Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Do you think I've achieved full penetration?

I'm really trying to maximise the smoothness of my ride. To this end i've ladeled EP90 and latterly EP160 onto my rear leaf springs and i'm sure i've improved the ride and general compliance.
I didnt slaken the u-bolts in order to maximise penetration of the afore mentioned lubricant, is this worth doing? Or will have achieved fully lubricated leaves.
Should i just enjoy the ride I've achieved or do you think there may be room for improvement based on my above method. Its a bit of a messy job and the Moggy is leaving it calling card every where i park up.

Wouldn’t want to follow you on a motorbike! I think it highly unlikely that such heavy oils would penetrate the leaves, but don’t think it necessary either. Some friction between leaves gives the shockers an easier life.

Exactly my understanding. A charming old boy with a pre-war Aston at Chateau Impney explained to my son & I that leaf springs needed enough lubrication not to bind, but not so much that they lost the stiction between leaves which was an important damping component on bump (but with less stiction on rebound since the leaves had already been displaced - which is exactly what you want - an hysteresis curve to an engineer). His potion of choice was Neatsfoot oil. I had to look it up when I got home. Vegans look away now!

I use "Chain Oil". Pour on top of spring and it will work itself between the leafs. To Prove the point that it did penetrate, after 3 or 4 months of summer driving I removed the springs and took them apart. Indeed full penetration was evident. You can take My word for it or take the springs apart and see for yourself.

Extremely interesting gents, i'd figured that in the dawning days of the leaf spring animal fat/oil must have been the only option. Thanks Button that's reassuring to know that you have achieved full penetration using a similar method to myself. I shan't dismantle my equipment at this juncture in order to verify, but a further question! Is it possible to change the u-bolts holding the leaves together, one at a time, with the whole set up insitu. My thoughts where with one u-bolt off increased penetration may result. The other issue is that have some of Peter Mulberry's super extra strong (?) U-bolts languishing on my shelf whjch might be nice to put into service

This discussion reminds me of a rugby song - involving a lady called Dinah

Not sure if this will help. When I was a young 75 I would remove the springs, take them apart, clean them, paint them and apply axle grease between the leafs. Somewhere I learned about Chain Oil and use this system. However, one must drive their Morgan to work the chain oil in between the leafs. Now that I am 89 going on 90 just bending over or crawling under a car is almost impossible. But so far I have driven the spring over 3,000 miles and in July expect to do another 3,000 miles on a trip to Southern California. Loctite sells Chain Oil in a aerosol can, using a plastic straw I can easily apply the chain oil. I must remove the cover on the parcel shelf and the rear tire for access but with little effort I can get the spring covered with the chain oil. It ain't "rocket Science".

BTW: Peter Mulberry told Me at a Morgan Meeting organized by Lorne Goldman at "The Elms", a Manner House a bit North of Malvern, that greasing the leafs of the rear spring was the single most important item to do for a more compliant ride. PM's advice is legendary thruout the World. When I can get PM's advice I take it.