telescopic rears

Post by **kennatt** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:26 pm

is there any benefit from a telescopic conversion my rear lever arms are about shot and i'm considering a conversion.Cheers.

Post by **PSL184** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:30 pm

The average person on a totally standard car used just on normal roads would be hard pushed to tell any difference... If anything, you may find the ride too hard....

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 9:05 pm

A good conversion 'system' will transform your Minor ,standard or not. Technology has evolved a long way since the Minors production and good adjustable gas dampers are light years ahead in effective damping. They must be relevant to the car though and not just ones that just happen to fit. They also need to be mounted in the most efficient manner with relevant strengthening to the areas where loading is implied. Do your homework, research your options.
Some on here will advocate a thicker oil in your existing dampers, but this is not an exact sceience nor engineeringly sound advice,despite its apparent popularity.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:37 pm

Nothing wrong with lever arm dampers - provided they are not leaking, and the bushes in the link arm are ok. Well worth just changing the horrible worn out old oil in the dampers - for new oil. If you use 10W40 engine oil - the damping will be similar to original. Yes - using more viscous oil increases the damping nicely - nothing wrong with doing this - it's been done that way for many years, and it WORKS. Of course - if your dampers are leaking oil and the arms are loose in the damper housing - they need changing!
There are some good teledamper conversions out there - they do need proper installation with some strengthening and welding, and the dampers should end up vertical. They are not inexpensive !!Other kits that don't need any welding, and/or don't have the dampers vertical (or v nearly so) should be avoided!
Worthwhile making sure your rear suspension is in good order - with good bushes in the springs (these can usefully be changed to polyurethane bushes) - and make sure the rubber bump stops are present and secure on the rear axle - just above the U bolts ! there should be approx 1.5"/2" of clearance between the bump stops and the chassis pad.