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MG MGB Technical - Rear Damper Bolts - Nuts in or out?

Quick, simple question - should the bolts for the rear shocks have the nuts and lock washers on the outer side (near the rear wheels) or should the nuts and washers be on the inner side (next to the damper itself)?

I think the nuts and washers should be on the outside (near the wheel).


Apologies for the silly question - just cant remember the proper orientation.

Jeff
Jeff Delk

To the best of my knowledge, you should see the bolt heads, not the nuts and lock washers when you look into the wheel well from the outside. Thus, nuts and washers on the inside.
Rick Penland

Canīt remember what way it is on my car. Maybe this drawing can be of help?

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=454

Tore
Tore

Jeff, you are correct. Nuts and washers outside.
Dave O'Neill 2

Does it matter?
Mike Howlett

It matters not, UNLESS you have oversize wheels and therefore need all the clearance you can get. But personally it seems more sensible to put the nut and the exposed threads on the inside and therefore away from the spray, salt and grit etc. After all they will HAVE to be removed!!
Allan Reeling

<<it seems more sensible to put the nut and the exposed threads on the inside and therefore away from the spray, salt and grit etc.>>

Allan

It certainly makes sense, from that point of view, but how difficult would it be to actually fit the nuts?
Dave O'Neill 2

Allan's answer makes complete sense. The Haynes manual shows the nuts and washers inside and a look in the wheel well of my car which hasn't had them out (during my years of ownership anyway), has the nuts and washers inside and bolt heads outside.
Rick Penland

Drawing A8636 Sec L, "The Rear Hydraulic Damper" in WSM clearly shows bolts from outside in, nuts & washers on the same side as the lever arms.

FRM
FR Millmore

Thanks for all of the responses guys. It is interesting that opinion is somewhat divided.

The Moss illustration provided by Tore is also interesting in that it shows a Right Hand Side Rear Spring assembly and damper - as seen from the left side of the car. This illustration shows the nuts and washers on the outside of the car - in other words, in the wheel well.

If you think of the front spring pans - the bolts there are fitted with the nuts and washers facing the outside of the pans - this may have been done to promote observation and checking of the of the tightness of the nuts and bolts. I am thinking this may be true also for the shocks.

FRM mentions the WSM drawing and it might be interesting to see that one as well. My WSM is packed away in another house just now and I do not have access to it. Anyone care to post it?

Thanks again for the responses,

Jeff
Jeff Delk

Moss is incorrect.
BTW, there is also a flat washer under the bolt head in the wheel well, and one against the damper body, then spring washer and nut.
I worked on hundreds of these cars when they were new and unmolested. The bolts go from outside in.
Sorry, I have no scanner etc.

FRM
FR Millmore

Clausager shows them nuts in, not that that means anything. Both mine have also been nuts in, ditto. Potentially there can be space restrictions nuts out as even if you offer up the damper with the bolts already inserted the heads have to protrude further to get the threaded end through the panel.
PaulH Solihull

This thread was discussed between 08/06/2011 and 10/06/2011

MG MGB Technical index

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