Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Suspension creak

My newish Roadster has developed a dreadful squeak/creak from the rear springs. Tracked it down by removing the parcel shelf and tray behind the seats - any depression of the suspension, just by leaning on the rear of the car, is enough to cause it.

Anyone know the cure? I have vague memories of spraying either oil or brake fluid on cart springs when such devices were common in the old days to cure such annoyances (I seem to think that brake fluid was preferred because it didn't rot rubber bushings: need to be careful not to get it on paintwork I should think).

Any/all advice gratefully received.

I had a similar problem when I had my car, but it was eight years old then so surprised that it appears on yours so early.

I saw somewhere that motorbike 'chain oil' in a spray can was recommended and it certainly did the job and seemed to ease of the rear suspension a treat.

Creaking rear suspension, part of the joy of owning a Morgan. . .My solution as follows.

1 Check (or get your dealer to check that the shackle bolts are correctly tightened.

2 Jack up rear (to take load off spring)

3 Wipe the sides of the springs with a cloth and GT85 (to remove general crud)

4 Spray with Castrol Motorcycle Chain Wax - this gets in between the leaves and works a treat

5 Repeat as and when required, especially if you have been out in the wet.

6 Clean hands and adjourn to the pub.



Bud

Brilliant guys - thanks Hadn't thought about using chain lube - of course, it's ideal. That's my mucky chore for next weekend sorted - unless I get really lazy and prevail upon Berrybrook to do it for me ... that way I get to suss out their new M3W whilst I'm waiting

Worth asking Martin to put your car on a ramp and check all the chassis bolts are tightened correctly, if you take it to Berrybrook

To cure the squeak permanently after applying chain lube I have wound grease bandages around the leaf springs. Never again had a squeak.

Frank

Going to let Berrybrook have a go at it on Thursday. As it's under warranty I guess it might come under warranty - although they could just as easily class it as maintenance, running repairs or whatever. Either way - it's no big deal - and I can get them to check nuts and bolts whilst they're under there.

... and I can get to spend some time with the M3W

I took delivery of a new 2011 4/4 in September. When I got the car home I found the car was leaning 35mm to the drivers side at the rear and 25mm to the drivers side at the front. So my car goes back to the Australian dealer who "repairs" the rear suspension by removing the lowering block on one side of the car then acknowledges the off side rear spring is "not quite to specification". Strange thing is I now know of 3 NEW 4/4s downunder that have exactly the same problem.

Has anyone had the same experience or any advice?

Probably something to do with gravity working the wrong way round down there

Seriously: that sounds like grounds for a new matched pair of rear springs under warranty to me. It can't be regarded as a satisfactory remedy to remove one lowering block! That effectively gives you two different spring rates - which can't be right.

As to the fronts: I'd want to see careful measurements made of the ground clearance either side at the front after the rear springs had been replaced. Then a decision could be made on whether fronts need replacing too. Guess it's not beyond the wit of man to measure the free length of each front spring - unloaded - if they differ, they're obviously not right and must be changed.

As to the cause - who knows? Wonder if the car was wrongly strapped down during shipping?

Those are my thoughts at any rate. Hope it helps!

And here is my two penn'orth:

To find whether it is the front causing the problem, you could try jacking the car up exactly at the centre of the rear crossmember so the rear tyres are off the ground. There should be no lean (as Jack Sprat's wife might have said ). If there is a side to side difference, there is something wrong with the front suspension. Be wary of 'stiction' in the sliding pillar, though; give the car a bounce at the front on each side. You could measure the static length of the springs to check that they are the same (not the free length, as that would mean stripping the whole suspension down, but I suppose it could come to that).

Do the same with the rear, jacking at the exact centre of the lower crosshead tube at the front. If the car is now leaning to one side, it is probably due to mismatched rear springs. Either they have been badly made with different 'camber' (the amount of in-built bend in the spring), or possibly an incorrect one has been fitted on one side e.g one from a 4 seater. If it is camber error, the spring rates would not be affected, and the dealer's remedy would probably work, but is not ideal. The wrong spring would be a problem as it would have a different rate and would obviously need to be replaced. Have a look at each one and count the leaves and measure the overall spring height - they should be the same.

Hope this helps

Fjemog