Grumpy, I am no expert, but I did on one occasion lift my damper plates to ensure a good bed of grease got in between the plate and the face it runs on machined into the axle assemblage, the idea of the grease being to lessen the steering input by the driver..?

In the case of my +8 ensuring those faces had grease between them did indeed reduce steering effort... for a while, though exactly how long I have no idea.. It was no more than a rough experiment for me.

In the case of my +8 the plate is made of some sort of bronze... If jacking the plate against spring pressure there is a chance it could bend or fracture.

As I understand it the whole idea of the DAMPER plate is exactly that, to act as a damper to unwanted oscillations of the front wheel and subsequent unwanted inputs to the steering wheel, known as St Malvern's dance by old hands..?

I suspect the idea of using some sort of bronze material is for it to be the sacrificial element in the wear process, and that bronze against steel is proven to be a reasonable bearing surface..?

As with many modifications when trying to improve on the simplicity of Morgan`s initial design, a measure of balance is best introduced into one`s thinking and in the case of the damper wherein lies the point of balance between maximum damping and ease of steering wheel input..?

I think the St Malvern's dance issue may well have reduced considerably as tyre technology changed from cross-ply to radial and perhaps more so as the width of the tyres footprint increased to the extent that the need for damping may have reduced considerably over time.

As we became older and automotive technology moved on, we became more used to power steering and various other comforts, the old damper came in for a degree of scrutiny in terms of it`s existence given it did indeed add a requirement for more steering effort than might be actually be required.

I have read all sorts of educated discussion on rake, trail, camber along with the action of the possible twisting moment effect of coil springs under compression etc. etc. more than enough to make my head spin...

If you want to know how effective your dampers might be or not... Then you could temporarily just remove the blades connecting them to the chassis and drive over a mix of terrain... However beware the St Malvern's dance can be frighting... Not that I ever experienced it in my Morgan but as a Land Rover owner of old, boy the steering wheel can oscillate alarmingly even when just taking away from a standstill... Though in old LR`s there is a spring built in to the linkages add to the fun.

Hope I have not muddied the water Grumpy... Seems I oft times get things wrong.