IRichard, as I understand it shims are used to make up a gap, whereas the Morgan damper is a bronze plate used to dampen rotational forces.

The damper plate it`s self being held from rotating by the length of steel (damper blade) screwed to the plate, the other end of which is held from rotating by a simple clamping mechanism (saddle) mounted on the chassis.

As you typed Richard, the damper blade has to flex up and down relative to vertical suspension travel and in so doing the blade requires to be able to adjust for a change in length as the suspension rises and drops, thus it`s overall length has to be able to slide through the saddle arrangement at the chassis end. When greasing my suspension I often run a finger of grease over the intersection of the blade and it`s saddle to ensure free movement and resist corrosion build up at that point..

Of course the terminology used by others may differ, saddle, bladeand plate... As in the case of taps, I was taught taper, intermediate and plug... Each to their own.. (-:

As ever happy to be corrected.