Rear telescopic damper conversions replace the original Armstrong lever arm dampers with modern telescopic shock absorbers mounted on purpose-engineered brackets, providing a major improvement in rear-end stability, damping precision, and ride quality. The lever arm dampers are adequate when in good condition, but their damping characteristics deteriorate progressively with age and use as the internal fluid bypasses the worn valving, resulting in a softer, less controlled ride that allows excessive body movement. The conversion is more straightforward at the rear than the front because the rear lever arm damper has only a damping function, with no suspension link role to maintain.
Conversion Benefits
The conversion repositions the dampers to an optimal working angle, improving suspension geometry and eliminating much of the rear-end bounce associated with tired lever arm units, giving improved body control during cornering and better wheel contact over uneven surfaces. The original lever arm damper mounting holes on the body and the spring plate are used, so the design remains fully reversible with no structural modifications required.
For cars fitted with anti-tramp bars, alternative lower-mounting hardware is available to maintain clearance and correct damper alignment. On the MGC, fitted alongside polyurethane rear spring bushes and a Panhard rod, the conversion completes a rear suspension package that transforms the car's rear-end behaviour to complement the already-superior torsion bar front suspension.
Kit Options
Complete rear telescopic conversion kits are available from Koni, Spax, and Gaz. Koni dampers are oil-filled and fully adjustable. Spax units feature 14-point instant adjustment. Gaz units are zinc-plated and freon gas-filled with 32 settings.
Individual replacement rear dampers are available in all three brands, and a Spax unit is available specifically for MG RV8 applications. Standard damping suits a road car with standard springs, uprated damping suits cars fitted with uprated or parabolic springs where the original damping would be too soft, and adjustable specifications allow fine-tuning for the owner's preferred ride and handling balance. The kits are designed to work only with correctly bushed dampers, the supplied units including sleeves matched to the mounting hardware, and using incompatible shock absorbers can lead to incorrect fitment or restricted movement. Installation walkthroughs are available to download from the specific product pages.