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MG MGB Technical - tilted

I have noticed my '74 MGB is tilted at least one inch down on the drivers side. I have measured the front and read wheel well to the ground and they are both "out" about the same. What are the common causes for that?
Thanks!
Bradley Allen

No one seems to have a positive answer, but it is common. Maybe if we had a steering wheel on each side and rotated our driving position it would help. You can change springs around and see what happens. I have a slight lean on my car about 3/8". I swapped front and rear springs side to side and it still leaned to the left. I have noticed it will lean less if the gas tank is less than half full. I've also weighed the car to see if there was a big difference between sides, no big differences.

Clifton
Clifton Gordon

My '75 ex Californian car was a little tilted to the LHS by about a cm. I believe Clifton is right. Either the metal or the springs settle over the decades. They must have settled first to the right while in the good old US of A then back to the left here in OZ!
If the spring swap doesn't work you can either fit spacers to your springs or go to a spring maker and get his to reset one side a bit higer, or lower. Since you can get springs made for around $100 resetting would have to less than that. Check the yellow pages for someone who specializes in auto/racing. They usually are able to get within the quater inch mark.
Peter

Measuring to the ground is not the way to do it, measure from the bottom of the trim strip to the centre of the axle, front and rear, and that eliminates wheel and tyre differences.

Possible causes:

1. Knackered springs. Did you know the factory only allowed 150lb per occupant? I think that is the reason so many people complain of a high ride height after installing new springs, in some case not being able to get the rear shackles and rebound straps fastened without significant extra weight in the boot - manufactures making the springs harder and/or more arched than originally to compensate for the, erm, increased bulk of modern occupants, and in some cases going too far.

2. Other claims have been of the chassis taking a 'set' after many years and miles, although I find that doubtful, with the exception of a massive overload (see 1).

3. Accident damage.

4. Poor replacement of wings and trim strips, which is one of the datum points.

5. Siezed or partially seized damper one side.

Also a problem at one corner may reveal itself more at the diametrically opposite corner.

Paul Hunt 2

This thread was discussed between 04/07/2006 and 05/07/2006

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