Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing HardChrome Kingpins

I have the same gaiters Doug and later fitted SSL RS kit. I had similar reserves but in reality you can easily feel through gaiter for free twisting of rebound spring and estimate their vertical movement when adjustment needed, so not an impediment at all.

Thanks Richard, good to know. I have never handled them and thought (obviously now mistakenly) that they were too thick to do that.

I use Dave W type gaiters and take them off at least once a year the check the SSL clearance, but mainly to flush out any gritty crud and old grease trapped in the rebound spring with a blast of brake cleaner

Slight thread drift. I've read a lot about adjusting the front suspension in a way that the rebound spring is able to sligjtly turn by hand. Mine definitely can't, but I dont have the ssl upgrade, just the traditional set up. Is this normal, or is the traditional set up adjustable in anyway?

Leroy: Adjustment of the top spring to relieve tension on the lower rebound spring only applies to SSL. It is there to allow full function of the progressive design of the upper suspension springs to take place.
There is no adjustment on the traditional spring set up and so it is very unlikely that the rebound springs would be without some degree of pre load.

Thanks deejay, that was my understanding, but thought I'd check.

My rebound springs can be turned by hand....just. Very light resistance. This when the car is on the ground so suspension in a “neutral” loading. Jacking the car up causes the weight of the wheel/hub to compress the rebounds as you would expect.

It's been well discussed and publicised before but maybe worth a brief mention. ANY static compression of the relatively high rate rebound spring will add to the main springs rate as soon as it starts to compress from static position. This leads to a very high initial spring rate dropping to that of the lower main spring rate only, under further compression. This is the exact opposite of what is required for smooth ride over minor bumps and when entering a corner.

I would like to be able to turn my rebounds, but no way - too tight. I have been searching for solutions, but have not found one yet. One firm (New Elms, I think it was) used to make shorter springs, but they seem to be discontinued. Others seem to have shortened the rebounds using an angle grinder but that solution does not appeal to me. Any suggestions will be much appreciated!
Anyway, I will not make any changes until I am forced to change kingpins. I thought I would have to do this after MOT this autumn, but no - the KPs are acceptable according to my experienced Morgan mechanic. I was surprised by this, the front suspensiion being original with mild steel KPs, the bushes being Devol and the car having 53000 km. I do grease very frequently and the rebound are covered by gaiters. I know the member Button on this forum has covered 80000 km with Devol, but I had not expected mine to last as long as they have by now. When they eventualle have to go, I will upgrade to hard chrome KP and bronze bushes, possibly together with steering bearings. But where/how to get shorter rebounds? SSL is not an option, the cost/benefit is not right for me.

Robbie be very careful. With Devol the pin wears not the bush. So when jacked up the bush is on an unworn section of the pin Nx no wear shows.