The MGB GT V8's suspension was uprated from the standard MGB GT to handle the V8 engine's additional weight and the V8's higher performance envelope. The front suspension uses a V8-specific modified front crossmember (raising the car by approximately 0.5 inch over the standard MGB), uprated front springs to suit the engine weight, and lever-arm dampers. The rear suspension retains the leaf-sprung live axle of the standard MGB GT but with a stiffer anti-roll bar arrangement. Steering uses a steering rack with the V8-specific collapsible steering column accommodating the V8 fascia layout.
Front Suspension
The front suspension is independent, with upper and lower wishbones, coil springs, lever-arm dampers (which double as the upper wishbone link), kingpin assemblies, and an anti-roll bar. The V8-specific front crossmember was a key piece of MG engineering, it provided clearance for the wider Rover V8 engine within the standard MGB engine bay, raised the car by 0.5 inch (a side benefit improving ground clearance), and was subsequently adopted on the four-cylinder MGB from the start of rubber-bumper production in late 1974.
Rear Suspension
The rear suspension is a live axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs, with lever-arm dampers fitted to the body and arms connecting to the axle. The leaf springs on the V8 are GT-length items based on the standard MGB GT specification, with a slightly higher load rating to suit the V8's greater weight. Rear axle location is by the leaf springs themselves, with no separate radius arms or Panhard rod.
Steering
The MGB GT V8 uses rack-and-pinion steering, with the steering rack mounted on the front crossmember and connected to the front hubs by track rods. The V8-specific steering column is a collapsible type chosen to suit the V8 fascia layout, with the steering wheel mounted slightly differently from the chrome-bumper four-cylinder MGB. Power steering was not fitted to the factory V8.
Sub-Sections
Front Suspension, Rear Suspension and Steering Column and Rack each cover their respective subsystems. Upgrades and Alternatives covers parabolic springs, telescopic damper conversions, uprated lever-arm dampers, anti-roll bars, lowering blocks and polyurethane bush kits.
MGOC Spares
MGOC Spares supplies the full range of MGB GT V8 suspension and steering components, see individual sub-sections for details.