Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Double Wishbone IFS for Classic Morgan's

So far all who have driven or been driven in (or followed!) the test car with the production spec rising rate front springs and new dampers have been impressed with the greatly improved ride together with the increased roll stiffness. The system is indeed very close to release...............PJB

The latest and current factory front suspension systems on the Classic Morgans are all linear rate, but on at least some of the recent Plus4 cars that I have seen at the factory still regressive (ie: starts very stiff then goes less stiff due to compressed rebound springs - not good).
The rising rate front suspension characteristic has been developed remote from the factory by their front suspension supplier, the factory has not been developing anything similar.
I do not (yet) know what springs and dampers the new 3.7 Roadster will use, but I believe that the new rising rate systems with the specially tuned dampers will show an improvement in ride. I can not comment on any change in roll stiffness as that is so dependent on the linear rates that the 3.7 Roadster will use as standard.
Handling of the test cars so fitted with the rising rate kit are well up to the standard of the current cars or beyond, but that is so subjective and dependent on use, skills and bravery!
I hope this helps - PJB.

They will be available in April from Morgan dealers and specialists, either as a retail kit or fitted. There has been a very slight delay as they were to be available in March, but it will now be in April I believe. Contact me off line, or find me as the CVH specialist on MSCC (though I no longer run a CVH). PJB

Do we have a guide price on the kit PJB?
Apologies if I missed it in the previous mails.

Well, not the engine, anyway!

They sound great but it does sound as though you need to replace the shocks as well on the front.

I believe that the rising rate springs with the tuned Bilstein dampers (& threaded shroud & std thrust race) will be around £595 + VAT retail from dealers/specialists, but there may be offers I guess.
Absolutely will need to fit the supplied Bilstein dampers [tuned at Bilstein UK Tech Centre] to match the springs.
Dampers ALWAYS need to be tuned in bump and rebound, slow and high speed, against any significant change in spring rate. Why would one want to do otherwise if one wants the full benefit of improved ride and handling?
NB I do not want to run the risk of sounding as though I am advertising here, so if you wish to discuss this product in more detail before the imminent release then you can find my contact on the MSCC website under the technical contact details for CVH or if you know me just call. PJB.
PS The Zetec 2.0 litre makes a nice swap for the CVH......

Thanks Peter....yes, it makes sense to match up the shocks as well. I'll just have sell on my nearly new GAZ ones when the time comes!

so does it mean that the rear dampers can remain (or have to remain because they are already tuned to the rear springs)? and, sorry, i'm no technical expert, is it alowed to run different dampers in front and rear?

Heinz: As you know I have had some particular problems with suspension because of the lower profile tyres fitted to the Plus 4 that gave me too low a ground clearance. My springs front and rear have been replaced to try to resolve this problem. I now have heavier front springs and the older 5 leaf springs at the rear. Ground clearance problem resolved but at the expense of a harder ride. For this reason I was particularly attracted to the idea of fitting the new rising rate front suspension (which in addition to giving a better ride has adjustable ride height) and I have had several discussions and some correspondence with the designer of the system. I have the adjustable GAZ dampers front and back, the same as fitted to the Plus 4 SS, and they give good results but I am now convinced that they can never be as good as a specifically tuned system which can give entirely different characteristics.

I have ordered a set of the rising rate springs which, as mentioned above, come with the Bilstein dampers. Sooner or latter I will again replace the rear springs with a set of good quality 4 leaf springs, which do give a less rigid ride than the 5 leaf, and at that time I will probably fit a set of Bilsteins to the rear in order to have a matched set of dampers all round.

My understanding is that the adjustable dampers give a linear rate of damping whereas well designed non adjustable dampers can have a rising rate of damping that varies with the velocity and amplitude of the defection.

It is quite possible that my non-professional comprehension of the concept is wrong and, if so, I am sure there is someone who can better comment on this.