Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Plus 8 Front Springs

Hi folks. First post so hope I've put this in the right forum.

The previous owner of my 2001 Plus 8 installed 180lb front main springs that were 1" lower than stock.

I need to return the springs to standard (120lb?) whilst I still have some fillings left in my teeth but wish to retain the 1" lowered option. Melvyn sells these at about £66 a pair but can anyone advise of alternative suppliers?

Secondly, I've studied the "how to...." on eMog and all looks reasonably straightforward, but how much energy is left in that mainspring when it comes to taking it out? Most of the commercially available spring compressors look a bit chunky bearing in mind the dinky little Mog springs - any recommendations?

Finally - is a 120lb spring the best option? Whilst it's stripped I could put any rating in.......

Many thanks, Bob.

Talk to Tim Ayres at New Elms morgan, he stocks the "rutherford" springs and will no doubt be able to advise you. You might want to look at adjustable AVO shocks whilst you are at it.. Alternatively speak to mike Duncan, by the look of your profile you are not that far from him

There was a thread on here a while ago, about king pin removal, DaveW took a great set of pics which might be helpful if you are doing the springs yourself, Also you may want to consider doing the king pins whilst you have the front in bits - I recently had springs and shocks replaced as the king pins were being done, saved a job down the road - just need to look at the rear end now!

Welcome to the Forum btw

Thanks for that sawman. I did the AVO Rutherford shocks from John Worral about 6 months ago as a first "easy" step in starting to sort things out.

The car's only done 13,400 miles and passed it's MOT last week so I reckon there's a bit left in the kingpins yet - otherwise I'd totally agree and do it whilst it's in pieces.

I'll try and find the DaveW pix - his stuff is always an inspiration.

(And thanks for the welcome)

Bob

Give Mulfab a ring, there are a selection of heights and poundages to choose from. He can also talk you through the options as spring rates are not as intuitive as it first seems..

BTW... have you turned the dampers to the softest setting to measure the difference?

I'll try Mulfab and see what transpires.

All I know is that the front of the car currently behaves like a nodding donkey on anything other than a billiard table smooth road.

I've tried the AVO's on the 3 softest settings: there didn't seem too much to choose between them but that may be because the springs are overiding everything else!

180 does sound rather heavy!
Also, are both main and rebound springs in contact with sliding axle?
Probably shouldn't be with the shorter main spring. However if they are, you initially get a falling rate spring on initial bump which can give the nodding dog syndrome...

Oh, and welcome to the forum...

Hi Bob,
The nodding donkey effect is not necessarily caused by stiff springs. I have had this and it was caused by high friction or stick-slip. If the bushes don't slide properly the car starts bobbing on the tires and there is little damping in them. Stick-slip is caused by wear or poor lubrication/greasing. Depending on the bushes installed and the usage, wear at 14000 miles is possible. I would say; check for KP wear and stick-slip and then decide if you want to change springs or KP&bushes or both. Cheers J

Seconded

OK JJW, sounds like one to follow up on.

I'd assumed the ND effect was down to so little give in the springs - lean gently on the front and you can barely move it - and the front end just reacting poorly to the bumps in the road.

Opens up a new line of thought.........

Wouldn't last weeks MOT have picked up the wear aspect (it was blindingly thorough with equipment and manual checks of the front end and much breath holding by me)? It was also at a garage handling a large throughput of Mog MOT's.

Any guidance on how to check other than giving it a wobble?

If it does come to it then a spring swap is going to be almost incidental to the main operation.

When you push down on the car feel for stickshon (non linear buildup of pressure prior to actual point of slip). Or check that the hub moves at all... the initial compression could be that of the tyre.