Morris Minor Owners Club

So does anyone have any experience of these? Front or rear. Tbh i know i should be getting the jlh kit, however budget is going to be tight after fitting the new little zetec, and although the engine is lighter than the a-series i still feel the front and rear could do with some better suspension/ damping to handle the extra power and speed. I am looking at probably this kit http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... 5cde5b94a0 for the front and similar rear. I know the stories about the boot floor cracking already...

I fitted the kit to the saloon i modified 10 years ago and was very happy and i am doing the same mods this time around as i was very happy with the way the car handled.

However there are a significant number of cars out there with this modification done, it might be worth trying to take a drive in one to make your own mind up.

by the way i also lowered and fitted anti roll bars at the same time I can not comment on doing just this mod on its own.

If budget is tight, drain and refill dampers with heavier weight oil - cost about a fiver
I would never use spax again unless they were mounted absolutely vertically, and remember, you get what you pay for, so don't do the job twice.
These front kits use mini shocks I believe - not the best designed system.

Pete

Is it just me or do these shocks look really small? I'm thinking Mini shocks which means rubbish amounts of travel and worse handeling than before. I am going with this kit for the front http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... exID=17170 as it uses much longer shocks and a better mounting system.

It does look a superior system, however if i was spending £230 i would spend it on the Jlh kit for exactly the same price, would just feel more confident on the design and if your happy to weld i feel would be mounted better too.

ratrodmog wrote:I am going with this kit for the front http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... exID=17170 as it uses much longer shocks and a better mounting system.

That's the setup I've got on my car, I've no complaints

I'd the same spax kit on my Minor in 1974 (front and rear). The kit came from a company called RBT equiped and it cost under £20 . It did work very well, but the rear shocks didn't last (at an angle), plus the mounting point wasn't great. There are now better engineered alternatives, so just buy the best and fit once. Jonathon at JLH will help you out .

Pete

Have had the Moss type set up on mine for about 10 years, again no complaints. I think mine were from the MM centre Bath and were an expensive item then, however no problems and gas spax units are still doing the job.

plastic_orange wrote:If budget is tight, drain and refill dampers with heavier weight oil - cost about a fiver
I would never use spax again unless they were mounted absolutely vertically, and remember, you get what you pay for, so don't do the job twice.
These front kits use mini shocks I believe - not the best designed system.

Pete

I'd be interested in putting some thicker oil in, does it have any adverse effects ?

youngcamper wrote:

plastic_orange wrote:If budget is tight, drain and refill dampers with heavier weight oil - cost about a fiver
I would never use spax again unless they were mounted absolutely vertically, and remember, you get what you pay for, so don't do the job twice.
These front kits use mini shocks I believe - not the best designed system.

Pete

I'd be interested in putting some thicker oil in, does it have any adverse effects ?

Pete, do you think the Moss Spax kit uses Mini sized units as they look a fair bit longer?

Youngcamper, using a thicker oil is fine but make sure all of your suspension bushes are good etc. It will make the ride a bit firmer which is what you want.

Ahh cheers, I didn't want to destroy my dampers. What grade oil should I use ?

Cheers,

Will

ratrodmog wrote:

youngcamper wrote:

plastic_orange wrote:If budget is tight, drain and refill dampers with heavier weight oil - cost about a fiver
I would never use spax again unless they were mounted absolutely vertically, and remember, you get what you pay for, so don't do the job twice.
These front kits use mini shocks I believe - not the best designed system.

Pete

I'd be interested in putting some thicker oil in, does it have any adverse effects ?

Pete, do you think the Moss Spax kit uses Mini sized units as they look a fair bit longer?

Youngcamper, using a thicker oil is fine but make sure all of your suspension bushes are good etc. It will make the ride a bit firmer which is what you want.

The Moss kit which I'm sure is the spax kit that has been sold since time began has bigger shocks than the mini ones.

Pete

youngcamper wrote:Ahh cheers, I didn't want to destroy my dampers. What grade oil should I use ?

Cheers,

Will

I've used engine oil in the past (20/50 which worked fine), but on reflection it would be better to use a motorcycle fork oil in a 30 weight - slightly more expensive, but may be kinder to the damper. here's a link to a source:

http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcy ... nt_cat/809


Try and flush out as much of the oil (move lever to pump it out) as possible before refilling. Don't lose any springs etc which may fly out when you remove the drain plug. When refilling, again move lever to transfer oil throughout the damper (bounce car )

Pete