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MG TD TF 1500 - Wrong shock absorbers

Hello everyone, great day today! Fetched my TD from the winter hiding. However, the person who had looked it over and done some lubrication told me that my shock absorbers were for MGB! I bought the car last fall, and haven'1t had time for a thorough check.
Any comments to this?
Raymond Wardenaer

My rear's were form a B also. PO had bent the links to make it fit! Call Peter Caldwell in US, he'll fix you up. (In Norway, hum...)
efh Haskell

Front MGB shockies will not fit. (unfortunately)

Cheers,

Paul.
Paul van Gool

Front or rear shocks?
George Butz

Front shocks.
Raymond Wardenaer

There is a kit available to use the MGB shock absorbers with a revised upper steering trunnion. If you have the wrong shocks, and yet the car is in one piece and functioning, then you probably have this kit. You might find some correct shcck absorbers, but you will also need the other parts which interface.

I would just drive it as is... most people will never notice.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Thank you, Dave.
Raymond Wardenaer

Dave is as usual right on. Moss started selling that kit a couple years ago. No need to change unless concours judging or something. George
George Butz

I am not taking my cars to concours or anything. But I am wondering about what you are saying about Moss atrting to sell these kits a couple of years ago. I shall look through the papers following the car.
Raymond Wardenaer

And the papers tell me: "New front shocker MGB **SUR10*" at 95 pounds each, dated 17/12/02.
Also: "New rear shocker L/R MGA *SUR25* at 60 pounds each", dated 20/06/03.
Raymond Wardenaer

Does it have original swivel pins, trunnions, hubs - or MGB ones? Some cars have had the whole suspension changed, frequently along with wire wheel conversions.

FRM
Fletcher R Millmore

Can you take and post some pictures of the front suspension?
George Butz

Fletcher, I can see of the recordings that a lot of other items were bought together with the shocks. My car will soon go to a specialist here in Oslo, so I will have more answers then.
Raymond Wardenaer

Raymond, you probably don't have MGB shocks. You likely have newly made TD shocks. Your service man may have seen the turret or air chamber on the new shock that made him think they are from an MGB.
Newly made front Armstrong shocks all use the same body casting that have this air chamber. This is true of MGAs, Austin Healeys, MGBs, and TDs. The new style does not fit some cars well due to sheet metal interference. The arms and valves should still match the TD specifications.
The air chamber is an improvement from a performance standpoint. It just doesn't look original.

Peter Caldwell
Peter Caldwell

Peter -
V interesting, but contrary to Raymond's invoices quoted above.

FRM
Fletcher R Millmore

Ah.... yes.... Devil's in the details, and I missed that post. I'll recant the "probably don't" bit. Sorry.

Good catch. I'll finish my cup of coffee next time.

Peter
Peter Caldwell

The trunions that Dave Braun refers to are quite special animals and are sold uniquely, as fa as I can determine, by B&G.

I've attached a pic of the for your reference.

I once priced them and found them to be a ridiculous price.

Its clear that peter Caldwell has the right answer.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.


Gordon A Clark

This thread was discussed between 17/04/2010 and 21/04/2010

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