Amen to the lubricated leaves. I drove my +4 25 years during which time
I
didn't notice the ride stiffening up. When I took it apart, not only were
the spring leaves rusted together, the right rear shackle was frozen solid
causing the axle to move to the left which in turn made the left spring
u-bolts wear groves in the frame rail. I actually took good care of the
car, I even checked and topped up the lever shocks with the proper oil.
There was so much friction I could probably have thrown the shocks away. I
just didn't realize that leaf springs needed maintenance.
I've since discovered that a lot of vintage cars had spring "gaiters",
snap on covers that kept the oil in and the dirt out. The rear leaf springs
on my Cord have a complicated set of interlaced sheet metal covers with
several lube fittings. I am seriously considering a set of leather gaiters
for the Morgan. I'm looking forward to a much improved ride in any case.
I had the great pleasure of driving Malcolm Terry's "+6" which has Koni
tube shocks, a Panhard bar and traction bars as well as a shortened Pontiac
rear axle. It rides and handles like what it is, a dream Morgan.
Howard Clark
>The best thing that I have found to do
>for the rear suspension of any Morgan is to thoroughly lubricate the leaves
>of the rear springs and to stiffen the rear shocks .. This will have the
>effect of softening the ride over small bumps and preventing bottoming over
>large bumps.
>
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