Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Divorce maybe the only option!

When we bought our 2007 4/4 a couple of years ago I had hoped that we would be using it for weekends away and even the odd holiday tour of Scotland or Wales etc. Unfortunately my wife has fallen out of love with it. She has a long term back problem and is finding the ‘classic’ suspension uncomfortable. We have tried a number of options to try to help, such as a variety of seat cushions, a foot locker and even a heated waistcoat, but all to no avail. I have seen a full suspension conversion from SSI and wondered if anyone has any experience of such a set-up on a 4/4 and whether it is worth the considerable investment? Also, if I do bite the bullet, what impact will this upgrade have on the re-sale value of my Morgan as everything these days seems to be about ‘originality’?

Hi Bill,

I can sympathise on both counts. My 4/4 was a great little car, but the rear suspension bottomed out across various bumps and ridges, with one big incident where we quite literally hopped sideways from it, which isn't so good on a dual carriageway..!

I was fortunate enough to drive one of Williams demo Plus 4 cars that had the Suspension Supplies Ltd rear five link coil suspension fitted, and it drove quite literally like a normal car. Amazing difference.

I now have a Roadster with the five link rear fitted and it's fantastic. You'll never increase the wheel travel over bumps with a Morgan, but the progressive rate coil springs make a real difference, and I can honestly say I've NEVER bottomed out since getting the car fitted with it.

You'd certainly be well advised to try a demo somewhere, so make a few calls.

Suspension Supplies are here: http://www.suspensionsupplies.co.uk

I know there are several on here that are converts, but it does look expensive when viewed in isolation. Look at it as a lifesaver for Mrs BM and your Morganeering..

Bill, sorry to hear that your good lady struggles with the Mog

It sounds like you’ve already tried a few things which haven’t worked
Just before you consider parting with an awful lot of money which may or may not work - (others may be better placed to describe the sort of difference the full suspension makes an a 4/4)

Just a couple of further ideas you could try which won’t break the bank

Wolf Performance’s pump up lumbar supports which can be easily inserted into the back of your Morgan car seats

Both me and Rachel have long term back problems and I’ve just ordered them from Cain - arriving tomorrow
I have a mesh back lumbar on my tin top seat and it works really well for my lower back problem which is a large bulge on my lowest disk pressing my sciatic nerve

Also tyre pressures

Have you tried as low as 18 all round ?

I don’t know the nature of your wife’s back problem and it may not help everyone but Robin McKenzie’s book ‘treat your own back’ was a revelation to me when I was at my lowest with severe pain and I’ve just got my wife doing the excersises in the book

Everyone I’ve recommended the book to (and it’s been al lot) have thanked me soon after saying it’s working

I spent nearly £1000 on physio and chiropractry with virtually no reward. Within 4 weeks of doing the excersises in the book, the sciatic pain had completey gone and I could get up in a morning relatively pain free and haven’t taken a pain killer for the back since

I had a huge benefit from attending the Chiropractor over time, and the cost was all reclaimable from Westfield Health.

My lower back pain is gone for most of the time.

Hmm. I wont ask you how old your wife is and in any case back problems dont only come with increasing years. But when you do get that sort of issue, then maybe its time to move on. I had to do so with the Lotus, which I still regard as the best small sports car of all time, because both SWMBO and I found it increasingly difficult to get in and out of. Sooner or later I know that I will have to adjust further and buy something like an F type. Or even a big old wood and leather Jag saloon which I really rather fancy.

I look like having to do the same with the boat where after 30 years SWMBO has finally put the barrow down. Loving wives often tag along with all our male obsessions and fads but when they become pain and an endurance exercise its time to move on.

I refer you to the title of this thread

XJ12 Series 2-3 Coupe. If you are in a position where you need to step out of a Morgan you can still drive something deeply identifiable as British? The most beautiful ride with a set of Konis or Bilstein ?

Alis suffers from a bad back. I really can't say how much the SSL suspension helps but it must help to a degree. She finds most relief from a small semi round cushion behind her lower back.

That book was a lifesaver for me too!

Simon

It was recommended to my by one of my customers when I was at my wit’s end

I was on pain killers all day and all night and it was taking me an hour to just get to a point where I could function in a morning

I could tell within a week the excersises were working