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

I have been reading with interest about the various rear suspension upgrades which are soon to be available. There seems to be a number of folks keen to have this upgrade which moves the rear suspension well away from the traditional leaf spring set up.

Therefore for those who are going to go ahead with this would you not also consider the Mulfab front suspension upgrade and dispense with the traditional sliding pillar arrangement and if not why not?

Interested to know your views chaps.

Maybe it's the cost that stops the double wishbone conversion?

Edgar, you have chosen a very controversial topic.

You will find that there are some, like me, who are quite convinced that it is time to move the Morgan suspension technology on from that of the 20's, all be it refined up to the 50's, to at least the technology of the 60's. We believe this can be done without detracting anything from the driving pleasure of the Morgan.

Certainly wishbone front suspension and a live axle with 5 link rear suspension would improve the comfort and handling of the Morgan. It would not bring it up to the level of fully independent suspension on a rigid body and chassis. For that, if you want a Morgan, you need to consider the new Plus 8 or Aero 8.

Changing the front end to the Mulfab wishbone system, by the account of all who have driven it, is a major improvement but it is a fairly expensive option.

It also has to be said that fitting the Suplex 5 link rear is not something to be considered lightly. In a few weeks time I will have the Suplex 5L rear added to my existing Suplex RS front end.

If Morgan decided to adopt these changes in production it would add additional cost to the car but obviously not as much as fitting these items as aftermarket upgrades, particularly when one considers the savings to be made in bulk production as against one off or very small volume production.

I know making these upgrades is an expensive option but I have taken the decision to spend the money on my existing car rather than change to another car. I would like a bit more power, particularly in the low to mid range, but it is unlikely that I will change the car for that, however if I did have to change the engine I would consider fitting the 2.5 engine from Omex

The next move is a dash upgrade

Peter, the post was not meant to be controversial rather to see if folks who adopted the rear 5 link suspension system would also embrace the front wishbone suspension system.
If you change the rear suspension you are going some way away from the trad Morgan system which I imagine most folks seem to have bought into i.e. a retro type car with retro handling characteristics. So that being the case why not go the whole hog and change the front if better handling is what you want from your Morgan. Of course I understand that cost is an issue but then again the rear 5 link system is not a cheap upgrade such as a panhard rod.

I'm just interested to understand if those folks who want better handling would change the complete suspension system and completely move away from what many people like about their Morgan, that it is essentially a "modern" classic car with the handling characteristics (charm?) of an old car.

My old MG TD had double wishbone front suspension, with leaf sprung rear axle, and that was put into production in 1949, the MGB continued using the same design, complete with lever arm shockers, until it went out of production in the 80's. I'm not sure that even the MGV8 didn't use the same setup. Dave?

Anyway the point is that it took nothing away from the charm of that style of car and gave an appreciably better rid, helped by the fact that the rear axle went under the chassis which was shaped accordingly, giving far more movement.

However, I don't think that the Trad. Mog. would be the car we all know and love, if it wasn't made the way it is. I wonder, if when the 5 link rear end is available they might be persuaded to make a double wishbone front setup?

Something to ask Steve on Saturday.

I considered wishbones but cost is a big factor so going for suplex with platform adj shocks .

I considered Suplex but went for Mulfab springs and adjustable AVO's. Vast improvement for not much £.
Personally I wouldn't spend the money on the Suplex front/5L rear, I've driven PJB's car with the full set up on it and whilst it was impressive I don't think it was worth the cost, and I think it's not what you buy the car for. It's a Morgan!

If, as some of the regulars on here, you're minted, and must have the latest, newest everything, then crack on, it's a free country. You can't take it with you, spend it.

IMHO, it is what it is. It'd part of the appeal of them.

You can't polish a turd.

Suspension mods are simply a cost Vs benefit argument. We all have different parameters and budgets, and expectations.

It was ever thus. It was most certainly thus with MGB's. All I ever did on my MGB's was to fit 15% upgraded valves on the lever arms, and a slightly thicker front roll bar. The ride was good for a B but a bit bouncy on uneven roads. My Morgan Roadster has a better ride.

Paul - The MGRV8 had uprated wishbones with telescopics and the kingpins were replaced with balljoints on a revised front subframe. Bigger and better discs & calipers. The rears were parabolic single leaf springs with telescopics. All that can be retro fitted to earlier B's at a cost.
Frontline do an independent rear using a Sierra 4x4 rear diff in a tubular cradle which uses the existing mounting points and with big discs. It's very expensive, although maybe not Morgan expensive. I've never ridden in an MGB with IRS, but I have driven an RV8 and the ride wasn't much different to my 1974 BGTV8.
I once drove an MGTD and the ride was pretty much the same as an MGB.

My Morgan experience is a rental 4/4, our 2009 Roadster and the 2014 Plus 8, Tarka.

We bought the Plus 8 because we needed an automatic transmission. If MMC had offered a +4 Auto or Roadster Auto we would have bought one.

But a year on I have to admit I love the retro look and style combined with modern ride and handling. It is in every way a better car than the Roadster.

The V8 is fun, but excessive, in many respects!!

I guess my "Perfect" Morgan would be the Plus 8 tub and body with an engine of no more than 250bhp, coupled to a modern multi clutch type auto transmission.