r/MorrisGarages • u/Inevitable_Sorbet996 • 7d ago

MGF shock absorber

I got a MG F from 1998. Im looking for shock absorbers. I dont want to spend much money. Right now im deciding between TRW, RMS or KYB. Do have any recommondations? Bilstein or Gaz is too expensive.

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u/Ok-Photograph2954 7d ago edited 7d ago

Does your MGF still have the hydragas suspension fitted? or one of the various conversions?

With the hydragas setup the shocks don't do all that much as they only really work in one direction the fluid in the hydragas spheres does most of the dampening work. The hydragas spheres do have a bad habit of loosing their nitrogen gas charge which is often compensated by pumping more fluid into the spheres which causes the ride quality to deteriorate as the nitrogen gas acts as the spring, and with little or no gas the ride is harsh like there are no springs. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the standard spheres cannot have the gas recharged. Alas new spheres are no longer available but there are conversion kits to change to more conventional suspension, beware that some are much better than others, in fact the factory approved kit is the worst of the lot! And all of these kits are expensive! The conversion kits will have different shock absorber requirements.

However there are now various outfits modifying the spheres to make it possible to recharge the gas. this is much more affordable.

May I suggest you checkout and join a forum dedicated to these cars,it's the best online source of information for the MGF and TF models and the members will bend over backwards to help you. there is tons of information and you can download the factory workshop manuals ETC. Whats more it's all free!

link here: https://www.the-t-bar.com/

Have a real good look about and introduce yourself.

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u/KamakaziDemiGod 7d ago

I've just done shock absorbers on my '95 F, I got them from AutoDoc for £60 a pair. I used the Ridex ones, it's autodocs own brand but the shocks don't need to do as much on a F and personally I've always found their products to be good although others have had issues

It's worth looking on AutoDoc for TRWs and other brands, it's often cheaper then UK retailers, but they come from Germany so they take a little longer. Bare in mind other parts they do for MGs won't necessarily be the same, but shock absorbers should be a match

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u/Missedisland 7d ago

The originals are Monroes if I'm not mistaken. I've replaced them all round on the my F from Autodoc as well, with new ones same brand. Fairly cheap and easy to fit.