in a right 2 and 8... front springs and shocks

[clover]

I am overhauling my suspension on pinky. Partly due to the fact that I've added heavy duty bumpers, winch, tree sliders etc... so with all this extra weight I've noticed the suspension is a bit saggy...

I did the back first. I've fitted platform spacers - 30mm (so just over 1") from Wizard. New heavy duty springs and Bilstein gas shocks. Backs were not a problem.

Fronts are a right nightmare! I had to really compress the new springs to get them in and for some reason the drivers side one looks as bowed as a banana when in place. Its located properly but I am sure it should not bow like it is. Its almost as though the bottom platform no longer lines up with the top.

Also the shocks are a nightmare to get on. They both seem to be at a skewed angle. I had to lever them straight with a long lever bar to get the turrets to locate on the studs. The nuts on the bottom of the shocks are nigh on impossible to do up. I managed to get one bottom one done up about 5 turns but I am currently putting twice the recommended maximum torque through it. The other side did up a few turns and then rounded off (not sure what I can do about that now apart from buy another new shock). Also it looks to me like the bottom of the shocks are fouling the head of the bolt holding down the platform.

Dunno what I am doing wrong (everything probably!)

Well fed up... going to buy a Defender next time...

[chris9119]

John

Sounds like you've really FUBARed it.

Can you get it over to me so that we can have a look and see what's, what?

If not, give me a call.

[clover]

Well TBH I don't know if I can. The only way it could be got over to you would be to a drive it with no nut on the bottom end of one of the shocks. I'd best give you a ring...

I think its the spacers that are the problem but I don't understand why... I am sure other people have used spacers. In fact I am 100% certain my friend Franc from JE engineering had them fitted on the front of his Range Rover.

[andyb]

Are you using spaces/lift blocks on the back and front? If so, I'd refit without the lift blocks. Sounds to me like there isn't enough weight to fully compress the springs to get them to fit with the lift blocks in place.

Do you know the lb/in of the springs you are fitting? I wouldn't recommend any over about 220lb/in on the front of a Disco with a winch. This will still give a 2 inch lift.

HTH

[clover]

Hi

I don't know the strength of the springs... they are britpart H/D ones and have red and white paint on them.

I've not put it on the floor on its road wheels as yet to see what it looks like then.

I may well do this later if i can get the bottom nut done up a bit more on one side and try and get the bottom one sorted on the other side (Really don't know how I will accomplish this as yet as the end threads are pretty chewed up...

Cheers

John

[andyb]

they are britpart H/D ones and have red and white paint on them.

According to LR spring rate figures the red and white strips are 170lb/in with about an 18 inch free length. If you are retaining standard height suspension then they will do the job.

I wouldn't worry about the shocks for the moment, just get it on it's wheel with the springs and see what it looks like from there.

I'd suggest that it is new shocks time anyway, but you have to resolve the spring/alignment issue first.

If you can post pictures of the problem they might help also :)

[clover]

Hi

I got one shock tightened up. Took a lot of effort but I managed it. I took the other side off as its basically knackered the threads (ordered another new one - ouch!). I compared it with the old ones and they have recesses in them to prevent them interfering with the bolt heads. my new Bilstein don't have these and thus the nuts really tight to do up because its having to cut a groove in the bottom of the shock. I may get the angle grinder on the replacement when it comes and put a flat on it to sort this out..

Ho hum...

I've got one side on its wheel and it does not look to bad but it was the less bowed of the two anyway.

[clbarclay]

they are britpart H/D ones and have red and white paint on them.

According to LR spring rate figures the red and white strips are 170lb/in with about an 18 inch free length. If you are retaining standard height suspension then they will do the job

I've seen conflicting figures published for Red/white strip springs. The figure in the official workshop manual states 16.9" free length and measuring a set of britpart red/whites they are about that length.

Have you fitted the red/white springs on the front without the spacer? Experiances of others I've read on this and other forums is a red/white should give plenty of lift, even when fitted with a winch.

[clover]

Hi

I have fitted then with the spacers and I think you are probably right. I most likely don't need the spacers and they are most likely the cause of my problems. I am probably going to take them out the equation today. Although i have a horrid feeling I'm not going to have much joy getting the bottom nut back off the one shocker I got on.

Really got a dilemma now... do I take the spacer off the one side I have in bits and assemble that side and then hope that the other side plays ball. Or do i leave well alone and just fit the replacement shock I have got on order.

hummmm....

[andyb]

Remove the spaces as I first advised :)

I agree with clbarclay, those springs will be fine without spacers.

[clover]

Hi

I have it all together and on its wheels.

You lot are right I don't think I needed the platforms on the front as with them the front sits 1" higher than the back when on level ground.

I found the shocks went in real nice once I had ground a flat off one side of the shock (about 1mm or so I took off) so they did not foul the bolt heads.

I took it for a drive down the road and took it up to 60mph and fortunately I don't seem to be getting the steering wander you normally get with a suspension lift. I don't know why this has not thrown out the castor angle on the panhard rods.

One thing I have noticed... my +2" brake hoses are no longer long enough. More expense! Garr!