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

I think I was roundly castigated for making such a suggestion about a year or so back. But yes I agree with you. I wonder if we will see it at Geneva?

As I received the car from the factory it was almost dragging on the ground due to poor quality springs and incorrect springs in the front end. After it was "fixed" under warranty I had a hard ride and a lot of body roll.

The cost of the wishbone front suspension was a bit much for me at the time but I did decide to fit the Suplex front springs after a certain amount of consultation with PJB and others.

The body roll and ground clearance issues have been resolved but I still get a very hard ride from the rear due to the 5 leaf springs that were fitted under warranty.

I have been following developments of rear suspension and asking a lot of questions. I would never claim to be a suspension expert but I have developed a good understanding of the issues involved as far as my car is concerned.

At the end of the day the current Morgan is a vastly different car to the cars of the 50's. The engine is much more powerful, the gearbox and transmission adequate for the engine, as are the wheels and tyres used. The suspension and to a fair degree the chassis is not. (Changing the chassis is not really a practical proposition but, if you happened to have a spare trad body lying around it would not be impossible)

I don't expect a trad Morgan to out-handle a modern sports car (or the Aero 8) but it is still a sports car and I do expect it to out-handle the family shopping trolley, I don't particularly like having some German SUV hounding me in the corners. Also we do some fairly long trips on a regular basis so comfort is important for us. That is the reason I am spending the money.

The benefit of coil over rear suspension is its ability to get power to the ground, I am told. Not a more compliant situation. However: I must believe Suplex and Peter Ballard are trying to use progressive springs etc. to get a better ride with out loosing Morgans Legendary handling. Good for them I say.

Button
Seattle

Horses for courses but automatics take away my driving pleasure. I really don't like them and wouldn't have one unless it was that or don't drive.

For Caroline it has become a case of no choice. After double hip replacement she lacks the strength in her leg to operate all but the lightest clutch for very long.
The Roadster was impossible for her to drive for more than 20min or so and in traffic she felt that she wasn't in proper control..

I used to agree with you, and there are some manual boxes that are light, fast and a delight to use but some are horrid, like the one used by MMC on the S2 Roadsters.

Today's automatic transmissions are so good (try the Porsche one) that I've moved over to the "dark side" and wouldn't go back.

Well there's more chance of me buying a Porsche than having an auto.
But the chances of me buying a Porsche are miniscule.
Maybe a Chesil one day. Maybe not.

I drove my very first auto in 1979.
I was hooked!

It was my bosses car which I had inherited. A big Vauxhall with an awful jerky three speed auto box.
But it was so easy to drive around a congested Birmingham ...yes even then!

A host of autos have followed ..too many to list but including Porsche Tiptronics.

I also like manual boxes.

One of the best Autos has been the DSG. what a treat with paddle changes as well!

I do love my Porsche DSG box I must admit. I hated the one in my TT for some reason.
I'd not want an auto Morgan although I can well understand the desire for one if you can't cope with a manual.

Peter....my S2 gearbox was a revalation compared to the box in my 4/4! I never quite knew what gear I was going to get in that one. I'm sure the quality of change is down to how the cobbled together remote change is set up!

The Porsche PDK in its latest iteration is a terrific answer to modern day traffic conditions, though the ZF 8-speed is just as good and lighter I'm told. Whilst the perfect change on a manual box is still very satisfying, modern day automatics such as those mentioned are for me a suitable alternative, even without taking into account dodgy knee.

Having a passenger ride in the ARP4 on sat will be very interesting regarding ride/roadholding , for 20 mins !