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MG MGA - Replacing Front Shock and Spring Pan

Can someone give me an estimate of how long it will take to replace a front shock absorber and the lower spring pan? I'm trying to work it into a busy schedule and don't want to start something I'm going to have to carry over for a day or two...I'm not anticipating any frozen bolts.

Thanks in advance.
Gene Gillam

Check the clearance to the body when you unbolt and lift off the shocks. I've seen a few pics where the body has had to be cut.
Art Pearse

If the clearance is tight remove the studs instead of cutting the body, and use UNC bolts to reattach instead of the original studs.
dominic clancy

Is the body fouling the shock absorber removal common?
Gene Gillam

I don't know if you in buying new shocks , but I just purchased a pair from Remanufactured Shock Absorber by World Wide Auto Parts aka Nosimport in Madison WI USA. And I could not be more pleased with the quality. For $90 each you can have a pair for less money than one from Moss and better quality . One mine they also installed B arms because my MGA has B brakes and kingpins.
Marc van Zoest

The shock change is easy enough. Jack under the spring pan, directly under the coil spring, to unload all of the suspension parts (except the spring and A-arm inner pivot). Remove one bolt from shock arm, and four bolts or studs front shock base mount, and it's out. If the car still has studs with nuts as original, you will likely have to unscrew the studs to avoid cutting the inner fender. The studs are then commonly replaced with coarse thread bolts. Be careful with the bolt length, as there are in blind holes above the coil spring spigot plate. For installation you may have to loosen the bolt holding the shock arms together and spread the arms apart a bit. If you have done it before, you could change a front shock in under an hour (possibly 30 minutes).

For changing the spring pan, jack under the spring as noted above, and remove the lower trunnion bolt. Put a jack stand under the frame, then lower the floor jack to let the A-arm assembly down until you can lift out the coil spring. With spring removed, replacing the spring pan is a simple bolt-up job, and you might do that in an hour or so.

Beware, if the inboard pivot bushings might be MGB GT V8 type parts with steel liner tube, you could find them frozen on the pivot shaft, and then the clock time goes round and round. But that would be no problem if you don't need to remove the arms, only the spring pan.
Barney Gaylord

Thanks all...

I ordered a rebuilt NOS Imports front shock on eBay this past Monday (May 6th) and it arrived today (May 8th) via USPS. I've previously dealt with NOS Imports on MGTC shocks and agree, they're superb...great people to deal with.

I checked this afternoon and it appears I have studs, not bolts, but it also looks like I'll be able to lift the shock high enough to clear the studs...I sure hope so.

As for the pan, I've got complete assemblies waiting to bolt in place after removing the old ones. I'm replacing them in order to make tying the car down for trailering (sorry Barney) easier. A friend gave me left and right wishbone arms that have larger, reinforced holes that match the large holes in the pan (is this where the sway arm would normally bolt up?). I'm using large I-bolts in those holes so I can easily hook my tie down straps to them...I've already added the MGB rear spring tie down plates in the rear.


Gene Gillam

Well, part way through.

Front shock was fairly easy...didn't manage it in the 30 minutes that Barney can but did make it in a little less than an hour. I still have the studs there but the opening in the inner fender was high enough that I was able to get the old out and the new in with little problem.

The spring pan is another story though. I have to change out the pivot bar because the area where the rubber (poly) bushings ride is worn and rusty. I ran into a heck of a problem getting to the bolt that is in the outside front position. It's almost impossible to get a wrench on to hold...I had to grind the edge on an old wrench so I could wedge it in far enough to grab the bolt. It took me about an hour to get that bolt out and I quit after I did...retackle it again today.
Gene Gillam

Finished...makes it easier once you've learned from your mistakes.
8^)
Gene Gillam

This thread was discussed between 08/05/2013 and 10/05/2013

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.