Spax Telescopic Rear Suspension Kit - Early Sprite & Midget

Overview

This Spax telescopic rear suspension kit converts the original lever arm dampers to modern gas-pressurised telescopic units. Designed for early Austin Healey Sprite MK1–MK2 and MG Midget MK1 models, it provides a more controlled and tunable suspension setup while retaining compatibility with the standard rear axle arrangement.

The dampers are adjustable in both bump and rebound directly on the car, allowing changes to be made without dismantling. This gives flexibility to tailor the suspension to different road conditions or driving styles.

Key Benefits

• Adjustable damping without removal from the vehicle
• Control over both bump and rebound settings
• Gas-pressurised telescopic dampers for improved consistency
• Direct replacement conversion from lever arm setup
• Supplied with mounting hardware for installation
• Dyno tested dampers for matched performance

Fitment

• Austin Healey Sprite MK1 (Frogeye / Bugeye)
• Austin Healey Sprite MK2
• MG Midget MK1

Designed for vehicles originally fitted with rear lever arm dampers.

Not suitable for later quarter elliptic or coil-spring conversions unless confirmed.

What’s Included

• Pair of Spax adjustable telescopic dampers
• Mounting brackets and hardware for conversion
• Fixings required for installation

Original lever arm dampers are removed as part of the conversion.

Technical Details

• Krypton gas-filled dampers
• On-car adjustable damping
• Independent bump and rebound adjustment
• Dyno tested units for consistency
• Designed to work with standard rear leaf spring setup

Installation

Installation involves removing the original rear lever arm dampers and fitting the supplied brackets and telescopic shock absorbers in their place. The kit is designed to work with the standard rear leaf spring and axle arrangement.

• The rear axle must be safely supported independently of the chassis before removal of the original dampers
• Original lever arm dampers and associated fixings are removed as part of the conversion
• Mounting brackets must be correctly aligned before final tightening
• All fixings should be checked and tightened once the vehicle is back at normal ride height

This is a suitable installation for an enthusiast with prior experience working on suspension systems and safe vehicle support. A good understanding of working underneath the vehicle and handling suspension components is required.

Professional installation may be required where:

• Mounting points show signs of wear, corrosion, or previous repair
• Bracket alignment cannot be achieved cleanly during fitting
• The vehicle has non-standard suspension components or modifications
• There is uncertainty around correct installation or setup

After installation, damping settings should be adjusted gradually to suit driving conditions. Incorrect adjustment may affect ride quality and handling.

Why Choose This Part

This conversion offers a more adjustable suspension setup compared to the fixed characteristics of lever arm dampers. It allows changes to be made quickly to suit road use, touring, or more spirited driving, while maintaining compatibility with standard rear suspension geometry.

It is particularly useful where original dampers are worn or inconsistent, and a more tunable solution is required.