Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Stumped on fluid leak

Any update Perry?

Nothing that I can say for certain and was literally just out in the garage.

However, I did notice this and not sure if its related or if it's even an issue. The lower spring on the drivers side is sitting loose! You can see how much above it is where it should be up against. Images of both sides for reference.

As mentioned, kind pins were installed very recently. Shouldn't this have been checked and squared up? I measured the from the top of the perch to the bottom on both sides and it's off by .5in. 3.5 on the drivers side and 3 for the passenger. I've also emailed the retailer who did the work asking when they can have it back in to rectify but in all honesty, I'm not sure if I want them touching it again! In short this year's service was deplorable.

It looks like the bush is binding on that side. GoMog has advice on that
Bushes GoMog

I would talk to the garage

Thanks John

I've sent pics etc to them and waiting for their reply. I'll assume it's best I don't drive it as clearly something is up.

I don't think the bushes are binding. That's an entirely normal difference in spring height from side to side. If you took the car out for a drive and remeasured afterwards I guarantee it will be different.

The sliding pillar front suspension can only move up and down when the car is moving. You cant bounce on it statically to settle the springs because the geometry forces the tyre to try and scrub sideways....so it stops wherever it wants to when you stop.

It's one of the reasons that the SSL kit can take a bit of trial and error to get set up right....

Unless the car doesn't feel "right", I wouldn't suggest there's an issue

Simon,
I don't disagree I had maybe wrongly assumed that Perry had checked it didn't move from this position, that is how I read his post. Though I have never noticed such a large gap on my cars.

I agree if it drives OK & the gap varies then it isn't stuck.

Perry have you driven the car & checked again the gap?

Why not adopt the SSL approach? Disconnect shockers, jack up until tyres about 3 inches above ground and promptly release jack. Repeat twice more and then see if the rebound springs are just kissing.

That might work, but the tyres will still try and scrub sideways under compression.

I use a couple of sheets of aluminium with a light oil between them as a cheap low friction "scrub plate" under each tyre when I'm setting up Morgan Racecars

Just been looking at the original photos and I’m wondering if the garage that fitted the kingpins have sprayed around the rebound spring with something like motorcycle chain lube? I have seen this done on cars serviced by a main dealer to stop a creak from the front suspension where they soaked both springs on either side with chain lube in order to stop the noise from the front suspension. As the car doesn’t have lower gaiters fitted maybe they thought this was a good idea?

That would seem to explain why the area below the stub axle appears to have a drip of oil in a non-oil lubed kingpin car.

Not the first time I have seen this.

BR
Colin