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MG MGB Technical - Front Suspension Rebuild

I've been rebuilding a 1979 MGB. I have all new parts for the front end including lowering springs. When I took the right front shock off there was a 1/16 th shim under the front outside stud between the cross member and the shock. Any ideas why? Could it be needed to set camber?

I didn't put it back in when I reassembled the cross member and put everything back in the car. I now have negative camber on the left side and positive on the right. If I put the shim back under the right shock will the camber shift. Could this condition be because I haven't had the car on the ground? The engine and transmission are currently out of the car. Would I need them back in before I make further checks or put the shim back in?

Thanks for any thoughts
Dick Field

FWIW If the car has not been on the ground and has no engine /transmission in it, I would have thought it is impossible to determine. When it is all back together might be a better time to look/measure. The shim could just as well been compensating for "other" wear, such as the cause of your rebuild!
Michael Beswick

Dick, You really shouldn't tighten any of the attaching points until the car is properly weighted and on the ground... for several reasons. You may not have a problem at all.
Peter Caldwell

Peter and Michael,

Thanks. I'll put everything else back in and then put her on the ground. I haven't torqued any of the front suspension items except the bolts that fasten the cross member to the chassis. I was putting in the new tie rod ends and it just looked funny. Appreciate the sound advice.

Dick
Dick Field

"I now have negative camber on the left side and positive on the right."

Sounds like you have one of the upper king-pin trunnions the wrong way round. I can't see a 1/16" shim under one of the damper mounts having that much effect on anything, let alone camber. It might affect castor i.e. self-centering steering on a straight, flat and level road, but even then only slightly. The king-pin should be *inboard* of the trunnion pin, which is *not* how the Haynes and Workshop Manual exploded drawings show it, however the WSM assembly drawing *is* correct, see here http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/kingpin.htm#6b
PaulH Solihull

This thread was discussed between 10/12/2011 and 12/12/2011

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