The suspension and steering upgrades section covers the aftermarket alternatives that improve upon the original specification, principally polyurethane and heavy-duty alternatives to the original rubber wishbone bushes, and a range of aftermarket steering wheels providing different sizes, materials, and styles to the original 17-inch factory wheel.
Polyurethane Wishbone Bushes
The original rubber wishbone inner bushes deteriorate progressively as the rubber compound hardens, cracks, and ultimately fails, a process that accelerates with age and exposure to oils, road salt, and the heat radiated from the front brakes. As the bushes deteriorate, the front suspension geometry shifts under braking and cornering loads, degrading the precision of the handling and accelerating tyre wear. Polyurethane bushes offer significantly improved durability and tighter geometry control. They are available in two specifications: a road-specification polyurethane providing a moderate increase in stiffness suitable for general road use without an unacceptably harsh ride, and a race-specification polyurethane giving stiffer location for cars used in competition or on track days.
A heavy-duty one-piece bush, derived from the MGB V8 front suspension and adapted for TD and TF use, provides maximum durability for cars used hard or carrying significant restoration mileage. All three alternatives use the original wishbone arms and pivots; only the bushes themselves change.
Aftermarket Steering Wheels
A range of Moto-Lita aftermarket steering wheels is available as alternatives to the original 17-inch factory specification. Wood-rim wheels are available in 13, 14, and 15-inch diameters, with the 14- and 15-inch sizes offered in flat or dished spoke profiles to suit the driver's preference for reach. A walnut-rim wheel is available alongside the standard wood-rim option. Leather-rim wheels are available in 13, 14, and 15-inch diameters, again with flat or dished spokes on the larger sizes.
The smaller-diameter wheels make the steering feel more direct and free up some legroom in the cockpit, though the unassisted steering at parking speeds requires more effort with a smaller wheel.
Boss Kits and Wheel Centres
A boss kit is required to fit any aftermarket wheel to the TD or TF steering column. The Moto-Lita boss kit is the standard offering and is supplied without screws, the Moto-Lita wheels themselves include their own mounting screws. Wheel centres are available in plain aluminium (with the wheel screws either covered or exposed depending on the centre chosen) and in a classic MG style as fitted to the early MGB and MGC. The horn-push function built into some wheel centres is inoperative on the TD and TF, this is because the horn circuit on these cars uses a different earth arrangement to the later cars for which these centres were originally produced.
Ordering Considerations
Polyurethane bushes are specified by the level of stiffness required (road or race) and ordered as a complete set for both sides of the front suspension. The MGB V8 heavy-duty one-piece alternative is supplied as a quantity of four. Aftermarket steering wheels require the corresponding boss kit and a wheel centre to complete the installation.
When ordering wheel centres for the TD or TF, the inoperative horn push should be noted, this is a known limitation rather than a fault, and not a reason for return.