK TD owners as shipping from outside UK is very costly.

To everybody out there- does anybody have a copy of the original Girling manual for these dampers.
They are different inside from the earlier Luvax-Girlings fitted to TA,B,Cs and have valves and metering pins which in theory make them adjustable.
Any help appreciated.
Keith



Keith D Herkes

Pic #2



Keith D Herkes

Keith,

I can't be any more help on finding replacement dampers, but here is the link for the instruction manual.

www.acmefluid.com.au/nash/girling.pdf

John
J Scragg

Keith. Have you tried asking the usual sources for advice? I mean Steve Baker, Andy King, etc.
Dave H
Dave Hill

John, thank you for this link- I must have missed it in my search of the internet. Much obliged to you.
Dave H. Thanks for the suggestion. With the Manual, I can now confirm what I already know about these units.

Still need to find a pair to rebuild.
Keith
Keith D Herkes

Someone fairly recently (Declan?) was discussing making wrenches for sale, in order to remove the caps on Girling shocks without the need of a damaging Stillson wrench. If anyone wants to work on their Girlings, such a wrench would be invaluable.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

Hi Tom,
The large tops of these Dampers can be unscrewed using either a 1 7/8 inch or a 46 mm socket. To avoid any damage to the cap a 6 point socket should be used as this fits squarely on the cap sides and does not dig in to the corners.
Keith
Keith D Herkes

I am beginning to wonder if many TD owners in the UK read this Board, except of course for those who have kindly commented so far, as I had hoped that somebody would have stepped up and offered a pair of dampers that must be sitting under dozens of workshop benches throughout the land.

So I ask again, has anybody got a pair of these dampers that I can buy from them at a fair price.?
In anticipation.
Keith

.

Keith D Herkes

This thread was discussed between 13/07/2018 and 16/08/2018

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