Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing ssure washing front suspensio

Good morning, at the risk of being severely reprimanded for not cleaning by hand, is there any reason why I should not use a pressure washer to clean out the dross on the front suspension springs before I do the monthly greasing of my front suspension

You could risk getting grease on the discs.

I do it every so often but I take care to angle the jet so that grease does not go on the disks. Just to be sure I finish by washing the disks too.

While I am at it I also use the pressure washer to wash the stainless rims too. Where the spokes enter the hubs is not sealed so I don't use it too much on the hubs.

Not sure if it would work as I have never tried it but some of the Harley lads used to use shower caps over their brake discs if they were having a major clean, they would drop the wheel out and pop one or two on (with twin discs) and pressure wash away. I never saw the point as if your cleaning that well buy some brake cleaner and clean the disc up afterwards anyway. I prefer a cardboard shield and some degreaser and a paintbrush then some warm water in a 'rose sprayer' to wash off and finish with an airline, then I give the rebound Spring a good soak in motorbike chain lube before rebinding with a leather shroud and cable ties.

Good advice Colin. I forgot to mention that I always smear some fresh grease or chain lube on the rebound spring after such a clean up too.

I do have mixed feelings about pressure washing the dirty grease away as spots of black grease tend to fly all over the place.

Yup, you can't beat getting in there with a paintbrush and some degreaser.

Can I suggest you purchase a large frisbee or similar then cut a hole and slot in it so that it will slide over the stub axle and create a shield to the brake disc, you could affix with some long velcro fed through each side of the outer edge of the frisbee running across the outside of the disk top and bottom. Then you will be safer when washing of the springs and getting rid of the muck.

I would also consider switching to Lucas Red'n'Tacky grease, which I have been using for over a year, it is very hydrophobic and is extremely good on sliding surfaces, I find that it lasts at least 50% longer that other greases in the king pins. I have found that to get the best out of greasing the pins you need to start on the top grease nipple and just pump and pump until grease starts to come out of the bottom, this can take a while and is not easy. Then a few pumps on the bottom nipple.

I really don't like pressure washers. No matter how careful you are, water will get where it shouldn't get.

I agree with Davew, I won't ever use a pressure washer on any vehicle, I once jet washed a car with metallic paint, there were a couple of stone chips on the bonnet, the pressure wash got under the paint and in a couple of seconds there was a large laquerless patch!! The water fron a pressure washer will get in all the places you don't want water, the clue is in the name, pressure,
Ian

Pressure washers are ok to use as long as you keep it a good distance away and use it for wetting as part of a hand-washing programme rather than blasting dirt away to clean the car. The advantage of using a pressure washer in this way is that it uses less water. Even so, I tend to use a hosepipe with a gentle sprinkler on it for the Morgan. I wouldn't go anywhere near the suspension with a pressure washer though.

Glad to hear it's normal to have to pump away for ages when greasing the kingpins. Definitley look for Lukas Red and Tacky when I run out of grease again.