Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Replacing rear springs

Some while ago there was a thread running about sagging springs and this problem is well explained on the GoMog site as long-standing and finally resolved by the new 4-leaf springs. I think I must be one of those described as sagging to the point of collapse, and those who have studied my rear-end comment on how low I sit! I'm thinking now about replacing , which raises two questions: (1) where to get new springs and (2) what are the issues involved with the replacement process? Again, GoMog is helpful but scary on this latter point saying for instance " Have a friend stand on the leaf spring with feet near the front eyelet."
Has anyone done this job recently and what advice can you offer?

John

I replaced the rear springs on my 08 +4 just over a year ago. I chose, following advice from Peter Mulberry of Mulfab, and because I am no lightweight to fit 4 seat springs to my 2 seater so they were a little harder to fit because of the spring 'set'

There is no way round it, its hard work and 2 pairs of hands make the job much easier, in fact almost essential unless you are going to make up some tooling. However its nothing technical, its all 'nuts and bolts' work and easily achievable if you take care and work steadily. It would fill the pages here to rewrite the process but even though I have issues with a lot of statements on GoMog (and I say that having written quite a lot that was later put on under the webmasters name!) it is correct when it says that having someone stand on the front of the spring to get the eye down to the shackle plate at the front makes it simpler, its not as scary as its made out to be but of course you need to exercise care when working with anything that stores energy the way a spring does. If you tackle it you can always send me a PM and I will e-talk you through the process to save boring others.

As for sourcing I think genuine MMC ones ordered through a dealer is the best option, there are rumours put around about them being sourced from India but someone who is a friend of the supplier to MMC told me they are made in Coventry but they will not sell direct. If you decide to go for 4 seater rear springs it will raise the rear of a 2 seater about 15-20mm higher tyhan a standard 2 seat car and then it will settle to about the height of a new car so nothing dramatic but it gives a superb ride as the spring rate is the same (set gives the height and rate gives the comfort/compliance level with leaf springs).

Agree with Spanner Juggler, I have had several telecons with Mulfab and have received really good advice on springs, etc. They supplied the front and rear springs for my +8 recently.
If you trawl back through some of the emails, I posted pics of a tool I used during a singlehanded fit of the springs. In this case it was front end first and then using a homemade tool pulled the rear end bush down to pop the bolt in. Alternatively follow the flow and get someone to help press down on the front - ie rear end bolted up first.
Before fitting, worthwhile considering soaking in heavy oil and wrapping with Denso tape to keep water out/keep well lubricated. Very messy but I think it helps protect the springs longterm. Probably also good idea to replace the securing U-bolts tighten initially and then recheck torque as they tend to "settle" in. Also makes it quicker to remove old springs by cutting U-bolts with a cutting disc rather than struggle to loosen the nuts which are very tight.
...................and you'll need the fuel tank, etc out.

Best of luck

simon

Simon, I never took the fuel tank out on any Morgan I have fitted springs to? I have done about 6 so far, +8's, +4's 2 and 4 seaters. Totally agree there is not much room but its doable but maybe not possible to use the tool you made, I was looking at it with great admiration and wondering if I should make one in case there is a 'Jonesy, can you fit some springs for me'....type phone call ;-).

Do you think the tool you made can be used with the fuel tank left in (that brings a shed load of its own problems on later cars getting the tank out). Also for lube I used a motorcycle chain lube which is high in cling and creep and has the advantage of with the tool tray and spare wheel out you can get to a lot of the spring at annual service time.

At the recent Williams open day there was a talk on Suplex suspension.
At one point an asymmetric leaf spring was shown but I can't remember if it was just in development stage or available. Someone had asked about Suplex rear suspension developments and the spring was produced.
Silly thing was I didn't go for a test drive of a Suplex car

When I fitted new rear springs to my 4/4 I did it without removing the fuel tank, but I did remove the seats. I fitted the rear shackles first, and clamped a bar to the top of the spring that gave me loads of extra leverage on the spring. Then Mrs Hamwich assisted with muscle power whilst I lined up the front eye and pushed the bolt through.

What we expected to be a complete SoB turned out to be relatively straightforward.

Can anybody confirm if new sets of MMC 4-seater springs are manufactured now with the axle location pin moved a slightly rearwards?

Hi John,
You may find this usefull.

http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/138922/Project_4_4_4_seater_suspensio#Post138922

Cheers, Neil.

Hello SJ, In my case the tank came out as part of the general renovation and obviously made the job substantially easier. I also found the inside U-bolt nuts difficult to remove hence the cutting disc solution and without the tank no risk of sparks causing a problem.
Being a skinflint I used any sticky heavy oil on the shelf but I agree chain lube is certainly good stuff, particularly the "whitish" goop in an aerosol that sets on the chain.
The tool I made utilised the rear most fuel tank bracket holes which I enlarged to 1/2" so should be possible.
Re the spring locating pin - speak to Mulfab, if I remember correctly the pins were relocated and there certainly wasn't a problem on the ones I bought from them.

simon
'79 Plus 8 - still in bits

Thank you Simon I will talk to Peter soon but in mean time am I right in thinking that the 4 leaf springs that you fitted were 4-seater springs? Also are they the same item as the “newer springs” supplied through MMC?