Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing SSL 5 Link Rear End

Is there much experience out there? Is the system worth the investment? We're both tiring of the +4 road manners, the clattering and banging over even the most modest of undulations and even bits of road furniture such as cats eyes send thier message to you loud and clear via the cart springs. Friends have commented that my old 7 with its live axle and coil springs provides more ride comfort than the Morgan. After 3 years of seasonal Morgan motoring and perseverance i don't find the ride the least bit endearing.
On the other hand is the SSL set up worth the investment? certainly the 1.5k fitting charge seems expensive for, lets say, 3 days to retrofit the system, there isn't too much geo' set up to be done, no toe-in, camber etc. Line the back wheels up with the front and drill the holes, after all i dont think the Morgan geo'set up is too accurate as it leaves the factory, my car has never had any accident damage and i was quite suprised at the variation in alignment figures, bearing in mind no adjustment is available.
Is there anywhere that has a converted demo car. I believe, according to the ad in this months club mag SSL are selling kits to "Privateers" to retrofit.

You need to try a car which has the five link fitted.

Do you currently have six leaves or four?

The ride on my 2016 even with standard dampers is surprisingly good.

I charged up Hardnott and Wrynose Passes over the weekend in Nero, something I wouldn’t have done before I fitted the SSL rear. It feels much more planted, less crashing and banging and less nodding about on ordinary roads. Ok....nothing is perfect. You just can’t get away from the short amount of travel the underslung chassis causes ( There Gambaluna......I’ve said it!).

I know that it is an expensive modification but I was nearing the time to replace my sagging leaf springs anyway so that helped.

I'm a 4 leaf man Dave, i've also lub'd the leaves with ACF 50, spraying it in with weight off the spring to maximise penetration (and also with weight on the spring).
I have a set of Peter Mulberry's anti wind up, high torque jobs laid on the shelf ready install if i can be bothered, just don't feel it'll give the compliance I'm hoping to achieve.
I did change the rear shocks for Bilstiens to match the front which has the SSL system and i imagined a slight improvement. I've tried it with and without the Panhard rod but detected no change.
Yes, you are right of course, a few miles in a converted car over various terrain is the only way.

It would be interesting to know specifically how much rear suspension travel the SSL or factory coil spring setup provides. Is this published anywhere?

Dan White, of SSL, is near Chesterfield. I'm sure he would take you out for a demo in his 4/4.
Cheers
John

What rear dampers have you?

I have installed the front SSL kit which increases greatly the comfort. In a second step I have changed the rear dampers and got a great improvement at the rear. The previous standard ones were like a "bicycle air pump" after 30 000 miles and completly inefficient.
Perhaps try first to check and/or change the dampers.

Are any in the race groups using 5link yet? I would have thought that would be the place to see any great benefits over the leaf suspension?

In some classes the five link won't be allowed and I suspect in the modified classes they have moved way beyond the road spec five link.

But I'm just speculating.....

It's not allowed under the existing regulations
The factory ARV6/4/current Roadster 5 link is, but that has its own issues
The Class A cars, until someone builds a Class A 3.7 Roadster still have to run a minimum of 3 original Morgan leaf springs, but these are generally augmented by coil over spring/damper units and sophisticated multi link systems

Simon @ SiFab.co.uk