How to establish the neutral position for TC shock absorbers

[Osiris610]

I am reassembling my MGTC shocks, and I am unsure of how to replace the arms and links in the correct neutral position. I neglected to mark the positions of the arms on the shock bodies when I took them apart, and I don’t see pre-existing marks. Here is what I’ve done, after replacing all of the rubber bushings:
I attached the shock body to the chassis, which is sitting on its wheels without engine or body tub
With the end caps removed, I set the shock pistons to be as far in as they will go and at equal distances from the ends of the body.
I attached the shock link to the chassis bracket and positioned the arm to that it just reaches the upper end of the link, without moving the internal pistons (Photo 1).
The arm is angled down at about 35 degrees. (Photo 2). ? If it had the load of the engine, the arm would probably be about parallel with the shock body.

Is this the correct neutral position?

[Duncan M]

You will find the arm will be parallel to the damper body at the mid way point of travel. Same position the arm will be when installed on the car and the car is sitting on the street.

[Steve Simmons]

What Duncan said.

That dimple should be center of the piston movement. So just mount the arm at level position when the dimple is at the top, then double check by working the arm both ways to its limits.

Should look like this at the ends of travel...

[Osiris610]

Most helpful comments! Many thanks to everybody!

Michael Whalen

[frenchblatter]

Michael, if it helps look at my rebuild blog http://www.lotus7news.co.uk/MG_TC_Shock_absorbers.htm