Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Steering Damper for my 98 +8

I'm thinking of installing a steering damper, I am experiencing a shimmey around 60-65 mph, I've already had the wheels balance but no improvement.
Would like to know what more knowledgable members have experienced pros vs cons.

Dave if you have the damper blades fitted it's worth checking them for lateral wear and re shimming if necessary.

I guess you have checked for kingpin wear and everything is tightened up at the front end.

No experience or need of a damper as such myself the blades do the job.
Here is what GoMog has to say Steering damper

I think Dave W fitted one to his Roadster.

I have to see if this could fit on my 2009 Roadster with a mulfab aluminum radiator. The dance is not too dramatic, but is tiring on longer distances.

Both on My trip to Southern California and My recent run to and from Sun Valley, Idaho I had feed back in My steering wheel. Not Morgan's Dance but maybe the beginnings of MD. I had the front wheels re balanced in Sun Valley and that helped a bit but vibration/feedback still annoying. I decided to source a +8 Jack Knight R&P steering damper. I tried MULFAB and, for sure, a very nicely designed and built product but expensive to ship from the UK to Seattle. I opted for "Geoff's Shed" in Australia. I could purchase the Mercedes SLK SD from Amazon and the Brackets from Australia. Or I could easily build the brackets myself. But I am about to do another Run to "MOGWEST", about 100 miles of Los Angeles. Hopefully I will get the parts in time to install them.

This is not the way to fix this problem. But it works. Lorne has it right on "GOMOG".

This is my workshop note Dave:

http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/554556/Workshop_Note_-Steering_Damper#Post554556

I replaced my damper blades some time ago with Mulfab bearings, and the steering feel was transformed, but almost too light, because my age car has the lesser castor angle.....from the current arrangement.

It didn't wobble or dance but felt nervous with loads of feedback.

I discussed this with Keith Jackson at BHM, who agreed that my set up does produce nervous steering, and it was Keith who suggested the damper. I know it's counter intuitive to put more resistance into the rack, especially when some owners want power steering!, but I took Keith's advice and fitted the Mulfab damper.

I'm pleased with the result. The nervousness has gone, and the steering doesn't really feel any heavier.

I used the Geoff's shed/ Mercedes damper route. Cheap and easy fit, no dismantling anywhere.(Damper blade car). I would check everything else first as a steering damper will not work miracles or overcome issues elsewhere.

I found that My wheel bearings were loose and bearing knackard, Also not greased properly. Greased and tightened wheel bearings and feedback thru the steering wheel mitigated a lot. Ordered New Wheel Bearings. May not have to use Steering Damper after all. More when bearings are installed properly.

Had a high-frequency vibration in the steering wheel at aprox. 80 km/h (50m/h). Somewhat better after I balanced the wheels, but still there. I could live with it, but slightly annoying. Damper blades seemed ok. Put on a Mulfab damper, but alas - the vibration was still there, maybe a little less. So I will try balancing the wheels once more, wire wheels can be difficult. What the damper did do, was calming down the feedback from the road. Before I was driving with all the time with a very firm grip on the wheel, preventing the road wheels steering my hands and not the other way around. Tiring after a while. Now I can cruise with my hands just resting at the wheel, also at high speeds or uneven tarmac. Would I mount it again? I think so, but I admit I had expected a little more, concerning the 80 km/h vibration. Still unbalanced road wheels? I do not know. I might put the rear wheels in front to see if there is any change. Wheel bearings, king pins etc. seem ok (and passed the Norwegian version of MOT). So a damper - yes, but the earth did not move under my feet.

Thanks for all the advice , some really good pointers. I've had the wheels balanced but I didn't think of checking the bearings!!
Sounds like a job for the weekend.
Thanks again to all. Will keep you updated on my progress.
Cheers.