Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Steering kickback

My M3W is booked in for a service at the Factory - and to have the "new" wishbones fitted. I have been told that there is a fitting charge -altho I intend to challenge this b4 the work is done -may not get anywhere!!

As I mentioned earlier, they charged me £60 to fit the new wishbones, but they did supply the wishbones FOC, as I would expect, as well as a pair of new Spax dampers, though I got the impression that the original dampers are considered better, for some reason. Please let us know how you get on with your protest.

If you have access to the Autocar road test, there is absolutely no reference to steering kickback or bumpsteer, in fact they praised the feel and directness of the steering, it reads as if they were testing a different car to the one the rest of us drive! I wonder what is going on there?

Are the spax adjustable - if so that could be a good thing - as maybe stiffening the ride might help - I will of course check this out b4 it happens - as I recall negative comments on TM about the Spax (?)

what are the thoughts on the "new" steering rack? Mine is the original version

No, the new Spax shockers aren't adjustable, but I would be interested to know what changes they've made to the rack too, and what difference it actually makes to help the feel of the steering.

The original suspension was set up and supplied by SUPLEX, as you will see printed on the springs of the early cars. These had a rate increaser on the damper rod to provide a rising spring rate, they also had very limited rebound movement to reduce roll. Production then went to SPAX that has neither of the two features. Anybody driven both versions?

See http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/road-cars/road-tests/morgan-tests/morgan-3-wheeler-road-test/ of Sept 2011
I quote: "Whoever set this car up needs recognition for the achievement". Is this what we saw on Stig's TopGear lap?
Mmmmmmmm?! PJB.

Thanks PJB thats interesting info - sounds like its best to stick with SUPLEX

Anyone got views/experience of the "new" rack?

I've got the new rack and it still has kickback on bumps and can be pretty nervous at 50 mph or so. Nice feel and overall acceptable but not like other cars.

Have driven M3W with older rack and can't say I can tell much difference but do have the Spax shocks and the wheels bounce sometimes. Ride and handling ok though, apart from the nervous steering.

My steering arms hit the exhaust on bigger bumps which is a nuisance - but don't know whether this is just my car or something to do with the later rack.

Summary - ok, but no more. Car still great fun to drive despite these comments of course.

i get a metal knocking sound on bumps in the road and i've been trying to figure out what it is. originally i was thinking it was something in the footwell like the floor pan hitting the frame as if it was supposed to be bolted down but wasn't but after an inspection this weekend that was not the case. i'll have to check my steering arms/exhaust to see if i can see any dings or rubs.

Hello again!

Yes - the clearance between the steering arm and exhaust seems to vary. My nearside (driver's side for you) clearance is less than the other and my son has watched the steering clonk the exhaust. I put some electrical black tape round the steering arms so that the clonks are now tape on metal rather than metal on metal. Only real solution as far as I can see is to bend the exhaust pipe down further but this is obviously easier said than done.