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MG MGB Technical - Rear End Sway

I have a 70B with no overdrive. When I travel down a particular stretch of road the rear tends to wander as if the tires were extremly low on pressure. This happens as I am going thru the gears(stop sign about 100 feet from this area). The piece of road has three ruts about a foot apart, the width of the road and rather shallow. If I let off the gas the rear feels normal not wandering. I experience no other handling problems and everything aappears in order. Air pressure is correct. thanks for any help
Bob J
R.J.Jjorglewich

You have checked the shock absorbers and the drop links?
Check the spring eye bushes and the U bolts holding the axle.

If all ok, it may just be a combination of the road and the suspension parameters.

There is a road on my way home that looks flat, but if I pull out of the junction and accelerate hard, as I pass the first lamppost I can start a tankslapper.
I can do it every time without fail. I know to back off just before the lamppost and there is no problem.
Martin Layton

Does it happen on the same stretch of road - only?

If so, then maybe the road surface finish is acting
upon the threads on the tire to set up some sort of
speed harmonics.

I have a road not to far from me that does the
same thing. At round 35 mph it feels as though
the front end is "hunting" or floating.

Once I'm off of this particular stretch of road, then all returns to normal.
Daniel Wong

We have grooves cut in the surface of some of our interstate highways in Colorado apparently to help traction in winter or wet weather. When I hit a stretch that has been treated that way the car squirms and I have heard other non-MG drivers complain about it too. I don't notice it in an old Volvo that I drive though.

Experienced something like that in a car I test drove when looking for my B but that was something in the rear suspension that was loose as described above.
J.T. Bamford

Quite common on UK motorways to find lorry grooves worn in the inside if not the middle lane of motorways. Because of the different track this can flip a car from side to side quite markedly.

Loose rear suspension usually reveals itself as self-steering when changing from acceleration to decelleration, and on most surfaces.
Paul Hunt 2

Hi,

I agree with the loose suspension idea.

My u-bolts were once not fully tightened on one side, they seemed ok. However, on acellerating - usually out of a bend the rear end would squirm as the rear axle 'flexed'.
Iwan Jones

THANKS FOR THE HELP
BOB.J
R.J.Jjorglewich

This thread was discussed between 22/09/2006 and 27/09/2006

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