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MG MGA - Sway bar

Does anybody have any information on front sway bars. Where to purchase one and how good are they. I own a couple A's and one seems to be OK but the other seems to sway when you make a hard turn.
GK George

There's a ton of info on this topic already in the archive and on the mgaguru site.
Andy Bounsall

This tops my list of the most useful inexpensive mods for the MGA. Decades of experience to offer. See here:
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/suspensn/susp1.htm
Barney Gaylord

Living in South Africa, I will need to import a "sway" bar, in the Members opinion, which is the superior product, the Aussie or the Americian one, no patriotism please just honest facts.

Rgds Trevor Burnett
t burnett

They all work. Important thing is to get the right diameter bar for your application. Some are easier to install than others.

The ADDCO aftermarket bar is breeze to install. Hold the assembly up to the chassis, drill six holes, and bolt it on.

OEM type bars mounting on top of the front frame extension require disassembly of bumper, front valance, and frame extension; also needing the notch in top of frame extension (1600 style frame extension or modification of the earlier one). Also needing the standard late style hole in front of the lower A-arm assembly. For that you can buy late model spring pan and front bracket.

OEM type bar mounting underneath requires shortening of the links. I think one of the Aussi kits is OEM style bar mounting underneath with appropriate short links included.
Barney Gaylord

Here's the Australian one:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MG-MGA-3-4-COMPETITION-SWAY-BAR-KIT-/130548980837?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e65535c65#ht_959wt_1031

I know two people who've fitted them, and I'm told they're very straightforward to fit. I've travelled in one of the cars with it fitted, and the improvement in handling is very obvious.
Definitely on my "to do" list.
T Aczel

I fitted the Australian one nearly two years ago and it made an extraordinary difference to the handling. It took about 2 to 3 hours and was simplicity itself with templates supplied for drilling the holes for the mountings.
Neil Ferguson

While I am a patriotic Aussie I reckon the ADDCO unit is better value for money than the Ebay unit mentioned above!
There is a cheaper Aussie option from K-Mac
http://www.k-mac.com/pages/swaybars/swaybars.htm
How effective a sway bar is depends on strength of the steel used to construct as well as the diameter (and effective length). Steel strength is something that the makers don't tell us!
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

The sway bar on our A certainly changed the feel of the car. Very worthwhile improvement.
David Lake

All steels have the same 'strength' in terms of their elastic characteristics below yield point. Latter is when they go plastic and permanently deform and yield point can be higher in alloyed or heat treated steels. Sway bars stay below yield point ( you hope!!!) What is most important is the quality of the steel bar..ie no inclusions, cracks, surface stress raisers etc. I would not believe sway bars are made of special high yield steels.....just bog standard bar bent to shape.
Neil Ferguson

Trevor,
I fitted a K-MAC (Australian) sway bar about 15 years ago and it made a significant difference to the handling of the car.The "racing" members of the club recomended this brand because it bolts directly to the lower suspension arms and they said as a result there was more direct control due to movement and twisting of the link arms and the associated bushes conecting the sway bar to the suspension. It was an easy bolt on kit however I have never compared it to an original style sway bar set up.
I Hazeldine

Many thanks, I beleive that I have enough info on the subject to make a decision, it would appear that they all work well, cost is the real only differance.

Rgds Trevor B.
t burnett

Ian H,
How does the fitting work on the K-MAC bar - does it just clamp around the spring pan somehow? Any chance of some photos please? They're about half the cost of a Heritage one!

Thanks - Andrew
A Buick

This thread was discussed between 21/07/2011 and 29/07/2011

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