Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) new cx member with odd noise

0dd noise. I am new to Morgan ownership and bought a 2022 YofM plus 4 manual with wire wheels. registered in 2023 with 400 miles on it. She had several odd noises that Ledgerdwoods have investigated. Some sorted and and some reassured that the BMW motor always makes that noise. However there has always been a clunk eminating from the rear of the car when setting off forwards more than reverse and sometimes on braking always at slow speeds when road noise and air noise do not drown it. Ledgerwoods have investigated and consulted MMC at length who advised that it was the splines on the wire wheels that cause this and they all do this and see how it goes
I accept this is a plausible explanation but wonder if everybody elses CX plus 4 with wire wheels makes a very audible clunk on gentle take off [it may do on vigerous take off but I haven’t needed to do that]
We have done a wonderful 5k mile trip to France and Italy with no issues [except for an errant windscreen wiper trying to drop off in a storm] but would really appreciate feedback re the clunking rear before the end of the warranty period

Welcome to TM, from memory others have posted with the same issue, there may even have been a batch of duff hubs ??

Someone with a CX will be along soon with words of wisdom

While not on a CX, a mate had a similar issue with a noise that couldn't be pinpointed so we met up on a quite industrial estate and he drove it back and forth while I walked along to listen for said noise which we were then able to pinpoint.

Might be worth doing that to confirm if what MMC is stating is in fact where the noise is coming from. As for the explanation of the splines causing this noise, that doesn't sound right to me.

Welcome to TM and best of luck!

Not a CX BUT the wire wheels on my trad plus 4 have invariably given a clonk when going from forward to reverse or vice versa IF they are not well greased. I find about twice a year is sufficient to whip them off, clean and generously apply some grease to the splines and mating surfaces. Clonking then disappears.
I also seem to recall that early CX models had wires fitted via an adapter. It was found that the mounting holes on the adapters were too big and caused clonking.
It was well discussed on TM at the time, but I cannot find the original posting.
Having said all that, I am rather surprised that dealers and factory cannot resolve.

The "fix" seems to be putting graphite grease on the splines. My MY23 had the clunk and the dealer did the greasing at service time, the clunk only starting just before ( 7k miles done). as MMC advised it as a solution. I've now bought a tub of graphite grease to DIY when taking the wheels off to clean and/or hearing a clunk. I only heared a clunk sometimes when pulling away from standstill, never during normal motion with gear changes ( auto box) accelerating/braking.
So, instead of kingpin greasing I'll be rear hub greasing!

Welcome. As said grease 2 x year. Are they painted wires? The paint can stop the hub from fully tightening and as it wears back comes then clunk. Try just tightening them.

Check this thread

https://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/802035/clonking-brakes#Post802035

I had this exact issue as noted in the above thread. For me it was due to the wire wheels being painted and the paint was enough to make you think the spinners were tight but after a while would reveal themselves as not so tight. Sorted this with the help of MWS who supply the wire wheels to Morgan. Removing some of the paint around the point where the spinner touches and then whacking the spinners on properly (using a spinner saver - for deep dish wheels)

You can check if it is this simply. Jack up the back corners one at a time and see if you can rotate the wheel a fraction backwards and forwards - with the handbrake on of course - if you can it's very likely loose spinners. As also mentioned some members have had the "pack it with grease" fix - mine were packed with grease but still clonked.

You'd be amazed how much of a thump you need to give the spinners to properly tighten them - then go for a mile or two - then thump then again.

Obviously make sure when first tightening the spinners, the wheel should be off the ground so the wheel is sitting properly against the hub. Lower the car, thump again, Drive the car. Thump again. If you get the spinner saver you need the deep dish one from MWS

Buy a mulfab spanner. The mmc thing is an invitation to hit the body work.

I've just come back from a great drive out to Lifes, changing from heavy fog to blue skies, great with the roof down all the way. My trad. slight rear wheel wobble, turns out to be a paint high spot on the inside of the rear wire wheel hub which had left a carry/witness mark on the back section of the spline. It may well be the service Matty did this year may have been the first time the wheels were off and if that was the case the high spot and carry marks may not have aligned when he put wheel back on leading to this wobble. There was clear evidence that the spinner had been eroding the paint on the outside of the wheel hub.

So cleaned everything down, got rid of the high spot, re-greased and put the wheel back on but slightly tightened the spinner a little bit more (for now to see how it goes) than usual. Seems to have done the trick for now, but will keep it under review, We are not sure whether the wheels have been re painted at some point hence the high spot/drip

The wheels are stainless wires. Graphite grease seems a plan. Manythanks for the advice and Mulfab tip[where do you get one John]