MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
I got under my car the other day to see if it was lowered. Now I don't see any blocks in the rear so it must be stock height back there. Up front there are what looks to be spacers in the springs. I saw one on each side of the spring and I am wondering what the heck they are. They fit between the coils. If need be I'll take some pictures tomorrow when I am off shift but I was hoping someone might know about this.
They could be a few different things. Are they spacing the coils apart or clamping them together? If they are clamping them together then I think they are a cheep way of lowering the spring height. If they are holding them apart they might be an attempt to stiffen up the spring rate.
Like always a picture really helps.
Also you can just measure the height from the center of the wheel to the bottom of the chrome strip to determine if the ride height has been changed. There is a spreadsheet in the library with common figures for that measurement.
Those are spacers usually to raise the height of the car. I had to use them after new new replacement springs install in 2000 sagged to the point that I couldn't fit my floor jack under the cross member anymore. I replaced those springs this year and do not need to use spacers anymore (at least for now)
I would avoid using clamps to lower the ride height. You don't want a lower height and the softer spring rate combined, especially if you drive on anything but nice smooth roads.
Do measure the height as earlier posted. I believe 14 1/2" is the standard for a CB. If your B has the OEM springs, odds are good they have sagged an inch by now.
Driving a B with a well sorted suspension is typically a revelation for folks. And I didn't notice the year of your RB. The RBs with the elevated ride height really benefited from the front/rear anti-sway bar combination that was stock in '80, which the early RBs lacked. If you do drop the ride height to the CB height, you probably won't want a rear anti-sway.
Yeah, they are definitely spacers. Was just wondering why. Thanks for the info.
Its an old cheap trick and not advisable as it binds the spring and eventually damages it.