MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
Any of ya'll ever compare the original boot set with the cheap replacements? I ordered a original boot set,263-385, thinking that it would come with metal clamps instead of the tywraps, but lo and behold, it has two small clamps and two tywraps for the big ends. Is this what ya'll have gotten in the past? Can you tell the difference between the cheap boots and the ones costing three times more?
Check with Gordon at the BHive
<http://thebhive.com/299steeringsystem.htm>
1962 to 80 O.E. Style. item#200-2210 $14.15
has the origional style clamps
i just bought a great set at a local import parts store (they mostly do air-cooled VWs and Japanese stuff...). They came with what looks like a Jaguar part no. -- JLM347 -- on them, and came as two quality-looking boots and four metal clamps. I paid $19 for the set. I think the parts store got them from WorldPac, which is a national parts wholesaler, so odds are pretty good someone local to you could get the same set.
Not trying to drive business away from Gordon -- I've had nothing but good dealings with him!
HTH!
Gordon does well by me. Check his weekly and monthly specials regularly.
The B-Hive is one of my favorite suppliers. Gordon is always very helpful. As for rack boots, a couple of years ago when I was shopping for new ones for my 71 gt, the guy at Brit-Tek advised me not to buy the cheap replacements they had in stock. Brit-Tek lost a sale, but earned some honesty points. Get the original ones, or at least something with quality rubber.
I replaced mine a few weeks ago - got a boot set from my local parts guys who actually stock MG stuff. Mixed results, really - came with four plastic tie-wraps (could not get them tight enough on the rack end, replaced with metal clamps); they are thinner on each end (so the original clamps will not snug down); and appear to be slightly shorter (more stretch at full extension). Probably about $10 cheaper when you crank in shipping, etc.
Given all that, they seem to be holding up just fine. I was pushed into using local parts instead of mail-order when I discovered that my daily driver had dumped all the oil out of the rack....torn boot on the driver's side.
When I replaced mine, I got the orginal type with metal clamp from ProperMG. Very good quality and they were on sale to.
I ordered mine straight from Moss, something I have not done in many years. I like ordering via internet because it shortens delivery time. I had such a bad time trying to get a complete carpet set from ProperMG that I just refuse to order from them any more. Fourteen months is a bit excessive I believe. Anyhow, looks like I will be reusing the old clamps
