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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 Bay links - more/again

I still haven't installed my MGB sway bar yet and probably won't do so 'till after Gatlinburg, but the isue of link length is IMHO, unresolved.

In an archive (Sept. 11/12 2005) there appear to be 2 lengths 3-3/8, 3-1/2. However a picture popped up on the Frappr web-site for MG2006, of the TD of the fearless Past Chairman of the NEMGT Register - Hank Rippert.

Have a look at http://www.frappr.com/mg2006attendees/photo/1398863.

These long links put the cat amongst the pigeons.

I know very little about how a car behaves under varying geometric set-ups. Does anybody see any advantage to such long links?

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

I am running the long links (stock MGB?)on my mgtf with a 3/4 inch bar and am very happy with the handling. Only draw back is that it rubs the inside of my 15x4.5 wire wheel at full lock.

Joe
Joe Buchmiller

I also run an anti-roll (sway) bar with those long links which are stock MGB. The only caution I would add is that when jacking up the front wheels the full weight of the front suspension is brought to bear on the steering track rod end as the sway bar drops down onto it. I don't think this is healthy for the steering gear so I am always very careful when using the jack. If you look at the picture again and imagine jacking up that front wheel you will see what I mean.
The geometry is different on the MGB so this doesn't happen. I'm sure this is why the factory used much shorter links on the TD-TF. The short links allow the bar to be positioned UNDER the tie rods so you don't get the weight bearing down.
David
David Burgess

Gord,
The length of the links shouldn't have any influence on how the car behaves.

SPW
Steve Wincze

David Burgess and others,

This is indeed sage advice, and the caution is appreciated - something I would never have thought of.

I'm inclined to make my own links using Heim (Rose, etc) joints as I have seen others do and that seem to be a good improvement.

Anyway, this is a project for after MG2006.

Again, thanks all.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

When installing the MGB sway bar mod, do you use MGB spring seats (pans) to attach the links, or do you adapt to the original TD pans?
Dallas
Dallas Congleton

Chatted with a mechanic who used to do the sway bars on TD's... he said they had a kit and there were two little pieces of metal they welded on the pans with the hole drilled through them and the pan....!
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Thanks Gordon- I was looking at the photo you posted and it looks like these links were fastened to a clip or bracket under the front a arm, almost at it's outer end? May be the reason for the long looking links? I looked at a car with a sway bar mod a few years ago and I thought I remembered the links were being fastened to the front edge of the pans arms, and it looked "factory". My memory was of the bar being lower and the links going down, but I may be confusing this with my Healey.
I don't remember the links being this long, but that car didn't have cycle fenders, which is exposing a lot more.
The topic has re-kindled my interest in adding a sway bar. I have the body and fenders off now and the opportunity is here.
This mod has been covered in detail somewhere, including locating the bushing strap mounts to the frame. Maybe someone will remember and post it.
Dallas
Dallas Congleton

Dallis -- I bought a swaybar from J.C. Whitney for an MGA it installed on my TD very well. The links were just the right length. Everything seems to work very well. Don't know if they are still available from J.C.W. but they were and the price was right.
Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

Dallas,

Spring pans, arms and springs are generally interchangable between TD/TF/MGA (ex Twin Cam) and all models of MGB.

All four wishbone arms are interchangeable - right/left, back/front, but the parts unique to the sway bar mounting are the two (left & right) front wishbone arms. On an MBG, these are drilled and reinforced. Moss and others offer retro-fit sway-bar kits for the T-Series, but in general, the parts come from the standard MGB parts bin. Moss part 264-035 for the right, and 264-030 for the left. Price should be about $20 each.

As has been pointed out on earlier threads, your sway bar should be no smaller than 9/16", Better is 5/8, and best seems to be 3/4, but 1" is for the racer boys and girls!

You have to get the links (discussed above - I'm going to fabricate my own using Heim/Rose joints) and the all-important mounting brackets, and these must be strong enough to absorb the changing torque through the bar. Bob (Jeffers) - can you please look up that Whitney part number? My latest JC Whitney catalogue doesn't show any sway bars at all and I don't have any brackets yet.

'Ta

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Gord, J.C. Whitney now shows only the bushings and bushing straps available.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/VehicleBrowse/tf-VehicleBrowse/s-10101/showAll-0/showCustom-0/N-200728976+111+1956+600010344/c-10101

I did go to the Moss site and it appears that the long links may be MGA , whereas the MGB links are shorter consequently lower?

Thanks for the wishbone info.

I think I have access to some used MGB parts, so I will investigate this avenue.
Dallas Congleton

It looks like the link to J.C. Whitney may be one bridge too far as a hyperlink. It will work if you cut and paste it in the browser address window-
Dallas
Dallas Congleton

Gord, I used all the stock parts from a salvaged MGB and put them on my TD. Everything fits perfectly, no interference problems and it stabilizes the soft roll tendency very nicely. I did not cutomize any of the parts, strictly stock. Pictures are available.
Jim Merz

Dallas,

That's a great tip re-JC Whitney. It looks like the right part at the right price - thanks.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Jim, did you just drill out the spring holder or replace them with the B's?
gblawson

I used the MGB spring pans too. They have a little extra meat on them in the area of the link bolt hole. I have pictures if you want. The two Moss catalogs show the difference too.
Jim Merz

Gordon Clark -- I'll try to locate the J.C.Whitney part number for you but it may take a while. I'm not sure it will do any good since they don't list it in their latest catalog.
Cheers,
Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

It OK Bob.

I found what I was looking for, and they look to be just perfect. J.C. Whitney Kit

POLYURETHANE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS
ZX887451T
JC Whitney Price: Krit $12.99

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10101/s-10101/p-100000234304/mediaCode-ZX/appId-100000234304/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:100000234304

Anyway, as I said, that's a project for after MG2006

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

This thread was discussed between 18/05/2006 and 21/05/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.