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MG TD TF 1500 - Beaten to death... Anti-Sway Bars

So, I know this has been beaten to death, but it had gotten to the point that I was embarassed trailing behind my friend's TB. His flexible frame and ox-cart suspension would way out-class Tommy's IFS in sweeping turns, by possibly 10 mph on a 50 mph curve.

I just helped him put in a VW steering box, and alfin drums. Now he can corner and stop fast. It was time to do something.

We leave for the GOF in a few weeks, and I decided to mount an anti-sway bar on Tommy. I used a 'donor' from the BGT I was going to restore. 5/8 in diameter, and with the help of Mike, the friend with the TB, a set of Chevy links and some custom brackets he cleverly devised. Unlike many set ups, the bracketry is heavy enough that adopting the spring pan and front A-arm from an MGB is not necessary. Clamping pressure from bolts (much like carrying a load with rivets in aircraft structure) is used.

Full pictures are on my website www.dbraun99.com, in the TD restoration under 'on-going maintnenance'.

I can report that the steering feels smoother, with less jostle from small inperfections, but I still can note the larger bumps individually. The cornering is much flatter, and although I can spy the anti-sway bar just below the front wing, it is hardly detracting.

I'm glad I did it. (what would you expect me to say after drilling four new holes in my dumb irons!

Total cost about $15 not including donor parts.

warmly,
dave

Dave Braun

Well done Dave... that is a neat method.... (you will soon notice the rear end doing the swaying)
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Nice Dave or I believe these days they say that setup looks really sick:)

I have been studying the archives for an anti-sway bar setup myself. Since I am getting ready to sand blast the frame and start going back together permanently this will be the perfect opportunity for the upgrade so I'm off to study your pics.

Regards,
Rich

Richard Taylor

Richard...you are probably aware of T Talk....

http://www.ttalk.info/ARB_systems.htm
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Thanks guys... I wish I had installed it sooner!
Dave Braun

I have a ton of MGB parts, which includes a couple of sway bars and brackets. I like the idea of one on the TF. It doesn't look that out of place and since I've decided to make this car a driver and not a trailer queen, the added safety and comfort is worth the extra work. It wouldn't be a bad idea to put one on the back either. I upgraded the wifes "B" using a late model sway bar and the improved difference in cornering is very noticeable. PJ
P.S. Jennings

Thanks Gordon
Richard Taylor

Dave, That is a very neat installation. Looks like it came out of the factory that way!
Steven Tobias

Steve,

That's because Chevy Links look very professional, and Mike is very professional in his fabrication.

Being able to replace the rubbers makes a lot more sense than watching an entire ball link with bonded/pressed in rubber deteriorate.

warmly,
Dave
Dave Braun

Now install MGB 480# front springs!
Len Fanelli

Is anyone out there selling this setup in a kit form?
Richard Taylor

Richard,

B&G offer it and is shown on page 53 in their catalogue, and so do Abingdon - see items 6 &7 on page 59. Moss show a kit for the MGA - 454-978 and its basically the same as the TD/TF.

Expect to pay in the $150 to $175 range for the individual parts. LBCC. sell the MGA install kit for $97. However I suggest as most have done, to cobble up your own, and the lower A-arm can be modified similar to what Dave Braun has done - see his image in above. I think that’s very inventive, as it can be modified w/o removing the suspension!

I haven't yet installed mine, but I have an MGB sway bar I bought a scrap yard and lower A-arms also from the scrap yard all for a total of $25.

Other miscellaneous bits, I will get from JC Whitney - see http://www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/textsearch_result.jcw?sku=sway+bar+parts&shopid=100001&_requestid=43033. And for a nice selection of links, go to http://www.swaybarparts.com/page/2/ for affordable ($12 to $20 a pair). I’m sure there are others out there ... just a matter of searching.

Gord Clark TF 4592
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

Looks like Abingdon has a complete kit that runs in excess of $700.00. OUCH

I looked at the Moss 454-978 which list as an installation kit for little over a hundred bucks but doesn't really say what that includes...?

As you say Gordon probably best to study Dave's site and try to copy it, unfortunately I live in the small town of Corbin, Ky. and we may have plenty of KFC but can't remember when the last time I saw a MG of any model so the local junk yard is out.

Can anyone tell me the year to look for in a MGB and I will try to find one at parts.com or similar.

Thanks,
Rich
Richard Taylor

Dave's system 'so rocks'...i sprung (hehe) for new lower spring mounts so i would have the little reinforced hole...this seems to skip that step and reduce the costs even more (as it was i think i have about $50 in them)...certainly wouldn't go for anything over $100...
J.C. Whitney even have the little bushings for about 15 bucks or so....that coupled with the actual bar from a 'used' mgb is about $20 and the links even new are less the $50
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

Rich,

Len's comment about the 480 1b/in springs is worth noting, however the anti-sway bar seems fine on my car with the original springs. I'm not racing this, just wanting to keep up on sweeping curves and I can't ever remember running out of spring travel.

The MGB (62 to 74-1/2 chrome bumper) came with a 9/16 anti-sway bar, the MGB GT and rubber bumper Bs came with the 5/8. I went with the MGB GT because that's what I had, (and our MGB was long ago retrofitted with the 5/8 bar, and it works there) I can't say that it would make much of a difference.

Numbers in brackets are the moss numbers on page 46 of the MGB catalog

You will need to get from the donor car:
the anti-sway bar (1) 454-965
two brackets (6) 263-430
two of the location pair (7 or 8) depending on bar 263-778 9/16 inch or 267-958 5/8 inch The hardware is 10-32 screws.

In addition you will need to buy
two new bushings (2) 280-910
two new rubber mount (5) the catalog says two diff sizes but I bought the 280-920 for the 9/16 inch bar, and they fit the 5/8 fine.
six 5/16 grade five nut and bolts with lock washers
Raw stock 3/4 wide cold rolled steel for the backing plates for the bar mounts behind the dumb irons
a Chevy link set for the rubber mounts and cupped washers.

Press out the old bushings from the anti-sway bar and press in the new ones.
Fab the brackets for the a-arms as shown, exact size is unimportant.
Fab the links using long grade five bolts, welding the u-shaped clevis sized to mate to the inner bushing to the head of the bolt. Cut some stock spacers (when you buy the Chevy kit you'll understand the spacers) and slide over the long bolts.
Pick up the existing hole and add one hole in the A-arm, fasten the link brackets with one original and one 5/16 bolt, LH and RH.
Attach the links to the anti-sway bar
Use the rubber bushings and cupped washers to mount the links to the A-arm brackets
Using the rubber mounts and the original brackets mount the anti-sway bar to the dumb irons, drilling four holes and use the 5/16 fasteners.
Add the locating clamps, tighten everything up.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Thanks Dave,

I was hoping you would post some in depth details but didn't want to be pushy and ask:)

With above and a few pics from your site that should have me on my way.

Thanks a bunch

Rich
Richard Taylor

Rich,

One thought I left out. You need to have all four wheels on the ground when you locate the anti-sway bar mount. Jacking up the front will change the mount location along the dumb iron considerably! My front bracket hole location is about 4-1/2 inches from the nose of the dumb iron, exclusive of the bumper mount nut welded to the front.

You get two full sets (enough for four links) of the little bushings for $10 bucks at NAPA.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Dave, Rich et al,

As I indicated above, this site :- http://www.swaybarparts.com has almost everything you'll want. Note that there are several pages, the most interesting to us I imagine, would be page 2.

Gord Clark TF4591
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

Thanks Dave,

I guess I should wait until I have at least the engine and running gear are installed as well.

Thanks Gordon I now have the above site saved in my favorites.

Regards,
Rich
Richard Taylor

Here is my front end on my 51 with the sway bar. This was done when I did my MGA disc brake conversion.

Tom Maine (TD8105)

Dave et al:
Is the "Chevy Link Set" Something that needs no other explanation at somewhere like NAPA?
Regards
Rod
Rod Murray 54TF 3006

Nice Tom

Are those all MGB components?
Richard Taylor

B components for the sway bar and A components for the brakes.
Tom Maine (TD8105)

Rod,

I shot a picture on my website of the packaging of the chevy link set. It shows 'Master Ride 18060'

Hope this helps,
Dave
Dave Braun

Hi Dave:
I did see the 18060 on your website as well as the comment that you just needed the dish washers. What, if anything, did your buddy do different to what is in the 18060 kit?
Many thanks
Rod
Rod Murray 54TF 3006

Rod,

The 18060 kit has about 2-1/2 inch link spacer tubes and terminate with a simple bolt head, hence the four sets of rubber bushings and cup washers.

The new link spacers are 3-3/4 (with a correspondingly longer bolt) and the clevis at the top which he fabbed is 2 inches from the top of the spacer to centerline of the mounting hole for the anti-sway bar connection. This means the total link is 5-3/4 long.

Assembly order is long bolt with clevis at the top, slip the spacer over the bolt up to the clevis, cupped washer, rubber bush, homemade a-arm bracket, rubber bush, cupped washer, nut.

My buddy Mike is incredibly inventive, and fun to hang around.

hope this helps,
Dave
Dave Braun

Hi guys
There is a set for sale on ebay now. Item number 270594794332. It looks like a new, never installed Moss product, complete with instructions. Do any of you have experience with this type of anti roll bar for the TD or TF? Is it worth a hundred bucks?

Tom
Tom Norby

This thread was discussed between 08/06/2010 and 18/06/2010

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