Springs and shockers which ones

[Martins Stag]

I'm going to be looking at replacing my springs and shockers next year and i was wondering what peoples view were? Ideally I like a set of progressive front springs and a set of height and rebound adjustable front shockers and a slightly uprated and slightly lower read springs with some uprated rear shocks. I used GAS on my Spitfire and they were good.
What I don't want to do is to make it too hard and bumpy. The Chris Wittor ones look good to me but is there anything else I should consider?
Martin

[Richard B]

Monarch sell progressive springs (front and back) for Stag. I fitted an 1" lower pair to the rear of the Stag, might go 2" lower later on.

I like Koni's, but they're getting a bit hard to find.

LD Parts sells Spax front and back, and also sells a strut gaiter that does not perish after 6 months!

[CharliesStag]

Save your cash and get the springs from Chris Witor.  He supplies the springs to all of the main guys.  It may also be an idea to get a set of camber adjusters for the rear too as the wheels wiil gain camber as you lower it.

If you want to have coilovers Monarch will be your only choice unless you build up your own with a coilover conversion kit.  The rear however may not be able to do this unless you put short springs onto lowering platforms (I do not know if these are made for the Stag) or if the damper mounts were seriously strenghtened on both the arm (££££) and the body, again being expensive.

I have been in a Triumph 2000 with the Chris Witor Springs and KYB Gas-A just dampers.  IMO it rolled a little on initial turn in (more than I was expecting) but it did drive lovely, and far far better than I ever thought a 2000 could.

Roger Keys speaks very highly of the Konis on his car and was saying that he really does not feel like changing them.  They are however not cheap.

If it were me I'd conisider the Konis or Gaz ; With the latter however I would seal the dampers, be it paint or copious layers of lacquer.  The anodised bodies do like to rust.

Some people find the Spax dampers a little firm up front but they seem to be fine otherwise.

[Flying Farmer]

I have two Stags fitted with Chris Witor springs, a Mk1 and a Mk2.
As has been mentioned you will need to change the trailing arm brackets to correct the camber. I did the mk2 first, and oddly enough the pair of brackets I removed from that one were suitable to correct the Mk1,

The mk 2 is still running its original shocks, back end seems fine but the front end is a little floaty under certain conditions.

The Mk1 has a set of non adjustable Kayabas (also known as KYBs) all round, these seem spot on for ride and handling and were reasonably priced from James Paddock.
Neil

[StagNL]

I have 1" lowered uprated springs and Spax all round from Monarch.  I did not need to readjust the rear camber.
Very pleased with the setup. Gaiters fron LD Part too.
I only really know of one that has fully adjustable spring and shock setup. Lee Sellars on his 2.5PI rally car.

[Richard B]

Quoted from CharliesStag

Save your cash and get the springs from Chris Witor.  He supplies the springs to all of the main guys.

Monarch sells 1" & 2" lower progressives (front and back). I think Chris only sells one version (1" lower for saloon) and thats only for the front.

Quoted from Flying Farmer

As has been mentioned you will need to change the trailing arm brackets to correct the camber. I did the mk2 first, and oddly enough the pair of brackets I removed from that one were suitable to correct the Mk1,

On the Saloons the shackles changed when the ride height was increased (circa 1975). I think the diff nosepiece height occurred at the same time.

[Flying Farmer]

Quoted from Richard

On the Saloons the shackles changed when the ride height was increased (circa 1975). I think the diff nosepiece height occurred at the same time.

My Mk2 Stag dates from 1976, and looked like it was on stilts when I got it, it had towing shocks with external springs fitted even though the tow bar was no longer fitted.
The 1" lowering springs probably dropped it by 3 inches at the rear, hence the need for the different brackets.

[CharliesStag]

Quoted from Richard B

Monarch sells 1" & 2" lower progressives (front and back). I think Chris only sells one version (1" lower for saloon) and thats only for the front.




On the Saloons the shackles changed when the ride height was increased (circa 1975). I think the diff nosepiece height occurred at the same time.

Monarch selling lower springs I was unaware of, but they do sell the rear springs to go with the fronts as well for a Stag however .  It's what two known Stag specialists supply and one has admitted to (I'm happy to say via PM ).

[Roger Keys]

CW 1 inch lowering springs all round and Konis. Rimmers still have stock of Konis (or they did).

Just a fantastic set-up. Did the 1CR on this. Very composed, but not hard or uncomfortable.

The Konis are expensive, no doubt, but you can tell. Had spax on the rear of the estate. They were OK, thats about all i can say. Konis next time when its back on the road.

[iggy]

chris whitor has !" lower rear springs for your stag 475lb £32.50 each exc vat, also he has the rear shackles for stags in 1.5 degree correction or 3 degree correction £30 exc vat a pair but you could use second hand shackles ive put the face lift mk2 2500 inner shackles [near the prop shaft] on my pre face lift mk2 2500 to give a bit of positive camber not to much, if you were to use the pre face lift inner shackles it might  correct your camber, i changed mine without removing the trailing arms took about 1/2 hour each side there £12.50 each exc vat from chris whitor.