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MG TD TF 1500 - Rear Shocks differences?

Hi,
I've managed to get a couple of spare rear shocks for my TD. However there are slight differences to the body mouldings of the shocks.
Does anyone know if there were changes to the shocks during the time of their manufacture, or irrespective of the changes were they all interchangeable?
Or perhaps, if there were third party manufacturers because one shocks is stamped Armstrong, the other isn't?

Thanks,
Mike.




Mike Christie

Picture 2


Mike Christie

Hi Mike,
I know the early TD's had Girling and the later T "s had Armstrong shocks. The pictures appear to be Armstrong and slight difference could be due to a model change or different year of manufacture. I would expect that their interchangeability would depend on the balance of their working action. It appears that there would not be a fitting problem. Before fitting I would check the fluid lever.

George Raham
TD 4224
G. L. Raham

I believe the Girling and Armstrongs each used different shock links from the spring plate to the shock lever. So you have to have the correct links for the shock used.

I agree with George that they appear to be Armstrongs.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Check out the shocks in Worldwide's catalog:

http://www.nosimport.com/shoxcatalog.htm

The ones they show for the TD/TF don't look like yours but the MGA ones do...or are my eyes deceiving me again?
Gene Gillam

Hi,
Thanks for the comments.

Gene, checking the pictures on the Worldwide site it appears that one of the shocks may in fact be from an MGB, 8178R, because there's a small moulding on the body to the left of the arm with a recessed hole. One of my shocks has this moulding. Picture 1 above.
The other does appear to be for a TD. Do you agree?

George, I've never stripped a shock absorber so can you tell me what the 'fluid lever' is and should I just be looking for similarities?

Dave, yes that's my difficulty - I need to be sure I've got a matched pair. And at the moment I can return them.


Thanks,

Mike.
Mike Christie

Hi Mike again,
I can't explain how or why I hit the "r" as it was supposed to be an "l", to read "level". As I have Girling shocks, I am not able to advise as to how you would check the fluid level in the Armstrong shocks. Sorry for the confusion.

George Raham
TD 4224
G. L. Raham

Mike, The shocks you have are Armstrongs. They are different in that the valves are different sizes. The 2 represent the changes Armstrong went though over the years. The one on the right in your first picture is the second generation of Armstrong shocks that could be on a TD. The first generation would be the vertical valve ones as you saw on our web page #4645. That had the valve body between the piston bores. This was changed to the R type that has the valve horizontal, the first iteration being the one on the right in your first image. Note the boss area below where the arm protrudes, a vestige of the older casting. The improvement to the shock was mostly on the rebound valving as it had 2 different spring sets. The shock on the left in your image is the later, more common design with the larger valve body. The body casting is changed also away from the earlier flat bottom, to one with more support. We find a fair number of the earliest and the next series (right in your image) with cracks at the base of the chambers. The later ones almost never have that. The body of the one on the left is typical of the body used in MGAs, MGBs, later Triumphs, big Healeys, etc. It is called a DAS10R style. The particular part number of each of these shocks can be found stamped on the lower edge of the mounting ear. The ones in your picture might both be stamped with the same number! 5698 (L or R). An MGA rear 6066 can also be used, as the arm swing and bend are the same. (the valving is different) An MGB must NOT be used, as the arm is bent such to be farther away from the plane of the mounting, and puts a nasty twist on the link.

I'll be discussing this at a tech session at GOF in Sheboygan WI Sept. 14. Bring your questions! Peter C
Peter Caldwell

Peter, looking forward to meeting you at GOF central in Sept. Should be a great time.
TRM Maine

For you folks that need shocks reworked, I highly recommend Peter Caldwell of www.nosimports.com (see his post above). His/their work is excellent and better yet, guaranteed!!
Gene Gillam

Peter,

Thanks very much for the very clear answer. Once again the people on this BB have proved to be so helpful.

By the way, I shall be in Sheboygan for a wedding using wedding cars tonbridge the last two weeks of July - could you bring the GOF meeting forward by a couple of months please?

Mike
Mike Christie

Mike, I'm over in Madison, about 2 hours West, you are welcome to visit! I even have shocks, if you need.

Also, July 16-19 is some serious vintage racing and show stuff in nearby (to Sheboygan) Elkhart Lake at Road America. The Brian Redman Kohler International Challenge. I will probably be walking around as I've done for many years. Great event. http://www.roadamerica.com/Races/RaceInformation.asp?id=5

Peter
Peter Caldwell

I'll be in Sheboygan... what a great opportunity to learn from one of the leading shock experts. Now I'm twice as excited!!

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Peter,
Just to let you know that your new shocks are installed and work great! Installation was a breeze. I'm no longer afraid the thing will tip over on a robust corner! Thanks for all the help. (I bought rebuilt's from Peter recently. PO had installed 75 B shocks on my '50 TD and bent a link 40 degrees to make them fit - good lord!!! Plus they leaked.)
Ed
efh Ed

Peter,

Thanks again for the reply. I will try to find out just what the problems are, if any, with bringing the shocks with me. When you say you have some shocks are these retail or exchange?
I have a just been sent a replacement for the earlier rear shock, but the body is very badly pitted and although there is resistance when the arm is moved there are some very unpleasant 'mechanical' noises at each end of the travel.
Thanks for the heads up about the racing - now comes the difficult task of telling my wife!

Regards,

Mike.
Mike Christie

Mike, It would help to have your email so I can discuss some options with you. The "unpleasant noises" at the end of the travel is probably from worn writ pins. Try to sense if there are noises when revering action elsewhere in the stroke. Remember that a shock (should) never actually reach the end of its travel as there are rebound stops on the suspension. I also saw your post on the MGB board regarding front shocks..... You really should contact me directly. Peter peter AT nosimport.com
Peter Caldwell

Peter,
You have mail.
Mike
Mike Christie

This thread was discussed between 20/06/2009 and 28/06/2009

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