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[ QUOTE ]
I know nothing about MGB suspension: However, you need to isolate exactly what you don't like about BINABOX's handling, then double check for any issues that may be causing it. Bolting on suspension "improvements" may make an existing problem worse. If the car tracks straight on a level road, then your toe-in is probably OK if you are not having excessive tire wear. If it goes through a curve fine until you hit a bump or dip, then you may have bad shocks or loose suspension components. If the car wants to wander on a staight level road, then it may need more toe in. Or... the steering rack may need to be rebuilt/adjusted to remove pinion lash.
I know you just rebuilt the car, but it doesn't mean that everything is as it should be. Double check the suspension fasteners, shocks, toe-in, caster?, camber? Then decide what you want to change. Less body roll on the cruves? Smoother ride with less jarring? etc.

Or... buy a proper Midget.
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Pretty good suggestions for someone who dosn't know anything about the MGB's suspension. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
But the point is, JB is satisfied with the handling characteristics of Emma, and NOT satisfied with the handling characteristics of Bina.

If Bina's steering isn't as good as Emma's, then there's a possibility that a PO has put a front sway bar on Emma sometime in her history? Hard to say, but I know that the first 2.5 years of RB Bs had no sway bars at all.

My '76 had no sway bars on it when I bought it, and while it DID have a relatively smooth ride, it felt like a boat in turns, and had TONS of roll in all turns. It had so much roll in turns that making a right hander at 10MPH felt like the car would flip at any second. A 5/8" bar up front flattened out my car in turns and made the steering MUCH more responsive.

Another thing that might be contributing to the difference in ride between Bina and Emma, is possibly the material the bushings were made of. If Bina has OEM rubber bushings and Emma has poly bushings, that may contribute to Emma having the better handling characteristics in turns and curves.

Considering that Bina does not currently have a swaybar on her, go ahead and get one and install it. 9/16" bar was the stock size. 5/8" is slightly heavier and adds to the roll stiffness of the front end, but it's only 1/16" thicker. I believe I read in a pbulication some place that the 5/8" bar adds approximately 50% more stiffness?

Given that Bina is 'all over the place' right now, the addition of ANY sway bar to the front (including a stock sized one) will make her handle like a completely different car. If you've got your mind set on a 5/8" bar, I say do it. I doubt you'll regret it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Early cars were 1/2" bars. Mk2 or Mk3 were 9/16" and 1977-1980 MGB's were 5/8" front bars.

I have a 5/8" bar on my 1974 roadster with V8 bushings in the front and all poly bushings in the rear. I like the way it handles!
 
Yeah David....but you probably balance the understeer with your right foot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I've a 5/8" bar on the front and poly bushes all around on my '76. I like the way my car handles too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif But I've also installed 550# 2" springs up front, 1" blocks in the rear, and 185/65 14" tires. I'm still trying to find the limits on dry asphault. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
As for her preference for Emma's steering, remember that the RB cars had a different gear ratio..

Also, different sizes and types of tires on the two cars could make a significant difference in her perception of the handling of the two cars...
 
I think you guys have all reinterated my point: if you're going to add a bar, add the stock one first & then go from there...

....unfortunately, with all our combined experience, we're all barking up a tree because somebody in St Louis already told Janel or Chuck to add a heavier bar...this is one of those preference things again, whoever told them that likes a heavier bar on his car - but, he may also have performance bushings & a few other mods he's not mentioned yet...if Janel adds the heavier bar, she'll definitely feel the difference but still won't know what it is that she doesn't like about Binabox's handling (& I'm betting she'll still not like the handling or ride compared to Emma - that is, until she gets accustomed to the handling characteristics of a MkI car!)

Its like my early cars - I drive them for their handling but know my later cars will handle totally differently & my favorite to drive is my '67 GT...

...& - regardless of the sway bar - you can't make either feel like the other!
 
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...unfortunately, with all our combined experience, we're all barking up a tree because somebody in St Louis already told Janel or Chuck to add a heavier bar...

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Man Tony, lighten up on me here would ya? You've been defensive with me from the start of this thread. I just asked a simple question.

And, might I ask the difference between the combined experience on this board and the combined experience of our friends and car club members here in STL? Ranney and Byron bought their 66 and 67 new. Fred is in his mid-70's and has been driving MGs forever. Mick worked 18 years at the MG dealership here and another 45 in the service/repair business. Vast others have owned MGs and LBCs longer than I've had my driver's license. We should NOT consider their advice or opinions?

FYI, it was NOT someone in STL that told us to add a heavier bar. WHEN I mentioned how I thought Binabox handled (NOT compared to Emma, but compared to two other early chrome bumpers I have driven) - a sway bar was suggested. And that was the end of it. I was the one that started reading and thought the GT bar might be better. THEN we asked several people (NOT just MG owners, but Triumph and Healey people too) at a 100+ person party we were at Saturday night. Several suggested the 5/8" bar, several suggested just adding a bar.

That being said, I don't have to 'get used' to driving Binabox. I have to get used to not liking the way she drives. My Solara drives differently from Sarah's 11 year old Saturn and Chelle's same year Accord. It certainly drives differently than Chuck's truck. I can deal with the difference in gear ratio, steering, ride. What I can't deal with is the slop.

Now I'm taking my cranky self back to the pool and baking in the 100+ sun.
 
Haha, Jaybird. Take a dip for me as well.

Add a sway bar by all means. But I should think the smaller size would be better for a road car but then what do I know.
 
Not being a 'B' person I have to ask so forgive my unfamilarity. Is it really that different between them? I am assuming (since I didn't totally follow your rapid rebuild of 'Binabox') that you do have all new springs, shocks and bushings etc... in your suspension. Having assumed that, are they rubber in 'Binabox' and maybe "Heavy Duty" or poly in Emma? Another thought, are your wires wheels new? Could the spokes be loose? That can also cause a lot of flex. Tires are yet another factor, if the sidewalls are softer the car will feel much looser as they flex in corners.

Otherwise, when adding sway bars it is often best to start smaller and work your way up if needed. That way you learning curve increases also. And as G.I. Joe used to say, "knowing is half the battle."


Good luck.

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/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif
 
Janel - I didn't mean to be defensive, I took the other side to make sure you were aware of what will happen if you make the change to a heavier than stock bar...I've put heavier bars (& other suspension modifications)on some of my cars also but I knew what each mod was going to do & how it would affect handling....many times we who have such experience recommend something to folks who are relatively new to the hobby without considering our experience versus theirs....I've driven MG's since high school (& I'm 60 now), both cars I bought new & used....I've done most every modification that can be done to one &, with the exeption of electrical stuff, feel pretty comfortable making recommendations....I'm not comfortable with Binabox going from no front sway bar to a heavier one without other mods to go along with it.

My point that, I guess, was missed was make sure its what you want to do before changing Binabox so much that you lose interest in her: find a baseline car to compare Binabox to (& that's not Emma)...see if one of your buddies who has a car that's just like Binabox except for a stock front sway will let you drive his car to see how the sway bar affects his car...then, get in one of the guys' modified cars & drive it to see if you can tell the difference....then, make your modification.

At least that way, you've checked all the sugestions you've been given against your 'feel' for how they affect the car's handling.

Oh, & these days, I'm just grumpy about everything.
 
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Oh, & these days, I'm just grumpy about everything.

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must be the heat! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
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I know you just rebuilt the car, but it doesn't mean that everything is as it should be.

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Hi Janel,
I think that Trevor makes an important point. Your description that she's "sloppy" doesn't sound quite right. I think it would be a good idea to double-check that everything you've got now is as it should be, and only then look at add-ons. In other words, confirm that you're working with a good baseline. If bushings, alignment, etc all check out good, then try the bar.

HTH!
 
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Oh, & these days, I'm just grumpy about everything.


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must be the heat!

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No, it has to do with Agent Orange, Oilfield Fires, Vietnam, Desert Storm, & the VA...someday I'll tell you the story....sorry its coming out in my posts!
 
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Quote:
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Oh, & these days, I'm just grumpy about everything.


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must be the heat!

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No, it has to do with Agent Orange, Oilfield Fires, Vietnam, Desert Storm, & the VA...someday I'll tell you the story....sorry its coming out in my posts!

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'S OK, Tony - you earned it!

Mickey
 
Thanks, Mick - I'm about to get things under control...I've lost 60 pounds, am up to 7 pills a day & today was the first day in months that I didn't want to sleep all afternoon! I actually got some work done on my truck & 7 packages taken to post office & FEDEX! Felt good!

Now back to your regular programming!
 
Afternoon naps for the win.
 
I agree with Tony on the fact that different generations of MGB's are totally different feeling cars. I would actually prefer one of the earlier cars handling over my 1977 MGB... Just for the more raw driving experience. But I love the way my '77 handles too... very smooth and very civilised compared to the earlier models... I'd say there is a huge difference between driving the 74.5-80, the 69-74, and the 62-68 models - give or take a year or so on each model. Heck there is a big difference in just the 74.5-77 models. It would be nearly impossible to make any one of them feel like the other. Welcome to the MGB life. No 2 are ever completely the same.

I say take Binabox's faults as they were engineered, and enjoy Emma's refined ride. Don't try to make them the same - they never will be close to the same... But doublecheck everything was tightened to specs on Bina.
 
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Binabox is all over the place on curves.

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What I can't deal with is the slop.


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These problems don't really have anything to do with weak or nonexistent sway-bars.
Start simple....
Tires (Pressure ?), alignment & bushings /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bars are for fine tuning a already OK handling car.
(Sounds like you actually have a problem)
 
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