Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Suplex

So it sounds as if ride height is adjustable with this system. My car is a 2005 roadster with very low sump...so I wouldn't want more travel as I'd ground it more often wouldn't I? Or could I have the ride height set 2 inches above factory setup and give myself better clearance than ever?
Nick

Nick, download a copy of the instructions from the link in the quote below. That will give you an understanding of how the system works.

Measure the height of the lower spring as instructed. If it is more than 66mm, which it most likely is, it will be possible to raise the ride height by putting the spacer above the rate riser spring and adjusting the system so that the distance between the lower part of the hub and the triangular plate is 66mm. The difference between the existing height and 66mm will be the gain in ground clearance. I have gained at least 10 mm in ground clearance.

By the way if you have 205/60 R15 tyres fitted talk to your dealer to see if you can safely fit 205/65 R15 tyres. That will give you about another 10mm of ride height.

As Peter says, there are two options for ride height to match the two basic ride conditions Morgans are built. Early cars had a significantly compressed rebound spring so ride higher than some of the later cars that had the rebound spring only just compressed. NB the threaded shroud and adjuster for the main spring is only there to ensure that the hub just kisses the rebound spring at static ride height - thus making it possible to achieve this condition for all weights of cars, a heavier car will have the adjuster screwed down more than a light one.
As Peter says, the instructions describe this setting up. I trend to prefer the option that sets the car a bit highter than the latest cars as this allows slightly more bump travel for better ride, the roll stiffness is the same of course in both cases. Best regards PJB.

I want 2 inches extra!
How can I do it?
One of you engineers must know how I could do it. I grounded the sump again today.
How strong is carbon fibre? Maybe a c fibre sheet as a protector?
Nick

I would have thought an alloy sheet would be a much better bet than carbon fibre. I would definitely have a look at the possibility of fitting higher profile tyres as well, the current mania for low profile tyres sacrifices good handling and performance purely for looks.

One other option might be to consider a reprofiled sump, as Peter Mulberry offers.

Nick. 2" is quite a lot. It would make the car look like one of those elevated Paris-Dakar vehicles

Measure the lower spring height, you may be surprised at how much you gain there if you fit the Suplex system. You may gain as much as 20mm. On most of the Roadsters Morgan have fitted 205/60 R15 tyres. Fitting 205/65 R15 tyres as fitted to the Plus 4 SS) will not only gain you 10mm but, once the car is raised they will fill the wheel arches better. You will have to adjust the speedo.

Then fitting a modified sump will do the rest without destroying the look of the car. Any bash plate under the sump would increase the problem of ground clearance. Carbon fibre is wonderful stuff but is not all that resistant to abrasion and will very quickly be destroyed if it hits humps in the road.

My problem was different in that I could not get down the ramp into my garage. A gain in 10-15mm under the centre of the car was sufficient but also resolved the problem of grounding down on speed humps. I would think that you would not need anywhere near 2" (50mm). That much interference would either have you blocked on top of the hump or with a broken sump, or both.

My recommendation would be to try the Suplex system first, which will improve the car in any case, then investigate fitting a re-profiled sump and different tyres.

The only way to gain so much ride height is to remove the rebound springs and fit a short thick rubber 'washers', maybe 20mm thick, as opposed to a 66mm or 86mm rebound spring. There are some bump and rebound stops on the www that might be able to be cut to suit. This is what those who fly their Morgans on off-road trials do. The car will look odd though...
NB You will get much more bump steer if you significantly increase the ride height, particularly with a steering rack.
Regards PJB.

really stupid question ~ does this change mean an owner of a trad no longer needs to grease the suspension? i have read the threads about greasing, grease guns and still am not clear in my understanding.

Greasing is still required - this doesn't change the sliding pillar / kingpin setup - only the springs that control its movement up and down.

The Librands wishbone front suspension at £5k would eliminate (most of) the greasing though...

Nigel

If you fit Vesconite HiLube bushes and lip seals then once a year greasing should be fine. Users in Oz run over 100,000 miles with Vesconite HiLube, even with no lip seals! Some have used 'O' rings but they may actually run over the dirt and rag it into the grease.
Greasing anyway only takes less than 5 minutes. The botton nipple is the important one as it pumps grese between the bushes and into the friction/thrust bearing, the top nipple I tend IMHO to think of as unneccesary as it tends to grease the kingpin above the top bush that is lightly loaded and is reasonably protected from road dirt. Regards PJB.