Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing replacing leaf springs

Good morning,
Does anyone knows how long it takes to replace the back leaf springs please ?

Thank you
Herman

A dealer can do it in one day. I spread mine over about three days.

Herman

This really depends upon how much help you can muster from competent friends who are capable (but not necessarily skilled) mechanics, and what sort of workshop facilities you have.

The job will certainly be quicker if you can get the car up on a ramp while working underneath (which you will need to do a lot to remove the seats, U-bolts etc ).

Some of the components are very heavy and awkward shapes (especially the axle) so it is useful to have plenty of manpower when trying to help spread the load.

It is possible to do it single handed (witness Dave W above, but he is no ordinary Morgan enthusiast , some say he has special powers!) but it would not be my choice.

Like Dave I would advise spreading the work over at least a couple of days, and taking your time to get it right first time when you come to rebuild with the new springs.

One tip is to take lots of pictures from all different angles before you take anything off , that way you will know what it should look like for reassembly.

Hi Herman

I did mine on a Saturday afternoon....... that's if you count working flat out and from lunchtime until nearly midnight! Not a complex job at all but very physical on the floor with just axle stands. I got to the point of having the new springs part bolted in and asked a neighbour to assist as he is a carpenter and had large G and Sash Cramps. It was more struggle than skill but certainly do-able. To put it into context I used to do this sort of thing for a living but am not 25 anymore, I also had good knees back then, even before my knees failed if someone asked me to replace theirs I would have declined, just too much hard work. My advice is unless you don't mind taking days and doing a few hours each day get it to a dealer and swallow the invoice.

Good luck either way.

Good advice from Colin.

ditto!

I am in My 80s. I do this job alone. I also take My Own Sweet Time. I do have a garage full of hand tools, but no lift. Not sure how I would use a lift for this job if I had one. Somewhere Dave W. has posted a "How To". I have read it. It is OK so far as I can tell.

See DaveW’s thread on this topic

Took me 2 days.

You will need:
2-3 G clamps, 2 sets of axle stands, 2 decent jacks plus the usual tools,

There as been lots of talk about leaf springs in recent times. How often do they require replacement and what are the symptoms that suggest this.?

I believe that our old Morgan was still on the originals at 29 years old (1985 car). Our current car is Feb 2014 and suffered from a sagging rear end quite early in its life. This became unacceptable after the warranty had expired (isn’t that always the way). Talking to Peter Mulberry, it would appear that there was a period around 2013 (no idea of how long for) when the rear springs used by the factory were of a lower quality. I changed the rear springs in Autumn 2017 - 3.5 years of service.

The short answer - depends on how unlucky you are. Leaf springs can wear - faster if not lubricated. I have also had a leaf break - not on a Morgan but on a Series III Land-Rover.

The weak springs appeared to be early-on in the 4 leaf period. My 2012 had them, and they were awful, although that wasn't so apparent until I changed them. We toured Scotland with the old springs and that's what persuaded me to get on and do it.

Otherwise leaf springs go on and on unless they break. My first leaf spring job was on an MG Midget. I broke the main leaf on day 1 of ownership, and went through a few in the following years.