Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing GAZ shock settings

MZ, I have been thinking a bit about the issues you have raised. To my mind it seems the settings for the GAZ are very similar to those required for the AVO. 2 clicks at the front is just a little bouncy and 3 seems about right. This may need to be modified when the front spring issue is resolved. Like wise I set 4 clicks at the rear because of the bottoming out issue but that may have to be revised if (when?) the rear springs are sorted out. I would like to try a softer setting at the rear but, for the moment, I need to try to limit bottoming out.

My simplified view of how to adjust the shocks is to adjust the front first and set them to control the bounce and or hardness to the level required. Then adjust the rear to control the cornering oversteer or understeer to suit one's driving style, always also a compromise with comfort. I personally prefer a neutral to slight oversteer response when hard cornering under power

Comments welcomed.

Peter,
that sounds plausible. Off course limits are given when trying to reach an optimum in dialed in/wanted stiffness of springs and drive balance. But the way to have one predetermined value and play with just one variable is a way to start.

My experience so far (after double checking all clicks):
3 clicks in the front (4 in rear) lets her drive very fluently and round, much less work on the steering wheel, very pleasant. But on the other hand less braking control and tends to bounce, sudden oversteer when throttling hard in curves.

4 clicks front and rear:
very good control, very good braking, very stiff (on bumpy roads not too comfortable), not so much sudden oversteer (which is good) but of course enough chance to get it if you want or need it.
The contra is, that some of the fluently and "easy round" feel is lacking. And the steering needs more work, especially when driving without throttle.
Tyre pressure (on hot wheels!) is 1.8 bar all around. I will try 1,7 bar (hot) in the front with 4 clicks.

In the future I want to let make a suspension setup. We have a very good company here in Cologne, people bring their Ferraris, Porschs etc from Munich and even more far away:

http://www.reifendienst-west.de/vetys/index.html
only in German but google translator is good enough.

They made a set up on my former Roadster and on the Elise. Both cars have been transformed in Handling - like from another star.

Issue is, how to set the dampers before they make the optimal set up. May be they take this point into account.

Heinz,
That pretty much matches my experience.

I stayed with 3 at the front because it was enough to stop it being bouncy and still not too hard for comfort. I am more or less forced to have 4 at the back because of the terrible state of some of our roads and the fact that the car was often bottoming out. The bottoming out may also be due to the fact that the rear springs have sagged. The car is already booked in to have lower front springs replaced and I will have the rears checked at the same time.

As soon as we get these problems resolved I want to try having a lower setting at the back for more comfort. I may even start at 0 and work my way up untill I feel I have the right balance for me.

Hi Peter, sorry not have replied earlier, but we've been enjoying a brief sejour on board one on Cunards finest. Nice, but not much good for the power to weight ratio!

I agree with your last comments re getting the springs sorted first then adjusting the shocks to suit. The understeer Vs oversteer question is interesting. May be its an age thing, or just recollections of how fine the balance is between a slide and a loss of control from racing days, but I'm more inclined to look for a set up towards the secure and comfortable end of the spectrum on the road. If possible then, I'd go for mild understeer because in general I feel more secure that way for dealing with the unexpected. Oversteer is great when you're playing out of slow corners and roundabouts, but can be a pain in the derrière if it catches you out on e.g. on someones carelessly deposited diesel... I know

Have you had a Panhard rod fitted? Before settling on my Plus 4, I tried a 4/4 on wires and standard shocks and found the rear end to be "interesting" (uphanism for wayward, sorry to any 4/4 owners reading this ). By comparison driving the Plus 4 on alloys, AVOs and the Panhard rod was like chalk and cheese. The AVOs just need playing with as we've been discussing, but the Panhatd rod is brilliant!

Also, being new, does your car have the adjustable camber plates fitted? I know there isn't much inherent camber change on sliding pillar suspension, but the chassis does permit quite a bit of roll. So I bit of negative camber at the front will let the loaded tyre (i.e. left tyre on right corner) present a better footprint, sharpening turnin and reducing tendancy to understeer. On a track day...

Yes the car does have the adjustable camber plates I understand.

I have been wondering if the panhard rod was a worthwhile addition but was waiting to get the rest of the suspension issues sorted out first.

Hi Peter.

Just been to the local dealer to get my brake light pressure switch replaced. Hopefully, I won't get complaints from bikers now (see other posts on TM).

Whilst there I had the opportunity to have a look under the car and take some photos (can try to PM them to you if you like). I hadn't realised that in addition to the Panhard rod the axle has had uprated U bolts and ride lowering blocks. I'm not sure just how much these blocks affect feel and handling, but I guess they wouldn't help with your ride height issue.

I also took the opportunity to increase the clicks on the shocks, now 3F:2R. The ride is quite a bit firmer, surprisingly so for one click all round, but also quite a lot taughter through the bends. I may leave them like this and try to get used to the ride

Anyway, I think from reading your posts you would really appreciate the Panhard rod. Maybe something to put on the Christmas present list?

On my first Morgan, a Roadster MK1 I had later added Panhard rod. Control in curves was way better but the cruising comfort was reduced. Much more hopping from the rear axle. On two Morgans after I waived the Panhard rod. Now the P4SS has it anyway. It´s very well integrated and seems to work without loosing comfort. And control is way better. A Panhard rod could be way to go but I would recommend to experience it first - on a so fitted Mog before you spend the money on it.

Good point Heinz I'm admittedly new to Morgans, and was only sharing my feelings (and enthusiasm) following a back to back test drives of the standard 4/4 set up and a Plus 4 with the Panhard rod. Clearly I cannot comment on comparative types. However, I don't recognise your description of the back axle hopping when cruising, even with the shocks set to soft, 1 or 2 clicks at the rear. I suppose there are different types of aftermarket fittings and setups?

hi chaps, it may just be bad luck on my part, but I am having mt car serviced and they found that one of the front springs was 3/4 of an inch shorter then the other side. The car as not done 5000 miles yet, so its not saying much for the quality of the morgan spings. I am having both replaced with better items. On the ajustable damper note, please remember to change the settings from time to time to keep the dampers working at their best. michael

Hi MonteZooma

May be hopping is not the best description. With the Panhard rod mounted I had the before and after impression (Roadster MK1), that the spring rate altered - it was more stiff when compressed. Control was significantly better as the axle is more fixed and cannot move so much between left and right but comfort was a little less. Anyway the P4SS with P.rod feels as if the parts (springs, damper etc) are better matched in comparison. (May be I´m better matched to a Morgan than 7 years ago...)