The MGB used a suspension and steering layout that remained fundamentally unchanged across its eighteen-year production run, though a number of significant specification changes occurred that directly affect parts selection. Understanding which variant your car carries is essential before ordering.
Front Suspension
The MGB front suspension uses a double wishbone configuration mounted to a pressed-steel front crossmember, with the Armstrong lever arm damper serving as the upper wishbone and connecting directly to the stub axle via the kingpin. A coil spring sits between the lower wishbone arm and the spring pan. This arrangement was carried over from the MGA and remained in service throughout production with only detail changes. The front crossmember differs between chrome bumper and rubber bumper cars. From autumn 1974, the crossmember was raised by approximately one inch to satisfy headlight height regulations, altering the rack mounting brackets and the relationship between the steering rack and the engine mount.
The two crossmembers, their racks, and associated hardware are not interchangeable without further modification. For rubber bumper owners considering a chrome bumper conversion, the additional ride height can be addressed by altering the coil spring specification, avoiding the need to replace the crossmember and rack entirely. The front anti-roll bar specification changed across production. A 9/16-inch bar was an optional extra on chrome bumper roadsters, with a heavier 5/8-inch bar fitted to GTs.
The bar was deleted from rubber bumper roadsters up to 1976 as a cost-reduction measure, while the GT retained a 9/16-inch bar. From the 1977 model year, a 5/8-inch bar was standardised across all four-cylinder cars. Front drop links are handed, right-hand and left-hand, with the lower ball joint angled to match the wishbone arms.
Rear Suspension
All MGBs used semi-elliptical leaf springs at the rear throughout production, with differing load ratings across model years and body styles. Springs are connected to Armstrong hydraulic lever arm dampers via a drop link. The rear spring hanger arrangement differs between chrome and rubber bumper cars, on chrome bumper cars the rear hanger top bolt passes through the chassis rail, while on rubber bumper cars it sits below it, a detail important when ordering hangers and associated hardware. From the 1977 model year, a rear anti-roll bar was added as standard equipment using dedicated mounting points on the Salisbury tube axle casing introduced from September 1976.
Springs should always be replaced in pairs to maintain even ride height and handling balance.
Steering
All MGBs used rack and pinion steering throughout production. The chrome bumper and rubber bumper racks differ, the rubber bumper input shaft is longer to accommodate the raised crossmember, and the rack-to-column universal joint differs accordingly. The two racks and their associated column joints are not interchangeable. Reconditioned exchange racks are available for both applications.
The steering column evolved through several phases, with energy-absorbing columns progressively adopted from the MkII in 1967 and standardised across all markets from autumn 1974. The column lock was introduced in stages and revised to a final type without push-button in October 1977. The steering wheel changed several times across production, with a hard compatibility boundary at the 1977 model year, from that point the indicator cancellation mechanism was integrated into the wheel itself rather than the column, meaning pre-1977 and post-1977 wheels and columns are not interchangeable.
Upgrades & Alternatives
A comprehensive range of suspension and steering upgrades is available, including power steering conversions, telescopic damper conversions for front and rear, adjustable lever arm dampers, polyurethane bush kits, uprated anti-roll bars, parabolic rear springs, rear suspension conversions, Panhard rods, lowering kits, and aftermarket steering wheels with matching boss kits. Parabolic rear springs must be used with telescopic rear dampers, the standard lever arm dampers do not provide sufficient damping control for parabolic spring characteristics. The MGOC Spares range includes the complete range of MGB suspension and steering components, from standard replacement bushes, springs, dampers, and rack assemblies through to comprehensive performance upgrade packages, supported by expert technical advice for every configuration.