Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Calming the front suspension.....

Good!

Yea, definitely - Peter is Top Bloke and most importantly top designer and fettler. Something I didn't realise was , although the front shocks are non adjustable they are supplied to Peters settings-so a not off the shelf item.
Just sat in the sun by the side of the Morgan at the.Combe on Williams track day. Life is pretty good today. Steve H and Harry

Final report on my SSL front suspension and hardened pins. We have now covered about 1000milesin the plus 4 since Peter Ballard set it up for us. The Mog has continued to improve with miles. It is become an absolute delight to drive. Firm but with that undefinable sports car predictablility that just puta smile on your face. I just cannot wait until next Spring when we,will upgrade the rear end. In the meantime out to the garage for a grease up and fit the spring gaitors from Dave W .

This last week I drove +8's over 3000 Miles. Long story that I will relate later. The first 600 miles was in My +8 Bitsa with very old Koni Shocks and the Blue +8 springs which I guess are between 125 in/lbs and 135.

I then drove a friends 2000 +8 which had been unchanged from the factory with about 55,000 miles on it for 3200 miles or so from Idaho to California, Oregon and back to Idaho. Mountains and desert driving. It was a much better ride than My Bitsa.

While on this Run I ordered a pair of AVO's with Rutherford's modifications. They were delivered to My Friend's home in Idaho and I installed them on My return. The AVO's changed My Bitsa with old Koni's to a +8 much like My Friend's 2000 +8. Still not as good as My +4-4STR nor MY '61 DHC, but a lot better than it was and as good as the 2000 +8.

BTW: the AVOs are on all 4 corners and set on the soft setting. I just returned Home, a 600 mile very fast run from Idaho. There was a 100 mile stretch thru Eastern Washington with a very rough road. It was still rough with the AVOs but I could maintain a much higher speed and still be in control.

As Tim Harris says "Rough Road Rough Ride and Smooth Road Smooth Ride."

You are never going to get away from the fact that both front and rear have limited suspension travel. I think that Nero rides pretty well now with SSL front and rear and the handling is certainly much improved. That said....show it a rough road or a bad bump....and your backside certainly knows it! So I try to keep on the smooth!!

Two months ago I refurbished the kingpins of my 2005 PLUS 4, replacing the Devols bushes by bronze bushes and installing hard chrome kingpins. I bought all the parts and the reamer by Librands (no connexion). The reaming was straight forward: the reamer was long enough to ream both bushes in one pass at the final diameter (not expendible).

I took the opportunity to mount the SSL front kit. The mounting is easier, the main spring is no constraint during assembly with a 25mm gap. There is less travel of constraint when bolting the kingpins and the rebound spring.

After the first ride I noted a great improvement on rough road and decided to complete the work by installing new rear chock absorbers, adjustable Spax, that match with the front ones improving again the ride. Old rear absorbers (50 000 km) were what we call in French "bicycle pumps".

After 2000 km I can say that there is a great improvement on rough roads, bumps and curves. Previously I suffered for the chassis and all the body in standard configuration.

A worn kingpin after 50 000 km.