Steering, Suspension, & Brakes

tips, technology, tools and techniques related to non-driveline mechanical components

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mstemp
Mike Stemp
Calgary, Canada
(222 posts)

Registered:
11/25/2009 07:18AM

Main British Car:
1980 MGB Rover 4.6L

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: mstemp
Date: May 04, 2013 08:32AM

Abe,

If you go to the Moss UK site you can download the directions.
You need to drill a 1 3/4" hole for the upper shock mount. This it easily done with a hole saw, or you can drill a brunch of small hole as Moss says. It's in a location under the original leaver shock so it's of no consequence.
I think people are confused with the Hawks conversion, where you make more significant modifications.


TNV8
Abe DeGraaf
TN
(46 posts)

Registered:
10/18/2011 09:48AM

Main British Car:
MGB 1980 Ford 302

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: TNV8
Date: August 22, 2013 08:56AM

Ok all I will be ordering the coil over from MOSS today, we will see how it goes. Thanks for all the input.


WernerVC
Werner Van Clapdurp
Lynchburg, Va
(108 posts)

Registered:
09/06/2009 12:56PM

Main British Car:
MGB 1977 Rover 3.5

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: WernerVC
Date: August 24, 2013 10:48PM

Abe,
The modifications need to be done on the John Hoyle front suspension. The bump stops need to be cut off and some welding is required. I bought his unit a couple of years ago but haven't installed on my car. It is very robust build and has GAZ adjustable coil-over shocks. I do not know the importer here in the USA but for a while the were available from a business in CA.
Werner


TNV8
Abe DeGraaf
TN
(46 posts)

Registered:
10/18/2011 09:48AM

Main British Car:
MGB 1980 Ford 302

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: TNV8
Date: August 25, 2013 09:55AM

I will not be using the Hoyle unit i went with the MOSS unit look a little easier and cost a lot less.

[www.mossmotors.com]


TNV8
Abe DeGraaf
TN
(46 posts)

Registered:
10/18/2011 09:48AM

Main British Car:
MGB 1980 Ford 302

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: TNV8
Date: January 27, 2014 09:28AM

Hi all,
Finally had time to put in the Moss Coil Over in my 80B with a 305 crate engine with aluminum heads. Does anyone know about how many turns it takes on the spring height adjuster to get it to 15in from the center hub to the arch of the wheel well?


avbates
Tony Bates
San Jose California
(25 posts)

Registered:
03/22/2008 12:16PM

Main British Car:
74 MGB roadster 4.2 litre Rover

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: avbates
Date: January 31, 2014 05:27PM

Just adjust to preference. I started with mine on the lowest setting and went from there. Remember to role it back and fowrds between each adjustment to settle the suspension


TNV8
Abe DeGraaf
TN
(46 posts)

Registered:
10/18/2011 09:48AM

Main British Car:
MGB 1980 Ford 302

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: TNV8
Date: February 01, 2014 09:18AM

The weather finally broke here in TN it got to 28 and took the car out for a ride and frontend alignment, when I got home it measured 14.5 from the center of the hub to the bottom of the chrome strip. The ride was great it was well worth the time and money.



britcars
Phil Ossinger
New Brunswick, Canada
(346 posts)

Registered:
02/02/2009 07:58PM

Main British Car:
1977 MGB Roadster, Rover 3.5 ADVENTURE BEFORE DEMENTIA!

authors avatar
Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: britcars
Date: February 12, 2014 09:54PM

{Abe,The modifications need to be done on the John Hoyle front suspension. The bump stops need to be cut off and some welding is required. I bought his unit a couple of years ago but haven't installed on my car. It is very robust build and has GAZ adjustable coil-over shocks. I do not know the importer here in the USA but for a while the were available from a business in CA.
Werner}
Gaz shocks and springs are available here. [www.coilovershock.com] Brunton Performance Products in FL.
Phil


DiDueColpi
Fred Key
West coast - Canada
(1365 posts)

Registered:
05/14/2010 03:06AM

Main British Car:
I really thought that I'd be an action figure by now!

authors avatar
Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: DiDueColpi
Date: February 13, 2014 04:25AM

At the chance of inciting a riot " what's wrong with the Arrmstrong lever shock"?
It's simple, It's rebuild-able, It's tune-able, unsprung weight is reduced and it's precise.
Unless your suspension improvement includes a pivot point change you 're probably going backwards.
So are we doing coil over to be cool or is it a real improvement?

All hail the mighty "B" cam.

Fred


roverman
Art Gertz
Winchester, CA.
(3188 posts)

Registered:
04/24/2009 11:02AM

Main British Car:
74' Jensen Healy, 79 Huff. GT 1, 74 MGB Lotus 907,2L

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: roverman
Date: February 18, 2014 02:15PM

Yes, and even "More British", friction shocks never leak oil. Good Show Fred !


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4576 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: Moderator
Date: February 18, 2014 07:22PM

Quote:
So are we doing coil over to be cool or is it a real improvement?

To be cool... but coilovers make ride height adjustment quick, easy, and precise. IMHO that's worth a lot. Alternative springs for coilovers are relatively cost effective. These coilover shocks come with adjustable valving. (You can buy Armstrongs with adjustable valving too.) Basically, you're ending up with a suspension that's far easier to tune than stock.


DiDueColpi
Fred Key
West coast - Canada
(1365 posts)

Registered:
05/14/2010 03:06AM

Main British Car:
I really thought that I'd be an action figure by now!

authors avatar
Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: DiDueColpi
Date: February 18, 2014 07:53PM

I absolutely agree with you Curtis.
Was just trying to make a point.
Changing something just because everyone else is. Isn't always the best choice.
If you take the time to educate yourself. And then do what makes sense to you.
You can't go wrong.

Cheers
Fred


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4511 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: February 18, 2014 09:36PM

I have to agree on the ride height adjustment advantage. Must be nice, cause I have had four different sets of coil springs in my stock front end & it's still not quite where I want it.


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6468 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: February 19, 2014 07:46PM

You can use spacers under the coil springs though, I think we put about a 3/4" spacer under the RM.

In terms of the shock itself, the Armstrong is superior in many ways such as strength of the components, size of pistons, ability to use different weight oils, ease of changing valving and now the availability of remote external adjusters. When used as a component of the suspension such as on the front of the MG it has minimal effect on unsprung weight. But it is more expensive, and is a maintenance item as you must periodically check the oil level.

On the coil-over, the spring is very compact which makes it a highly stressed component. The end bushings are also highly stressed. Coil-overs have other faults as well, but they are a very simple solution when making a custom design. That does not make them a superior solution. Sometimes easy just overrules best practices. Which doesn't make them bad either, but how often do you see them on production cars? That might be a clue.

Jim


TNV8
Abe DeGraaf
TN
(46 posts)

Registered:
10/18/2011 09:48AM

Main British Car:
MGB 1980 Ford 302

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: TNV8
Date: February 26, 2014 08:28PM

I had to change out my Armstrong shocks because they were leaking from the bushings and also the springs were shot, the car has 135,000 miles on it. Was able to adjust the ride height to 14in and the steering seems to be lighter also and let’s not forget about the cool factor….



TNV8
Abe DeGraaf
TN
(46 posts)

Registered:
10/18/2011 09:48AM

Main British Car:
MGB 1980 Ford 302

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: TNV8
Date: July 24, 2014 03:05PM

Has anyone have a problem with the GAZ shock lower bushing breaking apart? Was under the car and noticed that the rubber ends of the bushing are crumbling and are falling apart when I touch them.


mstemp
Mike Stemp
Calgary, Canada
(222 posts)

Registered:
11/25/2009 07:18AM

Main British Car:
1980 MGB Rover 4.6L

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: mstemp
Date: July 25, 2014 12:00AM

The Gaz bushings are junk! Use three sets from Energy bushings. Three because you have to cut one set for the extra width in the centre. At least I think it was the bottom that needed the three. My Moss coil over kit with Gaz shocks lasted all of 300 miles before the bushings were toast. Others will say it's too much to expect a poly bush to hold the weight of a car but that's is how it was designed so it better work in my mind, or else Moss and Gaz have some explaining to do! Nylatron may be a better choice for the bushings but also may be harsher etc.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2014 12:07AM by mstemp.


TNV8
Abe DeGraaf
TN
(46 posts)

Registered:
10/18/2011 09:48AM

Main British Car:
MGB 1980 Ford 302

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: TNV8
Date: July 25, 2014 11:04AM

Thanks for the info Mike.. Do you happen to remember what ones you ordered?


mstemp
Mike Stemp
Calgary, Canada
(222 posts)

Registered:
11/25/2009 07:18AM

Main British Car:
1980 MGB Rover 4.6L

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: mstemp
Date: July 25, 2014 11:43AM

Energy 99105g. I have only had the new ones on for a few months, time will tell if they hold up any better. The stock GAZ replacement bushings from Moss looked so poor I never considered installing them.


TNV8
Abe DeGraaf
TN
(46 posts)

Registered:
10/18/2011 09:48AM

Main British Car:
MGB 1980 Ford 302

Re: Changing front suspension
Posted by: TNV8
Date: August 24, 2014 08:25PM

Mike how did those new bushings work for you, are they holding out better.? Just getting around to order the ones you did.
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