Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Hard ride - bad back!!

Check your suspension system.
I just replaced my shocks to Rutherford AVOs.
commented that the ride was improved. One of my rear Konis was knackered.
Initially set to 4 clicks front and rears on softest setting. Just upped today to 6 clicks on the front.This appears to have improved the feel a bit but only a short ride to test so far.
Front is regularly greased and rear leaf springs sprayed with chain lube.
I have a Plus8 with Mulfab springs and damper blades, brake reaction bars, tyres at 21psi.( 22 seems a recommendation but I drop to 21).
Also, are your kingpins sliding properly? They have been known to stick, usually through getting slightly bent?

Always adjust damper settings down a number of clicks from full hard. Full soft may be somewhat indefinite but full hard is always with the valve fully closed so a definite starting point.

I discovered this after querying what seemed to be a strange instruction in a manual and later confirmed it with a damper manufacturer, Quantum, and in discussions with knowledgeable people.

If I recall the number of clicks on the Quantums is 24 plus or minus 1 but they told me that they always have at least 24 clicks but it may run to as much as 26 because of manufacturing tolerances. I imagine that this type of tolerance applies to most manufacturers of dampers. If you think about it you could, in theory have a difference of as much as 2 or 3 clicks between left and right so going up from full soft could have completely different settings between left and right.

Now I have never heard of this one before. BUT: I wonder how I check them? I have a Metal Lathe. Maybe I just chuck in the lathe with the live end center, put a dial gauge in the center and rotate the chuck.

Button
Seattle

I am sure there have been comments re this. Possibly linked to swollen Devol bushes?
Maybe even after a hard thump in a pothole eytc?

Very good point. I had forgotten all about the swollen Devol bushes. When were they being installed? I suppose it is also possible that they were installed as non original replacements too.

wonce slid into a kerb on full steering lock and bent a kingpin,my three mile drive home was a nightmare, hard to focus eyes.

I have my rear AVO's set to max softness combined with progressive adjustable bump stops. The ride is very comfy with the hard crashing adjusted out. I can easily drive all day even with my herniated disc (getting out is another story). My Devols on the font very soon loosen up if they have become damp and stiff when parked.

On My '63 +4 I have Koni's on soft on all 4 corners. Rutherford (design) on rear springs and Devol Bushes. At least 2 trips across the U.S. and France (50th at LeMans). As good as it gets in a Morgan for comfort and handling.

Button
Seattle

I would say it's more of a lumbar support issue and the rake to the back of the seat.

We over came this in stages.
Michele has a Foot plate so here legs are not flat outstretched which helped no end, we then lifted the nose of the seat to tilt her back into the seat, and lastly a inflatable lumbar support.
But on early cars the Lumbar Support needs to be fitted by a pro as they don't slip in as per the modern seats we have in the later Mogs.

Bucket seats are fixed back so much thought would be needed as to the rake required.

Hope this helps

I concur O Wise One..the seat front raised and the inflatable lumbar support on my 2014 4/4 does the job.

People have asked what the rubber bulb used to inflate the support is for...depending on my mood the answer ranges from: urine exp-elation device or penis enlargement !!!!!

Sorry !!!