Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Front Spring Compressor

Is there a spring compressor suited to the front springs on the Morgan (plus 8 in this case)? I have purchased a "generic" compressor which will fit "ordinary suspension" but the jaws are far to big to even get between the spring coils and between them and the dust cover top and bottom.

I have put a Mulfab steering bearing in to replace the blades and all has gone well till now.

I am having trouble lining up the king pin to the dust cover as the spring under tension is bending out and seems to need a push toward the chassis to straighten it up enough to allow the K/pin to slide up further, before it reaches the oiler bolt.

I have tried to jack up the outer wheel nuts a tad to try and straighten it up to and a sash cramp against the bit of chassis I can get it on, to no avail .
Or am I missing a "trick" to line it up?

I feel that compressing the spring may take some of the tension off it and it may move a bit easier.

Any advice from the more experienced would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards and Happy Miles.

Yes it's made by Wolf Performance and fits in place of damper. Not cheap but very safe, easy and most of all quick to use. Image link.

Dont use a generic, it will slip and cause damage / harm. Look on the GoMog website for details. I use 2 x 6mm threaded rod and wind down the spring. Cost about £5
This method works well, I have used it many times without any trouble

https://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/frontsuspension.html#TOOLS

The method shown in GoMog works well for compressing the main spring and releasing the rebound spring. When I did mine there was still lots of compression in the main spring and I don’t fancy the idea of pulling it out with unknown consequences. So I manufactured a simple slim line spring compressor of my own.

Same idea as a common one with two hooked metal claws to hold the spring near the top and near the bottom and a length of 10mm threaded rod between them. The main spring needed about 20mm of compression to get it out and back in safely.

It’s nothing fancy and took about an hour to make both. I can take a pic if you’re interested

Save your money

Two bits of M8 threaded rod, nuts and an old hessian sack.

Works a treat every time

Arwyn

I had the exact same problem. I've since acquired some small compressors, but in the interim I used 2 nylon straps to keep the spring slightly compressed. Not ideal, but worked.

What Arwyn said. The first time I used motorcycle spring compressors but the gap between coils is so tight that its very risky. Since then I use threaded rod.

Arwyn and I see to recommend the Cuthbert Twillie method. https://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/suspensionremoval.jpg It is the
wisest method for TIY owners who, if they wisely choose their components, will NEVER to it again on the Morgan they work on.
I am a big fan of Cain Poulton but his compressor is unnecessary for a one time job. It is perfect for other professional
mechanics who do the job often.

Regular spring compressors are indeed a big risk for this job. Yes, you can pry the springs open (with a flathead screwdriver)
enough to insert the claws of a regular spring compressor, but even then, people do not see that a proper grip is prejudiced by
the dustcover (unseen) found immediately on the inner side of the main spring. With a spring compressor, when the assembly
moves slightly in that greasy area, the compressed spring can explode open releasing enough of an impact to cause damage to
car and the owner immediately adjacent. Pros, with all their practice, are much better at this stuff. Though pros use gomog, it is
designed for home garagistes.



I am very happy for this. Does this mean you have removed the public instructions for a spring compressor method you posted
years ago? It caused ...er... distress both to cars and owners for many years. I am greater admirer and promoter of hand's on
people like yourself. We need all we can find. But we all have to temper that with experience or sadness can result. I relish each
bit of feedback I get.

Thank you for your comment. Lorne

I followed the diagram above when I installed my steering bearings, but found trying to get the main spring back in impossible, so had to compress them with straps.

Hi Grumpy2,
I would like to see your compressor very much, a picture is worth a (you know what I mean) ha ha.
Many thanks.