Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Tyre scrubbing - 1973 +8 RHD

Our recently acquired 1973 +8 is fitted Vredestein Classic 185-15 tyres. While looking good, they are also rather chunky. We have problems with the tyres scrubbing the inside of the front mud front guards and the stabiliser rod installed between the top of the spring tower and the chassis frame as well as sometimes scrubbing the brake hoses when on full steering lock. Also, it seems as the front brake hoses scrubs above mentioned stabiliser bar when on full steering lock. I bought two roller units from Rutter to replace the traditional pads installed to prevent the front tyre to scrub against the chassis frame when on full lock, but still not sufficient. Which brand, model and size of tyre do you use and have you encountered above mentioned scrubbing problems on an early narrow bodied +8? I can't pass the upcoming MOT test before these issues have been solved. Your help is much appreciated. Cheers /Finn

Morgans have an mot exception for tyres scrubbing the chassis

Sensei is in Denmark though.

True i didn't spot that but the wheels will have rubbed on the chassis rub plates since new. Assuming car was always in DK then it must have passed earlier local mots

Hopefully some can comment on tyre size and type recommendation

A UK option is to fit rollers at the contact point. It doesn’t stop contact but offers reduced friction. A second option is to fit stops to reduce range of movement, stopping the tyre before it contacts the chassis. It also, then, increases the turning circle which is already limited though.

Hi all, we already installed rollers, hopefully MOT will accept that. But the scrubbing is when steering is on full lock, it's on the inside of the front fenders and on the support rod mounted from the top of the spring tower and the chassis. Seems as the tyres are too big - Vredestein Classic 185-15. Wonder which tyres you are using? Also, the brake hoses scrubs against that rod when the steering is turned from stop to stop. Thanks in advance for any help. Cheers /Finn

Don't know about the brake hoses, but the rubbing of the tyres can be fixed by relocating and reshaping the rods, I suppose it is brake reaction stays you are talking about. You can losen the lower end of the stay and put some washers between the stay and the chassis. In that way the stay is lifted a little up and away from the tyre. You gain only a few mm, but it might be enough. Another trick is to take the stay out, put it in a vice and then gently squeeze/deform the part where it touches the tyre. You should get an elliptical cross-section, with the smaller diameter perpendicular to the rubbing point. That will give you a few mm more, or you could use both tricks in combination. Of course that will not solve your fender or brake hose problem. Is it possible to reroute the hoses? At any rate, it should not be too serious. If the stay and the hose just touch, there should not be much or any at all chafing, but of course you should inspect from time to time.
If you choose to take the stay out, take care not to get any misalignment when you remove the top bolt, i can be difficult to enter the bolt again.

Sensei , they all (most )do that, no problem.

Stefan
+4
+8
ARP4

Thank you to all for your inputs and advice. Cheers
/Finn