Plunger and Rigid Frame

For stands click here, crash bar fittings click here.

Ariel’s version of plunger rear suspension was designed by Frank Ansty (hence the term ‘Ansty rear suspension’) in 1939 and was offered as an option on all models except OG and OH. It became standard fitment on the Square Four from 1953. Considered by some people to be the Achilles heel due to the high rate of wear of the 12 bushes, which will have to reamed after fitting. There are 3 types of centre spindle arrangement, which are all interchangeable, so it is wise to check which one you have before ordering parts.

The 1939 to early 1951 set up consists of a bolt type centre spindle with a grease nipple on top, a recess part way down and a separate guide tube with a small hole in the side for the grease to pass through. The rear wheel adjusters changed from a snail cam to more conventional adjusting bolts in 1950 and in 1951 a grease nipple was added to the link bolts.

Late 1951 to early 1952 saw the deletion of the centre spindle greasing arrangements but these parts are otherwise the same and are fully interchangeable. The grease now entered via a nipple on the sliding member although there was no change in part number.

The late 1952 to 1958 set up consists of a large diameter bar with a thread at both ends and no separate guide tube; this can be fitted to earlier models but note that the top cap is different. The earlier one is aluminium alloy with a boss on the underside and the later type is a steel pressing without a boss.

Rigid Frame

Plunger Frame