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MG MGF Technical - TF lower wishbone

Stupid question really, has anyone made a bespoke lower wishbone arm with and adjustable ball joint location? I've got +1* camber on one side, and -1* on the other side. Good for going in circles!!
Yes, I knw VHS can stitch a plate in and alter the ball joint location, but not very elegant, and what if you rebush the pivots and it wants changing again?
Jerry Herbert

Jerry, no. There's been much talk over the years about this - and perhaps slotting the ball joint mounting holes would provide a solution, but no one to my knowledge has ever produced anything for the general market. A rear camber adjuster has been made by Mike Satur though.
Rob Bell

Chaps,
If you just slot the holes there is a chance of movement under braking or cornering loads. That is why we stitch a plate on with sized holes. This also allows the ball joint to be replaced at a later date without the need to readjust. Bushes can be replaced without the need to readjust - the repositioned ball joint is really correcting for poorly toleranced dimensions elsewhere (primarily the subframe).
Cheers,
Andy (VHS Ltd)
A Kitson

Thanks Andy, I did enquire this summer about my strange set up, but never got round to it. I understand what you say, is it really that the subframe could be that much out?
Are urethane bushes a more precise location than OEM bushes, or just a gimmick in this position?
An eccentric ball joint, or something like that, would be ideal for camber adjusment?
Jerry Herbert

Jerry,
Unfortunately, the very narrow spacing of the wishbones means that only a small error will make a large difference to the resulting geometry. Usually, it is the top wishbone position that is the culprit - a slight misalignment of the pivot shaft can throw the outer balljoint out of position, leading to a large effect on caster/camber.
I think that the claims for more precise location by the use of poly bushes really only applies dynamically, as they offer more resistance to movement under load.
You are quite right - an eccentric form of adjustment would be ideal. It is just very tricky to engineer for a sensible cost! I have some ideas, yet to be productionised.
Cheers,
Andy
A Kitson

I'll be interested in what you come up with!!

An eccentric top roller spindle would be ideal then, and I guess not too difficult to make?
Or a strut from a new bottom wishbone?

Anything to cure my lopsided set up!
Jerry Herbert

Andy, I mentioned to Al that I'd be very interested in any PU kit that you guys were able to put together - the old F is approching the gold 100k and 13 years, so I am sure that the original OEM bushes are probably in some need of sprucing up! :o)
Rob Bell

Chris Witor of SuperFlex Ltd informs me that camber-correction wishbone bushes will be added to their catalogue on 30/11/09, part nos. SPF1667C & SPF1668C

http://www.superflex.co.uk/index.php

Had I put money on whether an email sent on a Sunday suggesting that eccentric bushes would be a good product for SuperFlex to consider would even get a reply, it would have been a small amount. Oh me of little faith...!
bandit

Drat!!

Last year year I went down the slotted outer joint way, with a TIG welded "washer" locating the bolts when in the correct location.

I still think an eccentric top roller shaft would be a more practical way to adjust camber.
Jerry Herbert

I agree it's not necessarily a perfect solution, however it does circumvent the issue of having to repeat the modification to the wishbone when rust gets its wicked way with it - perhaps not an imminent issue for TF owners, but increasingly F owners are having to replace wishbones at MOT time.

It also offers potential to tweak castor angles - another area where the subframe inconsistencies can manifest themselves.
bandit

This thread was discussed between 11/12/2007 and 16/11/2009

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