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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 MG Y Type - Anti sway bar

Is there any handling improvement in fitting a front sway bar to a YA given that they are fitted with a panhard rod unlike the YB? Can a MGB bar be fitted and what length should the connection links be that bolt on to the lower control arms?
Andrew Edwards

The anti-roll, ( anti-sway,) bar on the YB improves the handling quite a bit, but does put some strain on the spring-pans as it bolts to the flat top face. My '52 YB had cracks around the bolt holes due to the 'bending' moment created by the action of the anti-roll bar. I cured it by reinforcing the area with thicker plates welded on. The MGB, which uses virtually identical spting seats, lower arms, but different king-pin and damper, has its anti-roll bar fixed to the front suspension arm, a much better location.

There is no reason why two front MGB arms cannot be fitted, and a MGB bar adapted to fit. You only need to fabricate the rubber mounting fixings to the forward chassis extensions.

The rear axle bar was removed as it did not really have much effect and was costly to produce. Had the YA had a bigger engine with more torque, there might have perhaps been a need for the rear axle location to chassis mounting. However, the anti-roll bar was needed, as the car is quite a high build, and does roll on corners if pushed.

Neil.
Neil Cairns

Finally we have put up a website for our Y toolkits, check out http://web.one.net.au/~in_point
for all the details.
Y Toolkit

Thanks Neil

From the photos I have seen it would seem that the sway bar link to the control arms is much shorter on the YB than the B and this allows the sway bar to be positioned below the steering rack tie rods. Is this important or can you use standard MGB links?
Andrew Edwards

Andrew,
I disconected the rear bar on my YT and fitted a front anti-sway bar from J.C. Whitney. It make it a much better handling car. The MGB set up would work too but the Bar set up I am using does not use links. They attach to the front A-arms thru rubber bushes.
Check out the JCWhitney site.
Good Luck.
Tom
ttbaum

Only a guess, I would have thought the MGB links would be OK. Those on the Midget are shorter if MGB one are too long.

The MGB links need to be at least 1" longer than those on the YB, as the fixing point is 'lower'.

Neil.
Neil Cairns

This thread was discussed between 02/02/2000 and 28/02/2000

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