Seriously dangerous handling, advice please.

[Tarragon]

Hi there,

My front end handling is awful. The car sways from side to side and this sets up a kind of rolling wave effect at speed.

It is undriveable above 50-60 mph, constantly fighting the steering wheel. It just wants to waver from side to side as though driving on ice.

Once I approach 70 mph it feels as theough the front end is about to lose it and I have to slow down for fear of crashing (seriously)

Even the guy from the garage said it was the scariest car he'd ever driven and he had a few MGF's himself.

The shocks have the correct ride height, All steering components are fine.

I have recently had 4 wheel laser tracking done and the rear was slightly out but adjusted was ok.

Put new Toyos on the rear but still have a pair of budget brand on the front and suspect they do not help. I am ordering front Toyos on monday to be fitted Tuesday.

I feel the car is so seriously unstable I cannot believe it is just tyres though.

Is there anything else I could get checked while it's on the ramps ( I don't have any garage facilites myself to have to rely on the local mechanic).

I will also get the tracking done again.

Are there any degree/camber settings recommended for the F? The garage just zeroed them all but I have read about toeing in on the rear.

Anyone got advice.

Thanks

[Canalsman]

Absolutely it's the tyres!

I have experienced exactly this behaviour on my TF - when I bought it, the car had Goodyear GSD2 tyres on the front, and GSD3 tyres on the back.

The car was undriveable over 50ish mph.

I wouldn't do anything else other than get the front tyres changed immediately.

[mgfneal]

-my f was like this last year it was the rear control arms I replaced them and got the wheel alignment set and now its sweet as a nut . mine used to be OK ish at low speed above 50 mph it would weave all over the place and on motorways it would go in to fish tale motion and be very un stable and very nerving it was 100x worse after i put my new toyos on the back .like everyone has said tires make a lot of difference and faulty suspension components make even more of a difference .

[colintf]

get rid of those budget tyres on the front and check all the suspension component asap

[Mike H]

What everyone else has said above ^^^

It's a combination of the fact that the tyres are mixed between the axles and the fact it's a budget brand on the front.

You won't believe what a difference having the 'correct' (and by correct I mean approved) tyres makes to an F/TF. (See the MG UK Bulletin Here )

Don't forget to allow the tyres some miles to bed in and then let us know the results in the week. You'll be amazed!!!

[talkingcars]

My F came with Pirelli P6000 all round, normally a good tyre but not recommended for the F, car was horrible at speed, fitted Toyo T1R instead and it was a vast improvement, I then added a trophy front spoiler and my bottle ran out on the German autobahn before the car did.

[Rob Bell]

Tyres are a strong suspect - probably the suspect if the handling problems have arisen since the fitment of the new rear tyres. Yes, MGFs are really that sensitive to tyres.

Other problems could be tyre pressure, loose wheel nuts(!!!), failing wheel bearings, failing suspension ball joints etc

See how the new front tyres fair and do let us know!