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MG MGB Technical - replacement tube shocks

I have a tube shock conversion on the rear of my mgb gt. It currently runs monroe shocks, but the part #s are no longer readable. I'd like to get a replacement set, as the current ones are well worn. Anyone know what type of car these shocks were originally fitted to so that I can check at my local Napa Auto? Or better yet, what is the appropriate KYB part number?

thanks
-Bill
Bill Mertz

Go back to lever-arms, I did after having to replace the POs tubulars once, and they started failing again.
Paul Hunt

Yeah reading through the archives it seems a lot of people recommend going back to levers, but honestly I like the tube shocks. They've been great for the last 7 years for me, no issues to report. Having them off the car I noticed one of them has lost a bit of its damping abilities. Buying a set of rebuilt lever arms seems like it would be a lot pricier than a good set of tube shocks (kyb or other) from Napa. I just need to know what kind of car to ask for when I go to the parts place.

If I could find a comparably priced set of lever arms I would gladly throw them on.

-Bill
Bill Mertz

Bill,

if you have the shocks on the bench, you can mesure the whole traval and all other dimensions.
Your shop will have to compare your mesurements with the cataloge and then can order the right replacement for your demand.

I have to knock on wood, the Spax shocks in my GT have lasted for more than 20 years up to now.

Ralph
Ralph

I read quite a lot about the options when I converted mine.

http://www.mgbmga.com/tech/mgb13.htm Gives quite a few dimensions

http://www.mgexperience.net/article/rear-shock.html gives even more and following these, I bought a pair of Delphi shock absorbers as fitted to a Hyundai Pony.

Ref D225 3525. They cost me £20 new, including postage.

I had to cut the ends of the bushing which was too long, and then drill it out to 1/2inch to fit the bolt.

They've been on the car for a year, and seem to do the job well, although I have nothing to compare them with.
David Balkwill

Sorry, missed this one as well.

http://www.lbcarco.com/pdf/shock-inst-issue1.pdf

David
David Balkwill

These were some of the equivalents that I found then :

79-81 Dodge Colt
86-94 Hyundai Excel Delphi D2253525 Borg and Beck 69689
87-93 Mitsubishi Precis/Miracle/Cordia/Tredia G 42563 69689

Red Ryder Gas 81464

So good hunting

David
David Balkwill

Bill
Try Monroe Gas shock #SR GS-60. Have had them on my
'72 for 7 years.
Bill
William Scullion

I also have the monroe conversion. Since the mounting bracket is there, will the spax adjustables bolt right on to the monroe kit? I have been toying that idea so I can set a softer ride on trips but stiffer when I hit the twisties.
bill

Thanks for all the replies, thats exactly what I was looking for.

cheers,

-Bill
Bill Mertz

GAZ adjust ables have a better rep' bill. Better quality control, no complaints on the net about them. Quite a few people have complaints about spax being too hard and the adjusters becoming jammed. GAZ are of a similar price range, sometimes cheaper. A little while ago I was about to fit a trailing arm suspension and bought a set of GAZ coilovers, very nice. Then I found that this guy http://www.mgbmga.com/tech/mgb14d.htm was still operating. At $900 it is tremendous value for money.


http://www.gaz-shocks.co.uk/gazcatalogue.pdf

32 point range of adjustment, can be set softer.

Note the non- adjustable version listed for MGB's isn't what you want.
The adjustable one yo want should have a free movement of 6 inches at least.

The ones that came with my fibre glass springs
http://www.mgbmga.com/tech/mgb13e.htm

are
KYB VBP-BA1 1pc 9L06
Peter

Peter,
If you don't mind me asking, What was the $900 for exactly?

-Bill
Bill Mertz

Peter- You're not saying you spent $900 for the Jackson composite springs are you? I purchased 3 sets from Doug back in 99 and swear by them. FWIW, I tossed all 3 sets of tube shock conversion and went back to World rebuilt dampers with noticeable improvement. Again, FWIW, the Monroes work from the Dodge Colt, circa 80 or so. Vem
vem myers

$900 was for the whole set up in the picture.Both sides of course! That's the springs spare bushes, adjustable shackles, anti-tramp bars and brackets and tube shocker conversion. The antitramp bars and shocker conversion would go for around five or 6 hundred locally. That makes the composites about the same price as the local standard steel springs which are around $400. The MGOC are charging in the order of 400 pounds just for the springs alone. That would put them at around $1000 Australian. These springs of Doug's are terrific. An amazing change for the better. I'ts inspired me to fit a 22 mm antitsway bar and panhard. Another big improvement and money well spent.
Interested to see about the armstrongs. I've heard good things about world dampers, something to look at in the future however they tend to be expensive from this end of the world. Not practical to exchange so you need to buy them outright, plus freight.
Because the shocker conversion came with the kit I fitted them and at the moment I'm finding the KYB's a definite improvement. Of course, this could be entirely due to the springs. Not so scientific changing 2 things at once. There are one or two bumps around here that the armstrongs, (and steel springs), would bottom out on every time (the KYB's don't), and they are in good (STANDARD) condition. I also find the new springs and shocker set up allot less harsh than the previous set up. I've still got those GAZ shockers so I'll almost certainly give those a go at some stage. The adjustable aspect is irresistible. Being coil over units they are about half a kg heavier than the KYB's. They are 18" and longer than the KYB's (which might account for allot of the weight), however I've checked and they will fit easily using Doug's adjustable upper bracket. That bracket is a work of art by the way.
Peter

I should add that the GAZ, when they are on their softest setting, are very much softer than the KYB's. That was just a rough, one in each hand, lean on them test. Compressed about 2 or even 3 times as fast. They dial up a good deal harder of course. 32 clicks worth!
Peter

Thanks Peter,
Just talked to Doug and ordered myself a rear suspension kit. I just couldn't resist. So much for summer vacation.
Now I just need that panhard rod setup.

-Bill
Bill Mertz

You'll love 'em Bill.
It'll only take you a day to fit them at the most.
One thing, Don't be tempted to use them without the antitramp bars. I had heard that some of them delaminated. I Checked the net extensively and could not find an instance of these failing when Doug's style of antitramp bars are used. The failures were with either no antitramp bars, or the wrong sort, those that load the front of the spring. The V8's are capable of tramping the back axle and putting an S reverse bend into the spring and that seems to cause damage to the glass fiber springs, which is not suprising. With the anti tramp bars this is not possible.
Anyway I've been giving them a pretty hard work out with my 4.0 EFI V8, and they are still as good as new.
Peter

Than my little 4 banger should have no issues. I really like the idea of having a nicely sorted rear suspension. I run pretty large tires and the stock rear setup was never quite up to the task. I worked on old Alfas for a long time and always loved how well they worked with a solid rear axle. This new rear setup combined with a panhard rod should give me the results I'm after.

thanks again for the tip

-Bill
Bill Mertz

This thread was discussed between 27/05/2008 and 03/06/2008

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