helper springs

[william127]

think my classics gonna need helper springs as the boot always has 3 ammo boxes and a wooden rack in and i need to carry 2 or 3 hundred kilos of sand every so often, what type is best- air bags or secondary coils (like camel discos)? any make/model  highly/not recomended? thanks, william

[BAZZ]

127, have you had a look in some of the Caravan Mags, I've seen an advert in one of them but can't remember which one for the air assist rear suspension. Bazz.

[waveydavey]

the cheapest and easiest way if a bit basic is that you can get ruber that goes between the coils to stiffen them up; ten minutes to fit.

This always makes me laugh though; it is an ongoing problem with so many vehicles how to stiffen the back or keep it level with load. Land Rover come up with probably the best system ever to completely do away with the problem and so many people think the best thing you can do is rip it off again and fit coils.

The best approach: Get a RR with air suspension; the problem o levelling disappears as soon as you turn the key.

[carracarra13]

The other thing is with the classics the self levler (if it is still on it) if it is you sould be ok but if you need to replace this its not cheep  you could try what my m8 has with his heavy duity +1 then you dont have to alter other things like break pipes I got a quoat to do back only fitted and supplied  £100 when I had the job done £87 but in the end just went standerd heavy duity and seemed to be ok

[ChrisV8]

My RR has Spax adjustable shocks with "helper" coils on them, used by caravanners I understand, but excellent on the road and off road as well.

[Range Rover Blues]

Disco springs are about 10% strongfer than RRC because they don't have the SLU fitted.  Be careful though that you don't overload the suspension with all that sand, if you stay within the weight limits then an LSE is good for 2,650Kg all up, I seee ne reason other than the chassis plate why the 3.9 can't carry the same weight (that said, exceeding the chassis plate is illegal!).

Otherwise you can go for HD springs, HD Disco springs or helper springs fitting inside the coils, you can get air springs fitted inside the coils too with manual or electric inflation.  I though tabout fitting a pair to Blue to help off-road ability (forced articulation) but went with lockers instead.

You can also get assisted shockers, coil or air.

As long as you don't lift it, whatever you fit will still be backed up by the SLU if it works.

[clbarclay]

IIRC the payload is around 650Kg


I have got a pair of Air Lift helper air bags to go inside my rearsprings. The SLU got cut of a while ago due to long travel suspension mods. The down side of these is they are intended for standard suspension. This means that they are a bit too short for lifted suspension and they don't work with suspension that dislocates more than an inch or so. I plan on getting round these by rasing the lower air bag seat off the spring seat and sorting out longer springs so they don't dislocate (I've gone off incrdibly long travel rear suspension).

So far they are holding up ok with greenlaning and pay & plays including the RRC being over the axles in bog a couple of times. I just have a bicycle pump to inflae them at the moment, but I'm sourcing the parts to work them off the onboard air once thats sorted for on the fly operation from the drivers seat.

http://www.mattsavage.com/acatalog/Air_Lift_Helpers.html

The main reason I went for these was I wanted as softer suspension as practical while still being able to carry heavy loads from time to time.

A pair of air lifts of a RRC should support 400kg without the suspension moving.

[william127]

thinking about what ive been doinng with it over the past few days i think ill go for the internal coils as if i had the air bags id probably have them pumped up all the time. They should be a bit cheaper as well.

[william127]

next question- any ideas where i can get the internal coils from?

[clbarclay]

Is this a case of bolt on only or is fabricating something to suit an option?

The simplest solution would just be to replace the main springs with stiffer and shorter springs.