Low Slung Butt Whilst Towing

[Hampton Caught]

That got your attention!

Whilst loaded up for my holiday with four bikes, stuff, family, stuff and a caravan, full of stuff, I had concerns about the height (or lack) at the rear of the car. Strange that! The Witter detachable towbar didn't help as this finishes some inches below the bumper, unlike the Brinks towbar.

As well as bottoming out on the caravan park speed bumps (placed just below a steep incline which I climbed out of with much wheelspin ) I also noticed that the camber of the rear wheels was even greater than normal. Having had to replace the first set of tyres at 11,500 miles, I don't fancy another set so soon - the inside shoulder of the rear tyres were bald.:SHOCKED:

I'm left with two options (or a third if you include my wife's suggestion of another Land Rover instead of the MG ).

Option one, spring assisters, cost about £15 (I live near Grayston's so can collect them) and are a DIY job (apparently).

Option 2, self-levelling suspension . Can anyone advise me what I would need to have the factory set up for my ZT-T, which is a facelifted model with the CDT engine? Is it DIY and would I need the four wheel alignment set up again afterwards?

Very many thanks,

Steve

[JohnDotCom]

The self-leveling I have on my R75 Tourer is just a question of changing the Dampers and possibly the springs I believe.
I had mine changed to self leveling with Genuine Parts and it was a straightforward job.....
Not for me but for the garage that did it, took them just over an Hour. Then the Alignment and tracking was checked 4 Wheel Laser.
For codes see here: http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...read.php?t=104

[Lovel]

Originally Posted by Lovel

If you want to change from conventional units to self levellers, here are the part numbers you require.
RKB000370 Spring x 2
It should be noted that the softer rated self leveller springs according to the EPC should be colour coded blue/brown. The items that Xpart currently supply actually come with a green colour coding instead.
RPD000240 Self leveller damper x 2

The standard Rover dampers and the self levellers (made by Nivomat) have the same ride hieght unloaded, so in theory geometry of suspension not changed. I have not experienced any excessive wear on the rear tyres since fitting self levellers.
It's an easy wheel, and roll bar knuckle joints off job of about an hour per side in my experience. If fitting the self levellers the downside may be that you lose the stiffer suspension handling benefits of the MG by converting to softer Rover dampers & springs.
You may also need to consider that you may upset the balance of the car by having the original MG set up stiff front damper and springs, and the Rover softer set up at thge rear.
I can recommend the self levellers (nivomats), I have had them on all my cars in the past. They remove the up and down pitching movement that often occurs when going over bumps in the road at speed, and stop the base of the towbar grounding on the road.

[Hampton Caught]

Thanks for the replies, chaps.

As I understand it, I can replace the dampers with Nivomat-made units which were available on the Rover (but not the MG) and that the standard, facelift-model springs may not 'balance' with the new dampers.

Wouod I be right in thinking there was no difference in springs between the facelifted Rover and MG specifications? If not, how much difference in firmness was there and am I (and more importantly, my passengers) likely to feel the rear of the car being under-damped because of the new units?

Also, I presume the change in dampers only would not change the ride height as this is set more by the springs.

Finally, John (and others), what is the ball park price for a pair of new Nivomat dampers?

Thanks again,

Steve

[Lovel]

Originally Posted by Hampton Caught

Thanks for the replies, chaps.

As I understand it, I can replace the dampers with Nivomat-made units which were available on the Rover (but not the MG) and that the standard, facelift-model springs may not 'balance' with the new dampers.

Wouod I be right in thinking there was no difference in springs between the facelifted Rover and MG specifications? If not, how much difference in firmness was there and am I (and more importantly, my passengers) likely to feel the rear of the car being under-damped because of the new units?

Also, I presume the change in dampers only would not change the ride height as this is set more by the springs.

Finally, John (and others), what is the ball park price for a pair of new Nivomat dampers?

Thanks again,

Steve

You need to change both spring and self leveller together. If you retain your original spring you will find that the car will sit higher by an inch or two at the back and look weird. The self leveller has a precharge of N2 acting like a spring, this means that that the spring for the self leveller can be of a lower rating(softer) than a conventional spring damper set up.
The self leveller springs are approx £55 incl vat (each) from Xpart.
The pair of self levellers I purchased via ebay for £180.
Not sure if they are available via Xpart anymore. £254.00 each last time I looked.
There used to be a regular seller on ebay who sold them, however I have not seen them come up for some time now. It was one of the good Rover breakers names that seem to come up on here now and again.

[rover]

As the MG/75 Noseweight max is 100 Kg;the highest of any standard car,I would suggest you check your Noseweight when fully loaded before making any modifications.
The usual reason for the 75 not riding well when towing is not enough weight on the Towbar, not too much.