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MGB MGB -softening rear suspension

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Vivian

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Could someone please assist. I wish to soften my 1970 Mk 11 MGB rear suspension by removing two leaves from each spring. Can anyone comment re method of removing springs, safety in doing this (meaning diff structural support), whether roadworthiness may be affected. Has anyone done this?

Vivian
 
Hi Vivian,by softening the rear suspension by taking 2 leaves out will change the caracteristics of the handling of the car,it will tend to let the back dip on cornering,tending to lift the opposite front wheel,hence less adhesion to the road,apart from lowering the back thus altering the weight distribution,me thinks not a very good idea at all.Unless there is a kit for the front and rear that gives a softer ride-the MGB gurus will be able to tell you more
 
Hello Vivian, the 1970 MGB in it,s original configuration, is about as soft as you want it in my opinion. If it is softened more, it will have the tendency to bottom out when you hit a dip or bump in the road. Of course, a new or rebuilt set of rear shocks will help eliminate some of this, but, it won't eliminate it all because the MGB has a short vertical travel in the rear before hitting the bump stops. Also as "mikespain" mentioned, it will change the handling characteristics of the car and not in a favorable manner. And, a little more info. A leaf spring to flex properly, needs all the leafs it's designed with to eliminate stress points to prevent breaking. Removing leafs will increase stress on the remaining ones by moving the stress point closer to the center rather than an even distribution over the whole spring. To soften a ride safely, you need to install a spring with thinner leafs. I don't know if they ever made a thin leaf spring for an MGB. PJ
 
Competition MGBs (including Works cars) often run (ran) soft rear ends to reduce the negative effects of the live axle. However pulling two leafs out of the rear sounds a bit extreme. You might look into a set of parabolic rear springs and make sure no one has put heavy duty valves or heavier oil in your rear lever shocks.
 
Hi Mikespain, thank you very much for your advice. It has certainly altered my way of thinking. Vivian
 
Hi PAUL161, Steve_S,
I appreciated the advice you gave me re softening MGB suspension. Thank you very much. Vivian
 
Remove one leaf only.
 
As implied by ccoughill above, if you have the early Moss tube shock conversion, there's your problem right there. No amount of messing with the springs will fix the problem. It's easy to tell. Look up above the axle...if there are standard looking tube shocks you have it...if you have a funny looking lever linkage you don't.
 
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