Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Front suspension

If you have member access to the MTWC website, there is an independent review of the Empire Kit M3W suspension modifications on page 25 of the October 2016 edition, complete with a handling assessment. My car was used on a small test track for this review.

My car will now have a Mark 2 chassis fitted and I don't know if Morgan altered the front suspension wishbone pick up points on that compared with the Mark 1 but as I pointed out above, since changing to Excelsior Comp H tyres (on the Mark 1 chassis), I see no tuck under on hard cornering and three wheel drifts are perfectly possible, as the front to rear adhesion is very balanced.

In France I live at the top of a small mountain, 2500 feet high with very twisty roads up to it, including a number of hairpin bends. Having had a house there for 14 years, I know every inch of those roads and tend to drive up (or down) them pretty quickly, sight lines dependant. These roads rapidly demonstrated to me, the inadequacy of the Avon sidecar tyres and their tendency to roll/tuck under, resulting in a sudden increase in slip angle and terminal understeer. The M3W does not roll a great deal in cornering anyway, due to its relatively wide track, high front roll axis and low C of G, which is why I question the need for increased negative camber/unequal wishbone effect, with the Excelsior tyres. I am worried about unbalancing the car and ending up with a car which now oversteers at the limit or is less progressive, if I fit a short upper wishbone kit.

Wilson

Pretty sure there have been no changes to the chassis suspension pick up points since the start of production. There have been changes to the front upright steering arm height, later uprights having the higher steering arm position rather than the Comfort Kit.

If you are happy with the way your car handles Wilson, leave it as it is. It will probably feel better with the later chassis anyway. My car did after its chassis change to a post 2014 specification one for some unknown reason. I think the changes with the Empire or Alains kit are not as noticeable as the improvements with the Comfort Kit, or its changes built in as they are now.

Wilson,

Whether it's better or worse with the shorter upper a-arm, you seem to be VERY happy with your setup and tyres.

If you're that happy and you know how your M3W will handle on your road conditions, don't do anything new, just drive it like you stole it...

Dan,

It remains to be seen if I will be as happy with the new chassis, comfort kit and a Dunlop SP Sport on the back in place of the original Yokohama but I will know in three weeks time. Having sold my Porsche 997 Turbo S and replaced it with a Hybrid Panamera, it will be nice still to have a small sporty car. I am slightly dreading driving the 2 metre wide Panamera on the narrow French roads but at least unlike my 911, the Panamera is RHD, so easier to get to the absolute edge of the road. This is quite difficult with my LHD M3W, as from the driving position, I cannot see the top of the nearside (right) wing. When I drive my brother's RHD M3W in France, it is actually easier than my LHD, other than overtaking trucks.

Wilson

That s Why I own A RhD Mtw wilson.