Springs

[Delk]

Several years ago I fitted a set of parabolics. In the last year the front has really started to sag so I started looking around. My Haynes manual lists the axle to bump stop height should be around 4.4 inches in the front and I only have 1.5!

How much clearance betwean the axle and bump stops does everyone else have?

[bogie]

Think you need new springs mate.Mine have 5 inchs and the other has 3.5.

[stratie]

My Haynes manual lists the axle to bump stop height should be around 4.4 inches in the front and I only have 1.5!

What part/page of the Haynes Manual did you see that??

[stevethedent]

Hi Delk,
I don't think that measurement is relevant as they are for they are for the original leaf springs which have a completly different curve.
the parabolic springs are named after the shape parabol (type it in your search engine).
I had some parabolics fitted a few weeks ago (see further down the posts) and my measurement is 2 1/4 inches. It will depend on what make and what load your springs are designed to take. Allthough my axle is now a lot closer to the bump stop the vehicle is almost 2 inches higher. I personally don't think you have a problem these springs are more prone to snapping than sagging.
Hope this helps.  :dance:

Le Dent

[Amma]

I personally don't think you have a problem these springs are more prone to snapping than sagging.

I can agree with that.

 :'(

One of my front springs has snapped and I'm off today to go and buy a new pair to fit as, like any springs/brakes, it is not a good idea to fit a new one to just one side.

I have been told that the reason why mine has snapped is down to having too hard a tyre fitted. I am currently running a set of 10 ply 9.00x16 tyres inflated to 20psi (as the official Land Rover workshop manual suggests for the One Ton model) so find it a little hard to believe that these springs are not up to the job.

 :?

I was wondering wether to fit heavy duty diesel springs on the front but since I already have parabolics on the rear I didn't want a mixture at each end of my vehicle.

 :roll:

[stevethedent]

Good decision!  [-X The handling would be extremely "interesting" if you mixed standard and parabolics. I am very impressed with the ones I got from landranger services in stockport (I spotted you are in Manchester). Good luck with it.

How are you getting on with your problem Delk?

[Delk]

To raise the ride height the distance between the axle and the bump stop must increase unless you are installing new tyres and that is why I measured it. It is listed in a addition in the back of the Haynes manual and I am only using it for reference only.

I spoke to they guy at Rocky Mountain and he has asked for some pictures so I will send them off this weekend.

[Amma]

I have Rocky Mountain ones on the rear with the optional extra leaf and now I have replaced the one that has snapped (ran out of time before it started to really hammer it down with rain) it is sitting an inch higher than the other side which still needs changing.

Distance from the ground to the wheel arch is 39 inches at the front with a 5 inch gap between the axle and bumpstop and then the rear is 40 inches from the ground to the arch with a whopping 7 inches between the axle and bumpstop. I don't think that I am ever going to get the axle to touch the bumpstops and even with the 9.00x16 tyres I still have a gap of 5 inches between the top of the tyre and the arch.

 :D

[bogie]

Just want to ask,did the spring snap about 3-5 inchs from the bush,if so i know why!

[Hightower]

Why?  Go on, do tell . . . . .

[Amma]

Just want to ask,did the spring snap about 3-5 inchs from the bush,if so i know why!

Erm, yes!

Go on then good sir, do tell.

 :-.

[Amma]

Good decision!  [-X The handling would be extremely "interesting" if you mixed standard and parabolics. I am very impressed with the ones I got from landranger services in stockport (I spotted you are in Manchester). Good luck with it.

How are you getting on with your problem Delk?

I've now got matching springs on the front after I fitted the passenger side one last night ust before it got dark. Did so as the weather forecast for today was rain, rain and more rain and what do you know.....




.....It's nice and sunny and dry this morning.

 :roll:

I do use Landranger at Stockport quite a bit but the Atherton branch is closer to us. Spoke to them at Atherton though and they said that they couldn't get hold of a pair of parabolics for me so I ended up driving to Darwen to get them instead. It was actually one of the chaps at Landranger in Atherton who reckon that the reason the spring snapped is down to my tyres being too hard and not having any flex in the sidewall.

The strange thing is that I had the understanding that springs were there to actually do the majority of the work of smoothing the ride!

 :? :-k

[bogie]

At the end of each spring,the leafs touch,as there is only 2 leaf  they rub together causing friction and then eventually cracking/snapping. Ive snapped loads but there is  sort of an answer,use cpc springs because they have a rubber bush between the leafs so they never touch BUT cpc (chris perfect components)  went bust last year so you cant get new ones any more.They used to cost about £90 each but they are rolls royce quilty springs.You can find them about,i bought a pair or rears from old sods the other week,£30 BARGAIN!!!!!!  With new polybushes!

[Amma]

 :-.

Mine has actually snapped a little bit further down than that. Where it has gone the two leafs would not have been against each other.

 :?

[bogie]

Cant say where it will shap but 2 bits of metal rubbing causes the friction and when sand and dirt gets in that makes it worst.when you fit them new you should grease them up,seperate the leafs first,grease them,rebuild them and then wrap them up with a bandage like material to protect  them(cant remember what they use now) they will last a lot longer.

[Range Rover Blues]

Military ones used to be wrapped in leather I think.