Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Sagged leaf springs - curing by adding coil-overs?

I think “complementing” would mean the 2 springs working in parallel compared to conventional single coil over system. I would hazard a guess that the extra spring rate required to lift a “sagging car” at static might make the overall combined rate really stiff and an uncomfortable ride. It might also affect the front to back balance of the car.

Just responding to the interesting brainstorming.... I really don’t know

The crux is how much loss in spring damping/flex has occured due to the sagging. If it could be measured then matching the loss to a compensating extra could spring might work. Basically replace the lost effect. The difficulty is in working out the losses due to sagging so you can calculate the right spring wighting to replace it. Furthermore, how long would it solve the problem for?
The best solution is new springs or SSL.
Rog’s bump stops looks like a similar solution in some ways. As deflection increases the rubber is brought into play at extremes of deflection. Adjustment can potentially be made over time.

Richard, thanks for detailed explanation, now I have much better overview!

I am just interested in the matters, not going to alternate my classic rear suspension, which just got Panhard rod and adjustable AVOs. I will probably add Rogs bump stops.

Rog, yes, you are right!

I had a few discussions with experts when my springs sagged. As some still know I took the opportunity and removed the lowering blocks, so a whole other topic for which I had made a thread last year.

Fact is, no matter how much a spring sags, the spring rate always remains the same as a new spring that doesn't sag. That is why it is very difficult to install an additional spring force. No matter what form, even the coil spring would add exactly 100% of its value, making it impossible to drive.

For sure it seems to be the creed of the Morganeer to modify much, or is it just that TRAD Morgans being of "simple" construction attracts a certain type of individual in the first instance and given the degree of engineering advance that has existed since the cart spring and sliding pillar made it`s way into the suspension of a Morgan, many a Morgan owner thinks I can improve on that....and just about every other aspect of TRAD Morgan engineering and design...Right up till Morgan themselves binned the Trad and went for softer springing and glued together construction Superform wings and a tad more bling here and there...

I think I read somewhere that cheaper springs were sourced that in time sagged prematurely compared to the spring suppliers used in the past..? Could be fake news, but it kinda fits with my thinking on off-shoring etc.etc.etc. In the past one could nip down to the nearest spring manufacturer and have them re-tempered, or a leave added or whatever other solution he could come up with. Today you just buy a new replacement spring... BUT, if from the outset it`s quality may be suspect for whatever reason... all a bit of a conundrum is it not..?

Best exit the forum before I risk spreading way too much grump... (-:

I'm perfectly fine with you bringing that up, George. Besides, the world is good enough that procurement can also go in the direction of better parts.
Others will be able to name the time period better than I, but my 2011 Plus4SS was affected by extremely bad springs. They were fortunately that bad and sagged visibly before the warranty expired.

My 2014 4/4 had very good springs from the factory that did not sag, even after three years. But they were far too soft for my taste. This is not the fault of the spring itself.

So I bought Mulfab leaf springs for 4 seaters. They are very good in strength but after only one year they started to sag if not too extremely. That was the starting point to remove the lowering blocks to get better control and more fun. To this day, this works wonderfully. It is also my guess that the sagging will stop or reduce at a certain point? The future will tell. I am even happy when I can go back to the roots and achieve a positive effect. Removing the lowering blocks is more elegant than keeping them and adding a panhard bar. (Nothing against the panhard staff...but why make it worse first and then better in the second step? According to Lorne Goldman, MMC wanted to use the lowering blocks to avoid having to change the spring geometry of the 4/4 Sport, which is much lighter without a spare wheel etc. than normal Morgan's ever were. Then came the bespoked model 4/4 with spare wheel, but Morgan kept the lowering blocks.

George, I totally agree with you on your attitude. We look at form follows function. That's how the appearance of a Morgan, for example, is created. If 80 years later (now) you want to fundamentally change the function, e.g. the leaf springs as a topic against coils or whatsoever then that's possible to a certain extent. But to be honest, I personally buy a Morgan to take it as it was intended. I don't want the comfort of a Bentley or the sporty control of a Lotus, as long as I'm looking at the traditional Morgan.

It's a similar issue on the Klipsch forum, where I've been active intermittently since 2006. (Speakers). About a perceived three million people want to change the tweeter on their Klipsch Horn or Lascala. The original K77, a T35 from EV is a love-hate relationship. But...every "modern" Klipsch speaker is, on the whole, evolutionarily built a little differently.
If I put a different tweeter in my 1977 Lascala than the original K77 Alnico, I destroy the overall character of the soundstage that makes the speaker. I have tried it several times and I have come back remorseful. Because besides the frequency response, which is very special, there are other parameters that are very determining but not directly obvious. Just one example is the crossover, which is not steep, but harmonises perfectly with the abrupt entry at the lower end of the frequency range of the tweeter. This avoids overlapping with the midrange horn despite the flat xover (which has other advantages compared to the steep xovers of the Lascala type).
If I install isolated "better" tweeters today, I may destroy the old goal and the personality character of the loudspeaker.

I find the example very comparable to Trad Morgan's. . Of course and fortunately, we don't live in the Morgan or Klipsch dictatorship and everyone can do it as they enjoy it. It's just my view of things.

Heinz, I am pleased I did not frustrate you with my ramble or indeed any others for that was not my intent. I do like to try to create datums from which to measure much, though in truth my Morgan is not as it left the factory having during Kevin`s refit being given the "advantage" of a tubular shocker suspension set up in place of the lever arms with which it was originally supplied.

I too enjoyed listening to music through "reasonably available" kit and many years back bought a pair of Linn Stone speakers, though in the time since then my hearing has suffered in relation to too much noise and not enough protection to the extent I have for circa seven years had constant ringing in my ears...Not complaining or seeking legal advice on how to sue my stupid self...(-: Yeah my old Morgan may be partly to blame given it seems to lack a degree of silencing and is known to roar spit pop und bang on occasion... (-:

For sure each to their own and for their own good reasons