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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - sway bar

what is the difference between an early and late model mgb sway bar?

Rob
Rob Welborne

Diameter. Later bars were thicker.
L E D LaVerne

Originaly 5/8' ...later 3/4" ...7/8" also available.

5/8" is plenty for street use on a "T" car.
L E D LaVerne

I agree with LaVerne. I'm using 5/8 bar (031-281) on my TD.
Mort
Mort (50 TD "Mobius")

saw some on ebay and thougt it would be cheaper than new. I want the 5/8 and wanted to be sure.

Thanks to both of you.

Rob
Rob Welborne

Almost, Laverne. ;)

Early B had a 9/16" bar, later B 77-80) was 5/8".

My B is a '79. I upgraded to a 3/4, then went to a 7/8 bar. Kept the original 5/8 bar to someday use on my TF project.
Carl Floyd

The early B had a 9/16, the BGT a 5/8.
Dave Braun

I have a 5/8 bar on my TF with a hot motor. She definitely no longer leans. However, I used to be able to hang the tail on most turns... if I wanted to. That is no longer a possibility with the bar. It feels a bit more like she holds till the edge and then skitters. No longer a pleasant and very predictable event. I hear the racers use the 7/8 bar.

Alex
Alex Waugh

I found a 76 MGB, should it have a stock 5/8?

Rob
Rob Welborne

Rob, I think it should be a 9/16.
Dave Braun

The 1975-76 MGB did not have a sway bar.
Carl Floyd

All CB GT had the 5/8 as did late roadsters have form 1977 M.Y. on.
R.S. Ralph Siebenhaar

Rob I fitted an early MGB 9/16" sway bar to my TF and love the way it drives and feels. I intentionally didn't use the 5/8" because I didn't want it to be too stiff. BTW if you look closely you can see that I've also fitted MGB front suspension and discs which just bolt straight on and definately improve the braking.

Andy


Andy Preston

Andy,

Would you mind elaborating a bit on that MGB suspension swap?
Carl Floyd

Carl, I used the entire king pin assembly from a MGB which fits onto the spring pan and A arms that are the same as the TF. The shock absober from the B bolts onto the TF tower because the bolt holes are identical so that's very easy. You have to shorten the tie rod by approx 1/2" and also cut new threads by 1/2". I used MGA tie rods because the TF ones were damaged and I had the A ones lying around.

You need to change the upper bump stop as well to MGB and to do this you need to weld a couple of pieces of flat bar onto the upper tower to attach the bump stop. See photo.

And then you need to weld another piece of flat bar to take the brake flexible hose that is in a different place. Finally you need to remake the front brake pipes with a BSF fitting on the inside end and a UNF fitting on the outside end to match the new B flexible hose.

In order to fit a sway bar you have to change the front A arm to a later B type with the sway link hole in it.

I hope this helps.

Andy


Andy Preston

Bump stop installed


Andy Preston

Tab for flexible brake line


Andy Preston

Brake line connected


Andy Preston

I used a 5/8 sway bar with 480# front springs, and poly bushings front & rear,including the sway bar bushings, which did make a difference, now handles neutral, no over or under steer!
Len Fanelli

I shortened the links so that the angle between swaybar and link is near 90 degrees. So there is not so much movement in the angle.

Klaus


Klaus Harthof

Klaus,

When you sent me the site for the sway bar and said they had the shorter links I did not realize they were so much shorter than the ones from the MGB. Do they work as well or better at the shorter length?

Rob
Rob Welborne

Andy, Just curious, did you put B brakes on the rear? If not, did you install a pressure regulator / duel master cylinder? PJ
Paul sr

Hello Rob,
the links in the set you can buy by Brown and Gammon are a little bit longer (ca. 3 cm). In seldom situations, when the suspension is complete down (lays on the upper rubber)the links get contact to the tie rods when the wheels are extrem right or left in curves.. You can see the marks on the paint in the pic I sent. Now its all ok, no contact in extrem situations.
With the long links of original MGB links the swaybar is in an angle of ca. 45 degrees to the links (see pic of Andy). When the suspesion bumps, the swaybar discribes a relative big angle on the circular orbit and the force from the lower wishbone is not full to the swaybar as when it is 90 degrees. When the swaybar is 90 degrees to the link,there is not so much change in the angle.
For comparison I send you a pic from the Brown and Gammons link off line, because the file is to big for the forum (2,7 MB)

Kinbd regards
Klaus
Klaus Harthof

Paul, I did put a 3.9 MGB rear end in the rear and moved the spring perches about 1/2" so it fits perfectly. You also need to flip/flop the rear back plates so the hand brake works. BTW the car has a Volvo B18 engine and 4 speed gearbox so it's able to pull the 3.9. It drives superbly and looks like a stock TF except for the disc brakes. I cruised down to GOF last summer at 65-70 all the way from Northern CA.

Andy


Andy Preston

THank you everyone for the helRob
Rob Welborne

Thanks for the info, Andy!
Carl Floyd

Carl, Andy and Floyd - I enjoyed reading the recent conversation regarding the conversion to MGB kingpins. I did this conversion this past year but stayed with the original Girling rebuilt shocks since my 51 TD fenders don't have the room for the later style shocks. In order to adapt the upper trunnion to the much wider opening on the shock, I was able to use a combination of spacers and thrust washers. I can provide exact measurements if anyone needs them. The original TD style of bump stops can be used with the Girling shock arrangement. I elected to shorten my sway bar links when I noticed interference with the steering links. I also went to a B rear axle, but since I went with tubular shocks, an adapter was needed to get the handbrake cable around the shock. I can give details for anyone interested.


Lou Van Koningsveld

Carl, Andy and Rob - Sorry I got the names wrong last time. Here's a pic of the shortened sway bar link.


Lou Van Koningsveld

Also a pic of the handbrake cable adapter


Lou Van Koningsveld

Thanks, Lou.

Mine's a TF. I would be staying with the stock TF shocks since they have already been rebuilt by Peter Caldwell.
Carl Floyd

This thread was discussed between 19/01/2013 and 03/02/2013

MG TD TF 1500 index

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