seeking advice

[lonesheep]

Hi

I've recently acquired an 2002 mg tf 135. All seems OK except it "wobbles" over 40 mph (sometimes!). It feels like it's hit a side wind.

I've had the wheel alignment checked - it was way out, but in the range now.
checked tire pressures
checked tyres - all the same falkens
spun rear wheels and tried rocking checking for bearing issues.

All appears OK. However the problem still persist.

I brought the car primerally as transport for me and my autistic 13 year old as he loved my (ahem) mx-5 before it was vandalised and written off. We walk a lot over the Ridgeway and the cotswolds. However with stability issues I'm reluctant to drive it around with him in it.

Can anyone recommend a garage in the swindon/cirencester area to take a look? Alternatively recommend other checks I could do...or provide assistance!

Much appreciated.
matt

[nigelandjo]

Wilcox's in Wickwar. Long term MG Rover family run garage. Take my TF's and ZT 260 to them for servicing.

[lonesheep]

Cheers I'll give them a bell.

Nice collection of cars. This only my 2nd MG, having owned a Midget for a couple of years in the 2005 era. I have to say the mg tf drives better...when it goes in a straight line(!)..on rails around corners though..

[talkingcars]

What tyre pressures are you running?

Which tyres?

[lonesheep]

Hi

The car is running on::

FALKEN ZIEX ZE912;
Front 195/50R15 82V
Rear 205/50R15 86V

Pressures are;
26 psi front
36 psi rear

Cheers

[colintf]

Hi

The car is running on::

FALKEN ZIEX ZE912;
Front 195/50R15 82V
Rear 205/50R15 86V

Pressures are;
26 psi front
36 psi rear

Cheers

How does that compare to handbook pressures for that sized tyre?

[lonesheep]

These are the tyres the car came with! I've been told to use 26 front, 36 rear which looked correct for the tf.

However, looking at the front pair, at they oversized?
Shouldn't they be 185/55?

[colintf]

These are the tyres the car came with! I've been told to use 26 front, 36 rear which looked correct for the tf.

However, looking at the front pair, at they oversized?
Shouldn't they be 185/55?

Check the handbook
They sound like 16" pressures to me and not sure what 15" should be

[Pete & Lin]

From the TF handbook

Tyres, 15 inch alloys :-
Front 185/55 R15 82V

Rear 205/50 R15 86V

16 inch alloys :-
Front 195/45 R16 84V

Rear 215/40 R16 82V


Tyre pressures (both 15 & 16 inch) – Front 26lb/in, 1.8 bar Rear 36lb/in, 2.5bar


The wobble you describe is the exact problem my son has been having with his 2002 TF 135, Every now and again the car would 'wobble'. We've had the 4 wheel alignment done three times & on the advice of tyre fitters throw away a full set of nearly new Pirelli zero nero tyre's as we were told they were not a recommended tyre by MG, all tyre's replaced with Falken ZE 914's (I have 914's on my MGF & love them) handling improved slightly but the car still wobbled now and again especially on right hand corners.

'Fault' finally found to be the nearside rear track control arm inner bush – fitted a new one from Rimmer's over the Easter weekend, another 4 wheel alignment done & the car drives absolutely perfect now.

And yes the car went through it's last years MOT like this, prior to buying the car

[Mike H]

What others have said above!!!

The correct tyre size for the TF at 16in are as Pete indicated:

Front 195/45 R16 84V

Rear 215/40 R16 82V

and the inflation pressures (for the recommended tyres) are 26 psi front, 36 psi rear.

F's and TF's are extremely sensitive to tyre size and type!

If you need to get the suspension checked over, then talk to Jon at Wilcox - 01453 294213. Many owners travel many miles for their expertise - I'm lucky, I'm local

[Paul Storey]

As a newcomer with my first 'F' I'd also read the horror stories about these cars being extremely sensitive to tyre sizes and types, but the car I've recently bought was fitted with 205 x 50's all round ~ front & rear ~ and a 'budget' brand at that.
Whilst I was initially a bit concerned about this, the car had done several laps around a circuit on a track day on these tyres without a problem, and I must say in my possession it goes around corners like it's on rails, drives straight as a arrow and I've had it up to xxx MPH without the slightest hint of insecurity.
The car's an F with the hydrogas suspension on 15" wheels, not a TF, so the only conclusion I can arrive at is 'F's' aren't unduly sensitive to brands or sizes and maybe the problem we hear about with these cars & their tyres is confined to TF's and 16" wheels ?
In fact my car handles so well I've got to ask why MG specified different size tyres front and rear ~ why not have 205's all around ?

[Mike H]

The issue with tyres is that a mid-engined car requires a stiffer sidewall compared to a front-engined car, so tyres with a high load rating are necessary. A mid-engined car is also much more liable to snap oversteer and so the size of tyre is optimised for these various characteristics. Take a look at the different tyre sizes of any mid engined car such as Toyota, Lotus or Porsche etc…..

[talkingcars]

The car's an F with the hydrogas suspension on 15" wheels, not a TF, so the only conclusion I can arrive at is 'F's' aren't unduly sensitive to brands or sizes and maybe the problem we hear about with these cars & their tyres is confined to TF's and 16" wheels ?
In fact my car handles so well I've got to ask why MG specified different size tyres front and rear ~ why not have 205's all around ?

It should turn in a bit better and park more easly with narrower tyres on the front, and as the power nd weight are on the rear the front isn't working as hard as on a regular car.

My VVC had Perilli P6000 tyres all round when I bought it, I put the average handling down to it being a cheap car. However I fitted Toyo T1R's and absolutly transformed the car.

[Uxcool]

From the TF handbook

Tyres, 15 inch alloys :-
Front 185/55 R15 82V

Rear 205/50 R15 86V

16 inch alloys :-
Front 195/45 R16 84V

Rear 215/40 R16 82V


Tyre pressures (both 15 & 16 inch) – Front 26lb/in, 1.8 bar Rear 36lb/in, 2.5bar


The wobble you describe is the exact problem my son has been having with his 2002 TF 135, Every now and again the car would 'wobble'. We've had the 4 wheel alignment done three times & on the advice of tyre fitters throw away a full set of nearly new Pirelli zero nero tyre's as we were told they were not a recommended tyre by MG, all tyre's replaced with Falken ZE 914's (I have 914's on my MGF & love them) handling improved slightly but the car still wobbled now and again especially on right hand corners.

'Fault' finally found to be the nearside rear track control arm inner bush – fitted a new one from Rimmer's over the Easter weekend, another 4 wheel alignment done & the car drives absolutely perfect now.

IMG_8620.JPG

IMG_8621.JPG

And yes the car went through it's last years MOT like this, prior to buying the car

Hi!

Just a little question, what's the part number for your bush? I need to do the same thing on my rear track control arm... Thanks a lot !

[Pete & Lin]

Hi!

Just a little question, what's the part number for your bush? I need to do the same thing on my rear track control arm... Thanks a lot !

Firstly, welcome to the forum.

This is the track control arm that I got from Rimmers, http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RGD000570, I believe the inner bush is not replaceable - hence why I replaced the whole arm.

Fitting the arm has totally transformed the cars handling

[Steffi]

to Paul:
don´t compare a F to a TF. Due to the different suspension it´s no problem to drive one size around the car.
Check the rear track and get it changed if needed. Than I would go for 16" alloys with 195 in the front and 215 at the back.
This should transform the TF extremely