Replacing the original Armstrong lever arm shock absorbers with telescopic dampers is a well-proven modification that significantly improves front suspension response, ride quality, and handling consistency. These conversions retain the fundamental factory suspension geometry while introducing modern damper technology for improved control and driver feedback. The conversion is more involved at the front than the rear, because the front lever arm damper performs a dual function, damping vertical wheel movement and providing the upper suspension link in the wishbone geometry, so the kit includes both the dampers and the bracketry needed to maintain the upper geometry.
Installation Method
The original lever arm unit is retained in place to act as the upper wishbone, but its internal valve mechanism is removed to eliminate damping resistance, allowing the telescopic damper to take full control of suspension movement. The valve retainer is accessed through the top of the damper body, and a small loss of oil during removal is normal. The unit is then refitted to serve purely as a suspension link. The supplied upper mounting bracket fits beneath the lever arm damper on the front crossmember, with the lower mounting plate attaching to the rear face of the lower wishbone arms using the spring pan fixings.
When correctly installed, the telescopic damper sits behind the suspension assembly, aligned between upper bracket and lower mounting pin, and the lower mounting pin must be parallel to the upper bracket to prevent binding or uneven damper wear. Quality kits include precision-engineered bracketry that picks up on the original mounting points and provides the correct upper suspension link length and angle, whereas less rigorous kits compromise the geometry, leading to handling oddities and uneven tyre wear.
Kit Options
Complete front telescopic conversion kits are available from three manufacturers. Koni dampers are oil-filled and fully adjustable, widely regarded for build quality and longevity, suited to long-term ownership and refined fast road use. Spax units feature 14-point instant adjustment via an accessible adjuster screw, allowing ride characteristics to be fine-tuned for varying conditions. Gaz units are zinc-plated and freon gas-filled with 32 settings of adjustment, offering a cost-effective entry point into telescopic conversion.
Individual replacement dampers are available in all three brands for ongoing maintenance. The appropriate specification depends on the rest of the car, a standard suspension benefiting from standard or fast-road damping, uprated springs suiting firmer damping, and track-day use justifying adjustable specifications.
Fitting Notes
All kits include stainless braided brake hoses and retaining clips for safe clearance around the new damper positions, and the braking system must be fully bled after installation. Dampers are typically calibrated for fast road use with standard rate springs, but adjustable variants can be tuned for uprated or competition springs. All fixings should be tightened using nyloc nuts or thread locking compound where specified, and all components rechecked after an initial 10 to 20 miles. Telescopic dampers also offer easier servicing than the original layout, as a failed damper is renewed in minutes rather than requiring a lever arm rebuild, and they reduce sprung mass slightly compared with the cast-iron lever arm bodies.