MGB rear dampers
Discussion
Since it's been a while since I looked into this, I'd like to ask the collected wisdom of PH the following:
the rear shocks on my car need replacement, and last time I checked, common knowledge was that telescopic dampers were too hard as they weren't developed for the MGB.
It seems absolutely plausible that every since, things moved on.
As such, what would you advise: a set of refurbished armstrong levers, or a conversion to telescopic dampers (and in this case: which ones?)
Thanks in advance!
Alex
the rear shocks on my car need replacement, and last time I checked, common knowledge was that telescopic dampers were too hard as they weren't developed for the MGB.
It seems absolutely plausible that every since, things moved on.
As such, what would you advise: a set of refurbished armstrong levers, or a conversion to telescopic dampers (and in this case: which ones?)
Thanks in advance!
Alex
I've got parabolic springs on the back of mine and you need to have telescopic shocks rather than lever arm dampers on with them.
My old B had konis on them and they were good, but not adjustable. Someone had suggested that Spax were too firm, even on the bottom setting. I went ahead anyway. They are definitely not too firm - with a full boot and the missus onboard, it was pretty wallowy until I set them in the middle and it feels sharp.
Front end on my car is a Moss coilover set up with Gaz shocks on it. Also got a 3/4" antiroll bar on. It's nearly perfect - might stick a panhard rod on it in the future, but that's about it.
My old B had konis on them and they were good, but not adjustable. Someone had suggested that Spax were too firm, even on the bottom setting. I went ahead anyway. They are definitely not too firm - with a full boot and the missus onboard, it was pretty wallowy until I set them in the middle and it feels sharp.
Front end on my car is a Moss coilover set up with Gaz shocks on it. Also got a 3/4" antiroll bar on. It's nearly perfect - might stick a panhard rod on it in the future, but that's about it.
dryden said:
Panhard rod kit is on my "to do in the spring list" .....I am careful not to put a year in ;-) .... But I think it will tighten the rear even more.
Have one on the other MGB, not sure I'll have one on this car (GT V8 with parabolics).I'll probably start with the Spax dampers on the rear and possibly add anti-tramp (ooh vicar!) bars.
sunbeam alpine said:
Alex - whatever you go for, just order the parts and we can fit them here on Car Monday - we're running out of projects!
Excellent, thanks David! Looking forward to that.I'll try and manage to get to Car Monday (quite busy again sadly) and will provide for the required support ;-)
We should try and catch up btw!
Thread resurrection!
Last week, the following goodies arrived:
Now I'm thinking I should have gotten other dampers for the front too... I shall try and refrain from hitting the Moss website
Last week, the following goodies arrived:
- Spax conversion kit for the rear suspension
- Anti-tramp bars
- Frontline Costello anti-lift front valance
Now I'm thinking I should have gotten other dampers for the front too... I shall try and refrain from hitting the Moss website
Edited by Church of Noise on Friday 3rd March 18:46
Too late now but since you asked for collective wisdom 
Telescopics are a waste of time and money, many of the most successful B racers drove - and drive - on lever arms and just like building a performance engine without thorough planning simply bolting on an uncoordinated raft of 'go faster goodies' will rarely improve on a well maintained stock set up and is equally likely to detract from it.
A Panhard rod is nothing more than additional weight to move around.
Unfortunately most times when people fit such items it's because their originals were shot to pieces which makes before and after comparisons at best moot and at worst downright misleading.
Telescopics are a waste of time and money, many of the most successful B racers drove - and drive - on lever arms and just like building a performance engine without thorough planning simply bolting on an uncoordinated raft of 'go faster goodies' will rarely improve on a well maintained stock set up and is equally likely to detract from it.
A Panhard rod is nothing more than additional weight to move around.
Unfortunately most times when people fit such items it's because their originals were shot to pieces which makes before and after comparisons at best moot and at worst downright misleading.
Expatloon said:
Too late now but since you asked for collective wisdom
Telescopics are a waste of time and money, many of the most successful B racers drove - and drive - on lever arms and just like building a performance engine without thorough planning simply bolting on an uncoordinated raft of 'go faster goodies' will rarely improve on a well maintained stock set up and is equally likely to detract from it.
In most cases, the above might be true. However, as stated, the car has parabolic (ie single leaf) rear springs, which differ significantly from the standard items in their characteristics. They appear not very compatible with the lever arms (I presume as the springs themselve do a lot less damping than the standard multiple leaf rear springs), based on my experience and that of others. Telescopics are a waste of time and money, many of the most successful B racers drove - and drive - on lever arms and just like building a performance engine without thorough planning simply bolting on an uncoordinated raft of 'go faster goodies' will rarely improve on a well maintained stock set up and is equally likely to detract from it.
Expatloon said:
A Panhard rod is nothing more than additional weight to move around.
Unfortunately most times when people fit such items it's because their originals were shot to pieces which makes before and after comparisons at best moot and at worst downright misleading.
Yes, I agree, having one on one of my other MGB and deciding not to get one for this car. I however am quite convinced I need anti-tramp bars, as there is evidence of axle windup...Unfortunately most times when people fit such items it's because their originals were shot to pieces which makes before and after comparisons at best moot and at worst downright misleading.
Edited by Church of Noise on Tuesday 7th March 21:48
Parabolics have little or no inherent friction compared to multi leaf cart spring and that upsets the rate of the lever arms, that's the only technical reason for telescopics being recommended, that and wanting to part the gullible from more of their cash of course 
Many who switch to parabolic report having to fit shims or blocks to get the height down to some semblance of normality, a couple of inches or more sometimes, and once you introduce those you effectively add lateral leverage which can distort them sideways so NOW you need the Panhard rod to control that !
All in all they are just not worth the bother.
Good luck with getting even a V8 to wind up or tramp significantly but if you can then easily fitted anti-tramp bars will eliminate it completely.
Since they are simple bolt on's fitted purely to control potentially unwanted suspension behaviour effect whilst leaving everything else standard they do not fall into previously mentioned "uncoordinated raft of 'go faster goodies'"
Many who switch to parabolic report having to fit shims or blocks to get the height down to some semblance of normality, a couple of inches or more sometimes, and once you introduce those you effectively add lateral leverage which can distort them sideways so NOW you need the Panhard rod to control that !
All in all they are just not worth the bother.
Good luck with getting even a V8 to wind up or tramp significantly but if you can then easily fitted anti-tramp bars will eliminate it completely.
Since they are simple bolt on's fitted purely to control potentially unwanted suspension behaviour effect whilst leaving everything else standard they do not fall into previously mentioned "uncoordinated raft of 'go faster goodies'"
Expatloon said:
Parabolics have little or no inherent friction compared to multi leaf cart spring and that upsets the rate of the lever arms, that's the only technical reason for telescopics being recommended, that and wanting to part the gullible from more of their cash of course
Yes - to both facts Expatloon said:
Many who switch to parabolic report having to fit shims or blocks to get the height down to some semblance of normality, a couple of inches or more sometimes, and once you introduce those you effectively add lateral leverage which can distort them sideways so NOW you need the Panhard rod to control that !
All in all they are just not worth the bother.
Indeed, mine have shims indeed. All in all though, the ride is incomparable to the normal leaf springs (in the positive sense), the car flows through corners now.All in all they are just not worth the bother.
Expatloon said:
Good luck with getting even a V8 to wind up or tramp significantly but if you can then easily fitted anti-tramp bars will eliminate it completely.
The parabolics are ever so slightly S-shaped already...Quick update: with the help of Sunbeam Alpine (thanks a lot!!!), the Spax dampers and anti-tramp bars were fitted.
After some test drives, initial impressions are:
Hope this can be useful to some other people considering these modifications!
After some test drives, initial impressions are:
- Damping is greatly improved (to be expected, as the old dampers were pretty much shot), dampers currently set at 6 clicks (out of 32, so quite soft)
- Car feels a lot 'tighter' in corners and when accelerating, I suspect this is the work of the anti-tramp bars (these were fitted a bit after the dampers were fitted). To be honest, the location of the axle by the anti-tramp bars seems a lot better compared to the panhard rod I have on the other MGB
- As a result of the both points above, the car feels a lot more 'fluid' to drive. No downsides experienced so far
- (some people are worried that the bars will keep tramps away, we're still trying to figure out a solution for that)
Hope this can be useful to some other people considering these modifications!
Edited by Church of Noise on Thursday 17th August 14:38
I've got some Harvey Bailey (Leda?) telescopics on the rear of my B roadster V8 conversion. These are fine to me, however the short inbound is quite stiff.
But in combination with the 5 link Frontline Costello suspension the rear is very predictable and rigid. Never ever leave springs for me anymore.
regards, Bart
But in combination with the 5 link Frontline Costello suspension the rear is very predictable and rigid. Never ever leave springs for me anymore.
regards, Bart
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