Click here to return to the home page.
Image of a road.
Who's Online Now
3 members (bmgermany, Nickplus4, Alistair), 281 guests, and 42 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
+8Rich 91
Newest Members
Scot_SJI, Jimmers, Breen60, Davidmog, Stevecarr
9,596 Registered Users
Newest Topics
Renewing the twin aero horns
by Moggo - 27/08/26 05:24 PM
4-4 zetec Fuel filter
by Phil63 - 27/08/26 03:38 PM
CX Auto lock
by TeddyAds - 27/08/26 12:56 PM
3.7 Roadster Greasing Q
by ScottMellor - 26/08/26 05:31 PM
Goodbye Dolly
by Clipper - 25/08/26 09:57 PM
Hot start .... vapour lock
by Pittsartist - 25/08/26 08:00 PM
Immobiliser
by Clipper - 25/08/26 12:42 PM
Latest Photos
tow bar
tow bar
by G Walker, August 24
Prescott double anniversary
Prescott double anniversary
by CooperMan, August 18
Air Crash Sites: Cairngorms
Air Crash Sites: Cairngorms
by RedThree, August 13
Four-seater luggage rack
Four-seater luggage rack
by Soleng, August 9
New M3W orange 2012
New M3W orange 2012
by jejemek, August 7
Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics49,841
Posts837,318
Members9,596
Most Online1,063
Jun 14th, 2026
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
Thread Like Summary
Alexander, gomog
Total Likes: 3
Original Post (Thread Starter)
#798026 03/26/2024 10:12 PM
by Potts
Potts
Hi all,

Firstly, I apologise if any of these questions are stupid or have already been asked and answered a thousand times before. But I could do with an up to date and latest view on this.

I going to be fitting brake reaction bars this weekend (hopefully, assuming they arrive in time). I have read many posts and other blogs about fitting them, and it all seems fairly straightforward.

I have 2 hopefully straightforward questions:-

1. Should the top mount be fitted to the kingpin oiler bolt or the wing support mount. There seems to be contradictory advice on this. I also appreciate this might be governed by the bars themselves which is yet to be determined. But I would appreciate the recommended best practice (if there is one).

2. When aligning, positioning and drilling the lower mount, is it best practice to have the car resting on the floor on all 4 wheels, in order to find it's natural and perfect alignment. Or is it best to do this whilst jacked up (ignoring all access considerations). Or does it not matter?

My engineering head tells me that doing point 2 in its natural position will make sure to remove any misalignment caused by chassis flex whilst raised, but I could be over thinking it.

Thanks for all your help
Liked Replies
by Arwyn Williams
Arwyn Williams
Originally Posted by sewin
Just to update, I can't find my old note book and can't remember who gave me that suggested torque setting. I have looked through the workshop manuals I have and no torque settings are stated and that's as I remember it. Arwyn is probably your best bet here to give the most definitive answer whatever that might be, I would definitely go with his advise if you want a good opinion as he knows Morgan's inside out! I'm sure he'd be happy if you PM him.

Diolch Sewin

Never see a torque figure for the top oiler bolts, I've always done them up spanner tight and then just a bit more, but but not much more lest they shear off due to the 3mm hole down the middle.

Had a local 4/4 in for a kingpin change with both oiler bolts sheared and had been sheared for some time and owner was a bit surprised when I told him.

A watch point for fitting the top bolts is that it's too easy to get them cross threaded into the kingpin so you need some sort of lining up rod - mines an old screwdriver

Crosshead braces date back to the three wheeler days, Clarrie Coombes covers it in his book on three wheelers.

Personally, I make up my own braces to make sure they fit properly. Rubbing on the sidewall of the tyre is not a good idea. I also use -3 tubing with a clear plastic coating make up my brake hoses to prevent rubbing - I think Compbrake sell it

Arwyn
1 member likes this
by Paul F
Paul F
Originally Posted by Potts
Thanks everyone for all the advice and input.

I seem to have started a faliure modes and effects debate, but interesting never the less!

Whilst I wait to change the reaction bars I have recieved, I thought I would pose another question and perhaps start yet another debate wink

The reason I wanted to fit these bars is becuase my 2002 4/4 suffers from vague steering at times. It can sometimes feel like I'm driving a boat with constant steering correction needed. This seems to be more evident on uneven road surfaces.

The car itself has only done 4k miles (it was left idle in a garage for a long time before being passed onto me). I have been advised by another Morgan owner that the steering effect could simply be that the Kingpins and bushes are not properly bedded in yet, due to lack of mileage?

I have checked and both NS and OS Kingpins are working and not ceased.

So after lots of reading and research on this matter, I thought I would first try fitting Brake reaction bars and seeing if that helps. After all they are an inexpensive and highly recommended upgrade.

Does the collective brains of Talk Morgan have any other suggestions that I could also consider, and/or is the BRB's a good place to start (before I start having to shell out lots of cash)?

Thanks again.

I am not sure that brake reaction bars will correct the symptoms you describe. That vagueness and wandering is something I sense on our 2024 4/4 when the tyre pressures are incorrect.

How old are the tyres?

What tyre pressures are you running on the front?

Because they are very light, Morgans can be very sensitive to tyres and tyre pressures.
1 member likes this
by Paul F
Paul F
If the tyres are 22 years old, they will be very brittle. Please change them as soon as possible and before any journey on the road. They will have virtually no grip at all on a wet road.

Once they have been changed, you will notice a real difference.
1 member likes this
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5