Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Rear suspension possible mod ?

If you go for AVO's, it's worth double-checking the required maximum and minimum extension lengths. AVO do three length ranges as standard, but when we measured my car up, we found none of the stock ranges were right - the shock would have bottomed or topped out.

Fortunately AVO were able to make me a set with the necessary range, and at no extra cost too, which is good. Prior to the AVOs I had Spax, and I think the AVO shocks are a great improvement.

I fitted new rear springs to my 4 seater from Mulfab.
I used Hilka spring compressors (£18 Screwfix) on the front of the springs to compress the spring and locate the front bolt.
The compressor screw fits in the corner of the chassis and cross member. The top hook over the spring and the bottom hook over the chassis and cross member. Wind it down and insert the bolt.
I tried other methods but the 4 seater spring was too stiff.
Spray the springs well with bike chain grease and include this with your servicing.
You should have the heavy duty U bolts with your Panhard rod and with brake reaction bars have a similar set up.
I have Suplex on the front and Bilsteins all round.
The ride seems to get better and better so I think putting miles on helps.
A recent test of a very low mileage 4 seater roadster felt like a cart in comparison.

Thats a nice set up Titus for a really great Morgan i think it needs that little bit extra suspension wise as youve done four up.Have you still got all your fingers(That roof).


Em

Take extra care with supporting the car. It all gets very physical and precarious at times.

Also through the entire job be aware of how much load is getting transferred to the horizontal chassis returns under the springs. I supported mine from underneath with blocks of wood so that they didn’t deflect too much. Be careful not to over stressed them as they are quite thin.

Here’s a pic of my very crudely cobbled together spring deflector (used on the front eye bolts). Not the only way to deflect the springs but it worked for me.

The spring deflector is a vital piece of kit ! Would G clamp work or not ?

I believe you can but my G clamps were not man enough. Other will confirm the technique.

The setup I used was remarkably similar to Roger's except that I used a length of solid flat bar rather than box section, as that's what I had lying around. And my welding wasn't as neat, just a couple of big blobs.

I am very pleased with my current rear suspension with the original four-seater leaf springs, original four-seater Bilstein dampers with rubber spring assistors (extended bump stops) plus a pair of extra dampers with pneumatic springs controlled by a small on-board compressor. Now I am able to pass speed bumps at the speed as normal cars and without bottoming out.
Harald

If you look at my 'How To' replace leaf springs you'll see that I used two large G clamps which worked very well, but you need to use some wood between the G clamp and the chassis - as noted above, the horizontal section is quite thin.

http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/206231/1

SP1 was on a trad chassis and had modified rear suspension. It may well fit a trad!