Using your MGA workshop manual as a guide, carry out the following instructions.

 

1. Jack up vehicle and support with axle stands under the axle tube.

2. Remove road wheels.

3. Detach the OEM shock absorber links from the lower attachment plates.

4. Remove both axle check straps.

5. Remove exhaust center and rear mounts, support exhaust system with mechanics wire or bungee cords.

6. Jack up vehicle again and support with axle stands placed just forward of the front spring eye mounting.

7. Release jack so that both road springs are supporting the axle tubing.

8. Remove both OEM shock absorbers.

9. Remove L/H or R/H "U" bolts and discard lower attachment plate and spring seating pads.

10. Install new nylatron spring seating pads to spring.

11. Install, as determined, the 1/2" spacer block(s) on the upper nylatron seating pad or the lower nylatron seating pad followed by the "U" bolt guide plates.

12. Install "U" bolts through the upper and lower guide plates, then attach the modified lower attachment plate. Install "U" bolts nuts and tighten. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN

13. Carry out instructions 9-12 for the opposite side.

14. Attach the new telescopic shock absorbers to the upper mounting brackets. Do not fully tighten at this stage. Install brackets using your original hardware.

15. Jack up vehicle and support with axle stands placed under the axle tube.

16. Install axle check straps.

17. Install shock absorber lower attachment plate bolts, washers, tubes and nylok nuts. Do not fully tighten at this stage.

18. Jack up vehicle, remove jack stands and lower vehicle on ground.

19. Final tightening of shock absorbers should be done with the vehicle on all 4 wheels.

 

Note: The switching from side to side of the lower shock absorber attachment plates is common with other Vendor supplied shock absorber kits. We have found this seemingly simple change from side to side to be inadequate on two points.

 

1. There is no chamfer register machined on the other side of the attachment plate. This register allows centralization of the attachment plate with the "U" bolt guide plate.

2. There is tendency for the attachment plate to splay outwardly.

 

We have rectified these problems with a stronger redesigned lower shock absorber attachment plate. This attachment plate is supplied as part of the shock absorber kit.

 

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

 

Shock absorbers damaged due to incorrect installation will not be accepted for warranty return.

 

Before installing your shock absorber kit follow the instructions per KYB.

 

With the shock absorber in the vertical position, fully compress the unit, then allow the shock absorber to fully extend (you may need to assist this action by pulling slowly downward). This cycle should be repeated at least 6 times.

 

KYBs' explanation is as follows:

 

During shipment it is almost certain that the shock absorbers will not remain in the vertical position. This situation leads to unequalization of the nitrogen head pressure. However, self-equalization will occur when the shock absorbers are installed to your MGA.

 

You might ask "Couldn't I just simply install the shock absorbers and let the suspension movement take care of the problem?" The answer is a emphatic "NO"! Until the nitrogen head pressure is equalized you have no or very little dampening effect. This would be equivalent to sending the customer out of the shop with no shock absorbers installed at all.

 

If you ignore the KYBs recommendations, there is no guarantee how long this equalization will take. Furthermore, the ramifications of driving your MGA without properly installed shock absorbers are potentially severe. We can't emphasize enough how important it is that you follow the preceding instructions.