On Mon, 3 Apr 1995, Will Zehring wrote:
> Fellow fiends:
>
> I have a handful of remarkably elementary questions concerning the
> suspension and road manners of Old Whitesides (the venerable '63B).
> I have noticed the following:
> ---the car has considerable roll under even moderate speed turns
> (e.g. exit and entrance ramps). Friends (passengers) who know B's remark
> that it is extreme for the car and I tend to agree.
> ---the car lists to port (driver's side), but not severely. You need to
> look at the car from about 30 feet to see it.
> ---during restoration I had the front shocks rebuilt, but did
> nothing to the rears (other than topping up fluid), nor to springs at any
> corner. Preliminary fender bounce tests didn't indicate bad shocks at the
> rears. Fronts were obviously gone. Someone I've talked to says the rears
> tend to last longer (maybe, but 32 years?).
> ---also, I didn't "bother" with the rear U-joints, or bushings. However,
> under rapid acceleration (is there such a thing?) or under rapid
> deceleration I seem to notice some lightness in the car, that I correct in
> the steering. Its hard for me to describe this but the effect is a sense
> that I'm wandering in my lane. It is very stable at cruising speeds.
>
> My questions are:
> ---The early B's didn't have a front sway bar. I did not put one on,
> either. Should I? How complicated is that process? What size?
> ---Should I go ahead and have the rear shocks rebuilt?
> ---Should I go ahead and have the rear springs replaced? (I focus on the
> rear springs only because it is my hard to defend suspicion that the list to
> port is due to a tired driver's side rear spring).
> ---I assume if I'm going this far that new rear bushings and U-joints would
> be easy to take care of?
> ---Is there such a thing as a rear sway bar? If so, should I install one?
>
> I can imagine that the roll might be attributable to any of these bits, and
> that to cleverly pick the culprit is darn near impossible?
>
> You have by now realized that I haven't spent a whole heck of a lot of time
> contemplating the suspension of MGs. More than some of the above may be
> completely wrong. I'd appreciate any and all net wisdom/indulgence/teaching
> on these topics. This car is definately a keeper, so it doesn't bother me
> to put a bit more $$ into it (heck, compared to what I've already done, this
> will be a drop in the bucket). I'd rather get it "right and proper" than
> just put a bandaid on something. The roll sort of takes away from the
> tossability of the car - a prime reason for driving it in the first place!
> Also, what order of repairs should I undertake?
>
> Many thanks, in advance, for advice/comments/etc.
> Will Zehring
>
>
I put Ron Hopkinson front and rear sway bars on my 70 B and the
difference in cornering is dramatic,now very flat.
Keith Holdsworth.
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