Both the MGF and MG TF respond well to suspension modifications, and a comprehensive range of upgrades has been developed by specialists over the cars' long production life and enthusiast ownership. The key principle is to treat suspension modifications as a system, as changing one component such as springs without addressing the related dampers, anti-roll bars, and bushes often produces a worse result than the original standard setup.
MGF and MG TF, Different Starting Points
The MGF upgrade path typically starts from one of three positions, maintaining the original Hydragas suspension through re-pressurisation and bush renewal, converting to coil-spring canister suspension with kits that replace the Hydragas displacers within the existing subframe, or undertaking the full MG TF subframe swap to move to the MG TF's complete coil-and-multi-link arrangement. The MG TF, already on conventional coil-spring suspension, typically upgrades in a more targeted way, addressing specific areas such as the firm early-TF ride, body roll, or bush compliance.
The Upgrade Range
Adjustable shock absorbers cover the main aftermarket options including Spax, Gaz, and Koni adjustable dampers and the Gaz complete coil-over kit for track-oriented MG TF applications. Hydragas suspension fluid is the specialist consumable used in the MGF Hydragas system across both ends of the circuit. MGF-specific suspension kits include coil-spring conversion systems that replace the Hydragas displacers, polyurethane bush kits front and rear, and matched spring-and-damper packages. MG TF-specific kits include a comfort handling pack of four three-position-adjustable dampers developed to address the firm ride of pre-2005 cars, lowering spring sets, and matched packages.
Uprated anti-roll bar kits cover front and rear options including the bars fitted to the MG TF 85th Anniversary, ball-jointed link assemblies that eliminate rubber bush compliance, and polyurethane mounting bushes. Polyurethane suspension bushes cover the complete range of replacement bushes for both models, offering greater wear resistance and more consistent compliance than rubber with slightly increased noise transmission as the trade-off.
Starting the Upgrade
For owners new to MGF or MG TF suspension upgrades, a useful starting order is first to ensure the existing suspension is in serviceable condition, including bush replacement and, for MGFs on Hydragas, re-pressurisation, then to address the dampers, the most impactful single upgrade on either model and the area where aftermarket products deliver the clearest improvement, then to consider anti-roll bar and polyurethane bush upgrades to sharpen response, and only then to consider spring rate changes, which are the most demanding modification to get right and most likely to produce a worse result if mismatched to the chosen dampers. Many owners find that the first two steps deliver almost all the dynamic improvement they are looking for, without the trade-offs that spring changes can introduce.