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MG MGF Technical - am i knuckled or not!

This may seem really stupid, but are lowering knuckles visable without a car-lift?
I dont know my MGF's history and a quick measure shows 340mm from centre of the wheel, just my babys handling has gone to pot at speed and roundabouts are now a dangerous place at speed..it use to be fun now its a worry, all confidence in handling has gone. Just the other week brake discs/pads/tyres where done could it just be the tracking?
My local dealer is a nightmare for inspiring any technical knowledge, i just wish Mike satur was around the corner :)
Col Shaw

Based on the statistics of the number of owners who have fitted lowering knuckles it is highly improbable that you car has them. If the handle has suddenly gone to pot then it might be that you have lost air from the suspension and this is both causing the low ride and crap handling.

I have the lowering knuckles and would never allow the ride height to drop below 245 and prefer 350 to clear the foul speed humps.

If you are not happy with you garage find one that others recommend and have the suspension and tracking checked, and if necessary reset.

Their is a "good dealer" but I do not have it bookmarked at work!

Cheers

Patrick
Patrick Beet

Col, unfortunately there are no visual inspections that can be carried out to confirm or refute whether your car is equipped with lowering knuckles. Everything looks standard even with them fitted!

Statistically, Patrick is right - it is unlikely that your car has been equipped with them, and if they had been, the previous owner would be able to tell you.

The best way to find out is to measure the pressure of the hydragas at the present ride height. If knuckles are fitted, the pressure will be circa 300 psi. If not, the pressure will be substantially less.

HOWEVER, do not be too quick to blame the suspension. You mention that your dealership recently fitted new tyres to your car - and the handling has subsequently gone to pot.

I'd be worried about three things:

1. What pressures are the tyres now set at? Are they correct??? A few psi pressure above or below the recommended can make a huge difference to handling.
2. What tyres have been fitted, and are they the same brand/type front and rear? MGFs are profoundly sensitive to tyre choice, and do not tolerate mixed or cheap tyres well.
3. Occassionally tracking can be upset by tyre fitting (or indeed it may not have been correct when the tyres were fitted - you didn't say why the tyres were replaced: was it for uneven tyre wear?)

Check these out before returning to the suspension.
Rob Bell

previous owner - not contactable, so questioning is out

tyres f1 gsd2 f=195/50/15 r=205/50/15 (all new)

pressure f=28 r=30

tyre wear slightly un-even 1-2mm diff

Well gonna get tracking done @ dealer see what the outcome is anyhow, i'll also get bush's ...etc checked

cheers
Col Shaw

Is it 300psi, Rob? I thought it was 400ish with normal ride height....

(Long time - nearly 2 years - since mine was done!)

Could also be worth checking that all 4 shockers are still attached to the axles - they tend to pop off on older cars and need new (poly) bushes.

Neil.
Neil

Yep, Scarlet is now at 420psi, currently running at 335mm with lowering knuckles.

SF
Scarlet Fever

Thanks Neil, yeah, that should have read 400 psi.

Sounds as though the tyres are fine, as are the pressures Col.

The uneven tyre wear would certainly indicate a tracking problem, and as you are running the car a little low (340 mm is just about okay without knuckles), I'd suggest you go for the BBS tracking settings: 0 degrees 5 minutes toe-in front, 0 degrees 10 minutes toe-in rear.

Checking out the condition of the bushes is also a very good idea - see http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/suspension_upgrades.htm
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 04/08/2002 and 07/08/2002

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