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MG MGB Technical - Rear Anti-Sway Bars on 75 MGB

Has anyone fitted a rear anti-sway bar to a 75 mgb roadster? Does it have much effect? Is the installation straightforward?
ray

Ray-
The effect of installing only a rear stabilizer bar would be to increase oversteer. You'll need to install a front stabilizer bar on the front as well. To install a rear stabilizer bar involves crawling under the car, drilling holes (and rustproofing them), and either welding brackets on the axle for the 1977-1980 setup or installing brackets on the bottom of the rear axle u-bolt brackets. To install one on the front involves replacing the lower front suspension arms, installing the stabilizer bar and its brackets and links. Once this is done the car will no longer teeter and lurch around corners.
Steve S.

Thanks. I already have a front sway bar. How does one determine the best sway bar thickness?
ray

Ray-
It all depends on the diameter of your front stabilizer bar. I'm using a 7/8" front and a 5/8" rear. Almost no body roll at all unless the car is pushed through a turn or curve at ridiculous speeds. I found it necessary to mount a Panhard Rod to avoid "snap" oversteer under those conditions.
Steve S.

I didn't fit it but my 75 factory V8 has one, and a thicker bar up front. Comparing it with a friends standard car it rides much flatter and the axle location also seems improved. But the tail does go out on a wet curve more easily than my (standard) roadster, easy to control though. Like Steve S I think you must fit a thicker bar up front if you fit a rear bar or you will turn your car into the Audi TT 'widow-maker'.
Paul Hunt

As I move from the engine compartment restoration to the restoration of the suspension of the '70 GT I'm building for my wife, I'll be installing stock sway bars front & rear..I'll keep a running account on my web site <http://www.theautoist.com>
Tony Barnhill

I use the same size as Steve, on a GT. When I first installed the set two years ago I really thought the ride was too stiff, but at this point I'd never go back. The degree of body roll that you get seems to have a lot to do with how tight or loose you set the rubber bushings on the rear bar's end links. I truly couldn't stand driving an MG without sway bars now.

The only downside is that, as Paul suggests, the rear steps out in the wet _really_ easily if your foot is on the gas, and having a limited slip on there makes this all the much more so. Pucker factor can be fairly high, at least until one of you guys figures out how to build and install a traction control system!
David

This thread was discussed between 17/04/2002 and 18/04/2002

MG MGB Technical index

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