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MG MGF Technical - front tow brackets hitting the kurb!

Hiya,

Last night my worst fears of owning a low car came to light! basically I was reversing off a 'drive' and my front right wheel rolled of a HIGH kurb and "scraaape".

it took me 10 minutes to get out of my car and have a look :) I think I just scraped my front right plastic mud guards but on closer inspection my right tow bracket looks slightly bent and scratched!.. why the hell are they so low??? I dont think there is any body damage.

Im worried the impact has knackered my subframe or tracking or suspension or something!!.. someone please put my mind to ease and explain the possible unseen damage this may cause.

many thanks

James

p.s anyone else done this?
james

I would have thought that the car should be fine. One thing you ought to check is that the ride height is correct. From the centre of the wheel to the rim of the wheel arch should be 368mm at 17 degreesC. If the car is lower than this is looks cool but the suspnsion is not working correctly and you tend to hit speed bumps and kirbs :0( Serveral of us have had the car lowered using the appropriate knuckles and are just a little more careful than usual. I would suggest you check the height over the weekend and if too low go to a local garage to get the system pumped up to the correct height. I could go on a bit more but i must dash out the door. Good luck

Tim
tim woolcott

>> why the hell are they so low??? <<

So that a tow truck can put a bar through them and attach a rope/chain to each end without damaging the underside of your bumper.

Towing eyes, through necessity, have to be accessable and on a low car like the F, this means towards the lowest point on the car. Other vulnerable areas include the central sub-frame jacking points, the catalyst and the flexi-pipe. The central rectangular panel in the middle of the floor pan is a skid pan and is there to protect the underbody coolant pipes. If you hear a scrape this is what it is most likely to be.

SF
Scarlet Fever

James

Dont worry yourself too much - my *F* has been doing this every time I get it out of the garage and every time I put it away for the last 7 years - it keeps the concrete of the drive nice and clean:-)

Seriously - yes the underside of the front bumper is starting to wear a bit thin and the central tray that Andrew mentions has a few scratches and the tow hook is bit bent BUT the car still goes and above all it still brings that enormous great silly grin to my face.

And The Green Squirrel is sitting hood down in the sun waiting for me to finish checking my e-mails ( and a quick check of this BBS) so that we can see if Epping Forest is still in place.

Ted
Ted Newman

say hello to Epping Forest for me Ted

my F is outside the office with the roof down waiting for me to finish 35x Windows and Office Upgrades

nothing personnal but ... I won't be too upset if it rains today.
JohnP

My F is outside on axle stands, with most of the dash missing now - i am pixel editing (re-sizing) the images and will be posting on the SOS site later today.

SF
Scarlet Fever

Andy, you know you had my commiserations on day 1 and I guess your SOS is worse than being in work but - frankly my dear I'd rather be in Philadelphia!
JohnP

This thread was discussed between 04/04/2003 and 05/04/2003

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