Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Rear springs

I am thinking it’s time to replace the rear springs as they are now 25 years old .
The car is a 97 plus 8 , the recommendation from the parts supplier is to fit 4 leaf springs , I believe the car has more leaves than that , any thoughts or comments ?
Cheers Dave

If your car has six leaves (if in doubt, just count...) it will have a harsh ride, but on the other hand they will have more resistance against old age and sagging. So the first question is if replacing the springs really is needed. The answer would depend on age, mileage, visual signs of sagging plus how you feel the suspension is performing. With 25 years and perhaps a substantial mileage it may well be that a change is due. What is recommende by most is the four leaf springs intended for the four seater, which is said to be a good compromise between softening up the ride and being stiff enough to ensure a good handling.
My car has six leaves and a quite harsh ride, and I have driven a four-leaf 4/4 with two people + luggage which I found way to soft. So when the day comes, I will try to compromise by searching for four-leaf springs, but with the added stiffness from the spring intended for the four seater.

Robbie seems to have covered everything, though I guess GoMoG will have a fair amount of data on spring choices..?

I seem to remember that over the years there was some sort of problem with sets of "weak" springs being fitted to new Morgans, where the drivers side would sag more than the other side and in a short period of time..? I think there was chat that some springs may have been sourced from India and of suspect quality, though my memory is not the best..

I have six leaves on my springs, and have only ever driven that set-up, which was chosen as my +8 was built with touring in mind and covered many a mile fully loaded with a heavy case sitting out on the rack..

Have to admit when I bought into the idea of a Morgan, comfortable springing was not high on my list of reasons for acquisition... (-: I have read of all sorts of efforts in suspension modification, and fixing extra ironmongery to the Trad in an effort to apply more modern expectations of comfort, and is perhaps to be expected as we age/evolve.. My springs are at least 20 years old, though perhaps only circa 30k miles of usage, but show no obvious signs of sagging and the Mog sits pretty evenly.

I guess within the limits of restricted travel of the axle given the the depth and number of of pot holes on our roads, comfort in a Trad would seem to be a relative term.. (-:

Good luck in your choices.

Mine lasted 10 years & 50000miles. When they started to sag, they lost an inch of ride height in a 12 month period. Main thing was how their tension had dissipated. A lot more banging from the back end. Replaced with 4 leaf GME springs. www.gmesprings.co.uk
Also the front springs had to be changed for similar reasons.
(Oh just to add. I also had Antitramps & panhard fitted. The antitramps help protect the springs & stop them flexing in the wrong place. )

Dave W wrote an excellent article on rear springs somewhere on TM

Our 3.7 Roadster is in the process of replacement rear springs. The car is only 6 years old, but the rear springs show contact witness marks where the springs pass through the wood rear bulkhead, in addition, the inner wings show witness marks where they have been hit by the axle. We have not had the car that long, I noted the spring issue when fitting Rogs excellent rear spring rebound rubbers, I could not adjust them for the correct clearance on the drivers side. Aftter much measuring it was apparent that the drivers side rear spring was quite sagged, so a replacement pair of springs were needed.

In intended replacing the springs last winter but didn’t get round to it. Never figured out what would be the best springs either. Not that expensive if I remember correctly just a faff to put on. Still very do-able though.

I replaced my faulty batch rear springs on my 4/4 Sport with four seater springs. The difference in ride quality was very apparent and a great improvement. That said it is a very light car.

Here: http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthread...-rear-springs-upgrade-phase-2#Post718245

And here: Scroll right down for images http://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/205842/how-to-replacing-leaf-springs#Post205842

A fabulous guide - a great help when I changed mine.