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MG MG Y Type - Front Dampers

The front dampers [shock absorbers] have never been a strong feature on my YA and wonder if anyone has augmented the levers with telescopic. I don't want a major mod just something which could be bolted on so to speak. Bryan
B Mellem

Hello Bryan,
If you have a look under "Technical Centre - Hints & Tips" on the website you will find a drawing of the design I developed.

Basically you replace the two outermost shock nets with ones that are 70mm long - across the top of these nuts you bolt a square bar with a bolt in the end to carry the top mount of the shock.

At the bottom, a bar with a bolt in the end is bolted below the A-arm using the two outermost spring pan bolts & a couple of small welded brackets.

The setup is designed to use Ford Escort rear shock absorbers - I selected these as they have simple eye bushes at each end, the length of travel is good, and they are available in most countries (the Escort was sold in so many markets).

As a picture is worth a thousand words, I will take some tomorrow and send them to Paul for inclusion on the website.

This modification can be easily removed in minutes, returning the car to original specification if required. It really transforms the road holding, especially at speed or on rough surfaces.

If you don't have the equipment or skills to make your own brackets, I would be prepared to make you a set at cost.

Cheers
Tony Slattery
The Classic Workshop
Black Mountain
Australia

PS - "The Classic Workshop" is not a business - just what I call my shed where all the tools and MG's live.
A L SLATTERY

The problem I have now is that with the 5 speed box TF cam and valves the car becomes a handful under full braking from high speed, there is no problem with braking power it is that if the wheels hit a irregular surface they can lock up.

I did have a look at 'hints and tips' but couldn't see your article Tony but thanks for the tip on Escort shocks [is that the Escort mk1] Do you know what the full travel is on these shocks?, Without ABS one is still in with a chance if the wheels stay in contact with the road. Please if you can post your mod on here or my e-mail b.mellem@ntlworld.com
B Mellem

Brian,

Try this link
http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/imgytr/hints&tips/slatteryshocks.pdf

Richard
R E Knight

Brian
My YA had telescopic fitted by a previous owner. I have attached a good picture which may help.
Peter

P W Vielvoye


Thanks Peter for the picture It does look a very well made mounting but since the jack mountings on my car are damaged it will need more thought. I have fitted overhauled lever dampers from NTG but after about 5000 miles they are very tired and near useless. Bryan
B Mellem

I purchased a pair of re-con YA front shock absorbers a while back from a reputable dealer. These remained unused until I had finished the cars overhaul, the car has now completed about 4000 miles. I noticed a marked deterioration of these units and on removing the offside damper and unscrewing the end caps found the oil was black and contaminated with grit and particles. I would suggest that anyone exchanging these units to remove the top chamber and inspect the oil first before fitting. I have cleaned and refilled my shock absorber with 10w motorcycle fork oil. Bryan
B Mellem

If you talk with VCSA s/abs reconditioners who have been around since the vikings arrived, they will say you should get up to 50,000 miles. no exchange with them they do your units up and the price is totally depends on the state of your units they do have a six mnth backlog at the moment. my father had a set done by them about 30 years ago and they are still on the car at the moment but of course it does not do muchh in the way of mile I have no connection with them other than their reconned s/abs
John UMG624
JC Jebb

This thread was discussed between 04/07/2015 and 22/07/2015

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