Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) So, have you driven your Morgan today?

Richard, are you sure you have this the right way round?. From memory, I only recall two thick rubber washers together with “penny washers” on top, but no spacer to tighten up against.. Whereas on the bottom, there is a spacer that you can tighten to. ?

The thing is, we discuss the merits of various dampers for Morgans, and yet I've now completed two long journeys with a damper disconnected, and aside from the odd hard bottoming out, you just can't tell.

Can anyone suggest a supplier of bushes for the top of the front dampers please?

Wasn't that exactly what Bill Button used to say?

Peter Morgan only had the dampers/shock absorbers fitted because buyers wanted them, other sports cars of the era being fitted with them- he said they weren't necessary/wouldn't make any difference.

No it's the other way around Doug with in fact two metal spacers at the top within rubbers each side of mount, which tighten against each other. It's clear in my mind as had to fit new mount plate fairly recently and this has an enlarged hole to accommodate these spacers.

The lower eye mount uses penny washers as well but the stud on stub axle has a larger diameter shoulder to accommodate rubbers directly. I guess you could tighten down hard onto this shoulder but it would force rubber out of eye, hence importance of not overtightening and consequent need for nylock nuts.

I do have Spax gas assisted shocks from SSL kit mind you but don't recall the previous AVO's being any different.

Richard, I'm with Doug on this.

Just checked my old Bilstein and there are no spacers, only rubber bushes.

Also, in the SSL instructions there is a note not to over tighten the top damper nut.

I always thought the top mounts should be left with some flex in them.I.e. "only nipped up and not crushed" (SSL's words, not mine)

Could over tightening cause the top plate problems?

Thanks for that Bob. I was beginning to doubt myself and was looking for the SSL instructions online last night, without success but was fairly sure that was where I saw it written some time ago.

Dave, try Dan at SSL

Edit, if you can wait until tomorrow evening, I'll check my store, I'm sure I've got a pair of unused OE shocks

Thanks Jon, but I've ordered a new pair. I did still have the OE's from the Plus 4 until a few months ago!

For those who want to get the Morgans out next weekend (June 3 & 4, 2023), there's a really big gathering of classic cars near Douai in northern France.
It is in the village of Roost Warendin, in the gardens of The castle of Bernicourt.
Access is free for people who come with classic cars.
There is also a large spare parts market.
It is the club "Les anciennes du ch'ti" (The Oldtimers Of the Mens of North Of France) which organizes each year this pleasant event

The 2022 edition : https://youtu.be/NYaVfYml4Og