Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) Nitron suspension and taller tyres

Whilst at Malvern with Mark driving we went for a good thrash around the local lanes in my car to check it out, Mark found for a standrard car mine was one of the best he had driven, so we discounted fitting nitron suspension for now..

I'm planning a continental tour for next year doing the various Swiss alpine passes and around the Italian lakes trying to avoid continental , autohbahns and autostrada's as much as possible, use the major national roads, which can be fun when trying to enter villages and towns with traffic calming measures. We plan to stay in Spa, Heidelberg, Lindau, Lake Como, St Moritz,, Andermatt, St Gallen, Bruges along the way and AI has proven to be very useful in identifying hotels etc., that avoid centres with heavy restrictions or traffic calming measures or humps.

However more ground clearance may prove useful, I still find the standard suspension can bottom out on speed humps etc.as I experienced the other day when sent on a detour off the motorway, which proved uncomfortable for us and the car, going through a village full of speed humps and despite best of intentions I grounded the car once....not nice and got me to thinking about raising the car height with nitron suspension and maybe if possible, with wing, suspension clearance, fit a taller 205/65R15 tyres, that should in theory give me another 3cm 1.2 inches of clearance.

Part of the problem with the standard suspension is it compresses much more than the nitrons. therefore more likely to ground more, even if set at the same ride height.

I'd appreciate any feed back from those with nitron suspension fitted as to whether they raised the ride heiight and has it i(raised ride height or not) mproved the car's ability to handle raised humps, traffic calming measures compared to the standard setup........the limited ground clearanc is the only real bug bear with the CX, and I'm looking for iinput on the possible solutions especially when touring fully laden, when the car will be more exposed to ride height llimitations.especially over traffic calming raised humps

If any have raised the car height, have they noticed any real material adverse difference in the handling of the car, I'm not into racing my car, but I do want to enjoy it to the full when the opportunity presents itself eg the Alpine passes. I'm just trying to find that sweet spot for what is otherwise a great car.

Thanks in advance

https://www.talkmorgan.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/235448/1

Any discussion of air suspension always seems very positive. No personal experience but surely worth exploring. Pump up entering the village, back to normal on leaving.
I remember https://race-car-replicas.com/ developed a system for their cars several years ago.

Nitrons on a Plus SIx, raised the rear by a few mm. No problems with humps since fitting, and - as they are adjustable - if there were that could probably be addressed.

I hear there are some issues with Nitrons fitted to Morgans causing clunking sounds from the rear suspension area. MMC have apparently impounded their current stock of Nitron shocks. Not sure if it's a generic Nitron issue or an issue with Nitrons being fitted to the Morgan suspension geometry.

I heard they were working with the supplier on the issue when I was enquiring about them at Malvern the week before last. It seems nothing ever seems to be straight forwatd when it omes to Morgans....I'd heard it was something to do with the bushes, but dont quote me on that. Also when talking to Mark, he was quite specific about their preferred settings when fitting them at Malvern.

We have the SSL suspension upgrade for the Plus Six.. its been great as we mainly tour in our car and it works very well for that.. However, we still bottom out now and again in France, as per the UK not all speed bumps are created the same.
The SSL rears do not have the ability for height adjustment, which is the only thing that lets their setup down.. The suspension works very well with and without luggage.. but for ride height there is no real improvement. I did ask a few yrs ago if SSL could make rear coil overs with some height adjustment for the UK, but the answer was no.

One other thing to watch out for when touring and staying in Chateau/Hotels etc.. A lot of grand double entrance gates use a raised metal plate in the middle of the road to secure them shut.. you can easily bottom out on these if you do not notice them..
dave

My understanding is that SSL only make bits for the P6 not 4, and speaking to Dan very recently whilst buying some bespoke dampers, he's decided to drop the CX and concentrate on Trad upgrades only

John H , AI is good for planning trips and hotels but we use the Arthotel in Heidelberg because it has a secure covered car park. Might be worth a look on the line !
Landau is pretty and good for wins but prefer Baden Baden, Hotel Belle Epoque is central with good parking. Sounds a great road trip.Best Michael

Jon thanks for that info, will give SSL a call in a week or so, as I wanted a spare set of of their links for the front antiroll bar.. You are right that it was just the Six that they produced a suspension kit for, I read that the Four from the factory was not bad, so they did not think it was worth trying to improve it at the time.. then came the Nitron's. With fewer numbers of Plus Six made compared to the Four I guess there was little overall profit, and once again there are Nitrons now available for the Six... Pity, as from a touring perspective the SSL suspension is a huge improvement for the Six, just needed the ride height adjustment on the coil over that the Nitron suspension provides.

Thanks for the suggestions, AI is pretty good if you ask a detailed expansive question eg secure parking, low ground clearance even do a complete budget of costs for the journey, even down to recommended refueling stops on the itrip with lowest prices all based on Motgan fuel consumption and tank size.............

I'll try AI for journey planning. I tend to use AA route planner as a start and build in comfort/fuel stops around it and use past knowledge for the route as well.
Scotland trips are over 500 miles home to hotel on regular routes and mrs sospan now wants an overnight stop in the border-ish area so Carlisle/Gretna/Dumfries used on recent trips. The 250 mile rule of thumb for fuel is easy to manage and on a new route petrol stations can be found using online maps to adjust the planned route. They can be put into the satnav as waypoints.

Start with a broad question like eg 2 week 2 person scenic tour of whereever in a CX Morgan Plus Four starting in June 27, produce detailed route avoiding tolls low emmission zones, low ground clearance where ever possible, budget petrol stops,recommend hotels with secure parking . Detail costs including hotels, parking fees, meals, fuel (if abroad include tolls, eurotunnel etc.). It wuill produce a broad route and in the further ask question box at the bottom of the answer refine the route, if it suggests Lindau and you prefer eg Baden Baden instead of LIndau or whereever then ask it to replan using that preference..........so you can drill down to get the best rout possible and draw out local attractions, places to visit along the route. .

The cost budget assumptions do vary from each recalculation but it gives you a ball park view, if you finalise you plan, then ask for eg recommended restaurants within walking distance of hotel, recommended scenic coffee stops on the route and so on......it always takes the Morgan clearance limitation into account. Save or print your results and refine as appropriate.......eg I found the best dates to do my tour next year was starting on a Sunday 13th of June as most reliable date for all the passes to be open and the tour just finishes before the hotel high season prices come into effect at the end of June. It also avoided the Alpine passes at weekends due to the traffic ciongestion and so on. Always use CX as it sometimes cnfuses trads with the CX PLus Four......it will take you into a more expensive hotel recommendations the more expensive it perceives your car is, so if travelling on a budget ask for budget hotels remmendations.........our recommended hotels in St Moritz and Andermatt which we are going with are not inexpensive, when there are clearly less expensive hotels in the area.

Which AI system do you use? I have started using Copilot for some searches. Good base replies and then refining helps a lot.

Just from any search engine, google or whatever, some now have a tab on the page for AI, usually most search engines will bring up an AI response. Be specific on the car include year, as some areas now have emission restrictions, or require you to pay fees or get the hotel to book you onto any restriction zones entry systems, especially useful when travelling abroad. Being Euro 6 can make a big difference as to where you can go and be less restrictive.

I've just asked Google this question ,which is better lindau or baden baden for an overnight stay'

I've taken out the reference siources '


AI Overview

Choosing between Lindau and Baden-Baden depends entirely on whether you want a scenic lakeside retreat or a luxurious spa and forest experience. Lindau is better if you want a relaxed evening with gorgeous sunset walks by the water, historic cobblestone streets, and views of the Alps. Baden-Baden is superior if your goal is to unwind in world-class thermal baths, enjoy high-end dining, or gamble at a historic casino before heading into the Black Forest.


Why Choose Lindau?
Lindau is a picturesque Bavarian town famous for its unique historic center located on an island in Lake Constance (Bodensee).

Bodensee Tourismus
Evening Vibe: Perfect for a lakeside stroll along the harbor promenade, people-watching with a glass of local wine, and catching stunning Alpine sunsets.

Top Sights: The iconic harbor entrance featuring a Bavarian Lion statue and a lighthouse, the brightly painted Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), and medieval alleyways.


Best For: Couples, photography enthusiasts, and travelers moving between Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.

Why Choose Baden-Baden?
Baden-Baden is an elegant, historic nineteenth-century spa town nestled on the edge of the Black Forest.

Atmosphere: Sophisticated, upscale, and deeply relaxing.
Evening Vibe: Centered around high-end wellness and entertainment. You can spend the night soaking in historic thermal baths or dressing up for a glamorous night out.
Top Sights: The majestic Caracalla Spa, the historic Roman-Irish Friedrichsbad, the famously opulent Casino Baden-Baden, and the manicured Lichtentaler Allee park.
Best For: Luxury travelers, wellness seekers, and those planning to drive the scenic Black Forest High Road (B500) the next day.

Direct Comparison
Feature Lindau Baden-Baden
Primary Draw Lake views, Alpine backdrop, historic island charm Thermal spas, grand architecture, casino, luxury lifestyle
Scenery Vibrant harbor, crystal clear water, mountain horizons Lush, rolling hills and dense woodlands of the Black Forest
Pace of Life Casual and relaxed Formal and upscale
Geography Border of southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Southwest Germany, right next to the French border/Alsace

To help narrow this down, where are you traveling from and where are you heading the next morning? Knowing if you prefer water views or hot springs would also help me pick the perfect spot for you.


I was planning a trip to NZ in the Morgan in Jan/Feb 2028 and the detailed timescales involcved to get clearance in NZ and for sea transit,times there and back and resultant costs may covince me otherwise, especially the environmental clearance is very demanding and could be lenghty clearance delays, so I'm, also looking at hiring an open topped car, but so far and I need to search further, as there may be a age restriction, so if I want to drive an open topped car it may have to be the Morgan....time will tell if that trip goes ahead..Trouble is the recommended routes and stops I've already done and the areas I may want to go, like some of the high passes have ride height challenges for the Morgan or are restricted areas (or used to be) for hire cars especially eg 90 mile beach which wasn't asphalt the last time I went up there and got the hire car showered in stones from the fast moving tourist coaches, that cracked the car windscreen, don't fancy that happening to the Morgan whilst there.

my '22 CX has been around the alps/dolomites very year since I got it. on both standard suspension & nitrons. two chunky 100kg passengers & two 10-12kg duffel bags on the rack plus the rear shelf stuffed with water bottles , cameras etc. I take all the back roads including single track. there can be lots of road works on the passes too, with rough unpaved sections ......never grounded yet!
they do stick me on the single deck euro shuttle tho' (car identified as a low vehicle). in town, I just do the usual speed hump management.
ive also got lots of tips on routes if its the first time you've done it .. you're not too far away.

Thanks for that very helpful, I had picked up on the need to ask for the single deck euro shuttle. It's been decades since I've done that area on tour, last time was on a Harley in the early 90's, so we are looking forward to it., loved the region and toured a fair bit when I worked on assignment for six months based at Lake Garda in the late 70's. Hopefully it hasn't changed too much or at least for the better.any highlights you would recommend let me know by email., especially the routes there and back good hotels etc. as I want to avoid France..........nothing against the french, just want to see parts of Germany. Switzerland and avoid tolls..

Fitting the Nitrons on my MY late 2022 PlusFour in January 2025 certainly makes my PlusFour far less bottoming out than before. I did not explicitly asked for adjusting the ride height but it may have raised the car a few mm! One month ago I drove a 2021 PLusFour from a friend on French country lanes, as he was trying my PlusFour to experience the Nitrons. Now for the first time I could make an other way around comparison, as I could feel that his PlusFour was far less steady and planed, less damped. His conclusion was: evident! "I will have Nitrons fitted!!" it's not a fairytale: smoother ride, better damping and less bottoming out! But with a price tag....!!!

Ruut,


Thanks for that, much appreciated. I drove a new PLus Four with the nitrons fitted and the car felt much tighter, less wallow, at the rear.but of course it was also fitted with traction control, so difficult to make a direct comparison. I know MMC have some issues to resolve with the supplier and will await the outcome of those deliberations to see if there is any design changes forthcoming. It appears the nitrons dont compress as much as the standard shocks and therefore less likely to bottom out....but whether its a matterial, noticable enough difference only those with pre MY23 experience can share their comparable experiences.

Chatting with an experienced Morgan techie a few weeks ago, I mentioned how many CX owners were fitting Nitrons later in ownership

Interesting response...

1, Shame on MMC for needing to pay so much for an upgrade to cure issues that should have been dialled out during development and testing

2, Nitron have done a clever sales pitch & hooked MMC & owners, they are not that special and most of the benefit is from just a much stiffer damper, simple as that

Surprised SSL haven't been more active in the CX sector. They list suspension upgrades for the Plus Six but no mention of Plus Four as far as I can see.

It's all nothing new with the CX, the very existence of the likes of SSLand other thrid party suppliers, reflects the underdevelopment and limitations of most Morgans made for decades.

Morgan build the cars and owners finish them.
There are several after-market specialists ....
Mulfab,Librands,Wolf,SSL being main contributors.
Some dealers also offer upgrades.
Peter Mulberry designed upgrades that MMC copied.
Individuals have also done significant upgrades.
cearelsurfer and Monty recently.
Rog has contributed with some excellent parts.
DaveW has writtenbooks.
Others contribute to queries.
Development is often expensive. Also be aware of insurance issues as mods canlead to premium increases or even refusal.

Despite all the unresolved quirks over 110 years we still love Morgan. In part it's because of those quirks.

So much could have been better quality. Fixings, and door mirrors in particular. Lack of development comes out in cracked chassis, brake problems and radiator failures. Dodgy handbrakes started with the ARP4. Emissions at MoT was there with the 2011 P4 Supersports.

But we tolerate all this, because the underdeveloped assembly of parts provides something which nothing else matches.

Going back to suspension for a moment, I also feel there are other dampers which would work as well. Each marque has their own favourites, but most will do the job. I have the Nitrons as I bought my car pre-specced for a small saving, so am quite happy. Whilst touring to Laon and on to the Black forest in June, fully loaded, I did occasionally get a graunch from the rear, when going over speed humps and might wind the spring seats up a turn or two. I had already softend the dampers all round by one complete turn with a small but noticeable softening, when I got back I softened it by a further half a turn to fully soft, but found no difference. My feeling is that for road use I want comfort not to feel every cats eye, even when making progress. Why MMC have this idea that all their cars should be circuit hard I do not know, they are almost always driven by senior citizens who have usually done that and don't want to lose more fillings?

I was talking to Peter, late of SSL some months back and he felt that using their anti roll bar links would result in a better ride, sadly I decided to save the £200 for another day. Maybe there is something in that though?

Paul,

Thanks for that, interesting comment re the anti roll bar links

I've been wondering the same thing, having spoken to SSL at the '25 Mogfest. When I had the Nitrons fitted I asked MMC if I should also have the rear ARB, as used in their 'Dynamic Handling Package'. MMC said the ARB was not required. But I still mull over whether a rear ARB and compliant drop links, both front and rear, might further improve the ride.

Half an inch extra on the ride height would make a big difference its a pity its not possible with the nitrons.

Chaps, It's a 'while stocks last' on any CX stuff from SSL, just so you're aware

On my Nitron equipped car the spring seats are adjustable, so they can be wound up to increase ride height, which I am thinking of doing at the rear only. Has anyone played around with this yet?

Paul, I'm having my Nitron dampers adjusted (raised a bit and softened a bit, front and back) while at Revolutions for some hood warranty work. I'll report back.

Had a great chat with the lichfield boys yesterday at the welsh supercar festival.As mentioned before they developed the nitrons before taking it to Morgan. I shant repeat what they said on an open forum but their system is slightly different internals to the factory set up and a possible one inch more ride height is possible but could also compromise the ride. I also spoke to the engineer who fits them very impressed knowing it would be set up properly.