Spax upgrade?

[Mr Spigot]

I fitted Spax shock absorbers to the rear suspension on my 1960 saloon about 20 years ago and they have worked well but wondered if they now might need replacing. I have two questions:
1. Are Spax the best option for replacement telescopic shock absorbers? I have heard Koni are good, and some think better, but can find no details of where to get them or what the part number is.
2. I have read that the shocks should be mounted as near vertically as possible but mine are at about 45deg. It is a long time since I fitted them, but I seem to recall that if I adjusted them to fit more upright with the next bolt hole on the top mounting, they bottomed out over big bumps with a great thud.
I attach a photo below which may clarify:

Spax.jpg (73.26 KiB) Viewed 890 times

[philthehill]

The SPAX gas adjustable are very good and I have a set being fitted to the front of my Minor as part of the suspension upgrade using Morris Marina suspension parts. I also have a set which are in the process of being fitted to the rear.
There is nothing wrong with the mounting arrangement you have which is very similar to the arrangement of fitting the tele dampers to the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) versions of the Morris.
It is better if the dampers are mounted as vertical as possible which may mean inserting turrets into the boot floor.
Way back there were kits available which mounted the damper vertically under the rear wheel arch.
My current rear tele dampers (non SPAX) are mounted fore and aft and are angled rearwards and they work well.
The Spax dampers have not yet been fitted to the rear as I have got to make arrangements to accommodate the anti tramp bars as well as the SPAX damper mounts. They will be fitted in due course.
As regards requiring replacement. Take the damper off the vehicle and try the damper - see what the resistance to movement is and go from there. It should not be assumed that the damper is faulty even after a period of time.
Here is a supplier of Koni dampers. I would make enquiries with them as they may be able to help you with the required details/dampers.
https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-RW3079KO ... gJoKvD_BwE
Follow the links in the KONI website for more details
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/koni/7010246? ... gK-3fD_BwE
Here are some details of Koni dampers i.e. extended length, compressed length.
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/koni/7010246? ... gK-3fD_BwE
Compare the details above with the SPAX dampers already fitted..
Use the links in the Koni web site below to find what you want and a supplier.
https://www.koniuk.co.uk/products
When mounting the SPAX dampers you can use Super Pro one piece mountings bush in poly Pt No: SPF0718-80K. Much better than the two piece rubber bush.

[plastic_orange]

I found that the Spax shocks don't really like being at an angle. I went through 2 sets on the rear of my Minor, plus 2 sets that lasted 2 weeks on the front of my rover P6b (similar angle). On my rover i actually heard the seals fail and then spew fluid. I replaced (under warranty)the rover ones with Konis and no further problems. The front Spax on my Minor lasted 20+ years with no problems.
I may have just be unlucky though, but don't think so.

Pete

[dp]

It looks like you could remake the upper bracket to have a higher mounting point for the damper so that it is vertical and still has enough ravel.

[Mr Spigot]

It looks like you could remake the upper bracket to have a higher mounting point for the damper so that it is vertical and still has enough ravel.

The upper bracket is flush with the floor pan, so any higher would mean cutting into the floor which I would not want to do.