Drooping!!

[R2D2]

Hi chaps and chapesses,

I have changed complete HT side of the ignition on the V8 so as to get rid of that rather pricey amplifier that sat on the wing collecting copious amounts of water any time I went near a puddle. :D  So I put another Dizzy (with smaller cheaper Amp bolted to it) from a V8 Disco and a coil from same vehicle.

Connected it up turned the key ... 8-[  8-[  and WOW what a difference.  :dance: That's without a timing light yet... well pleased.

Anyway back to the drooping.  Got to put two new springs on the rear, now the manual :twisted: says do both together after splitting ball joint on the A-Frame. Is this the best way? or can it be done one side at a time without touching said ball-joint?

Thanks

[carls200tdi]

hi mate i did mine one side at a time by undoing the top of the shock and letting the axle drop take care not to stretch the brake hose hope this helps

[ben_haynes]

yes just undo the shock and jack the body up

[R2D2]

Cheers guys.

Did off side yesterday, but had to release centre brake pipe fitting just to get enough clearance to insert new spring.

Reasonbly pleased untill I put the wheel on and dropped it off of jacks only to find it's no better than it was  This is a factory 3.5 Efi 1986, could it be the self-leveling unit is shot.?

It still leans to the driver's side and slopes backwards. Is it the LPG tank making it sag?

Do I have to go HD springs? I don't really want to put a lift on it.... don't think it will last much longer.. :roll:

[dod51e]

Doubt if the self leveling unit would work anyway!!!  This unit somehow lifts things back up when a heavy load in in the back. None of mine have had one that worked.  If you have a standard petrol tank plus a gas tank (particularly if both full) then you may benefit from heavier duty springs to prevent the rearward sag.  The likes of Paddocks and MM4X4 will detail load rating for standard height springs for you.  As to the leaning....I havejust fitted a new tow inch lift kit with HD springs and guess what.....it still leans if there is any slight fall on the land on which it is parked, so I would not worry too much about that one but the sag???  Somewhere there is a reference regarding ride heigh from axle to bump stop.  Can't remember where or what it is but a bit of searching on the net should produce the answer.  Heavier rated sprngs may do the trick for you.

[clbarclay]

I'm not sure what the service life for the self leveler is supposed to be, but less than 20 years is my guess. We have had ones that worked, but that was some time ago.

Standard disco rear springs should do the job of replacing the SLU and cost less than HD springs. Some LR springs were different lengths on the same axle to help balance them, but depending just what the car is equiped with the centre of gravity can varry a bit so its still nog garantie of it sitting level. One down side of the relativerly soft springs LR are fitted with is that any lean is exajerated.

[jjsaul]

David, not sure what springs you put on, but i found range rover red/whites are about right. Theyre the standard cheapo h/duty ones.

Put some on my blue rangie and it lifted the back end about 2 inches compared with the old ones, and ive got more gas tanks than the white rangie.

[R2D2]

Cheers guys,

Took the standard ones back and put on +2's and it's done the job. :dance:

Now running level with full tanks, but the wife(only 5'2") needs a leg up  :shock: to get in it. :lol:

Spent Saturday playing round Brick Kiln Farm with my boy in his new(to him) Disco... Still smiling now. :clap: It never missed a beat, never missed a key turn.

Looking forward to Broxhead common on July 6th ;)  ;)

[mudslinger53]

Hi Lads, I am interested in your comments about  "Drooping".  I have a 1972 range rover that has been bobtailed and now got a 200 tdi engine in it and it droops down on the offside, do you know if by fitting heavy duty or different strength springs it would bring it back level.. Thanks for any info, Dave.

[clbarclay]

Its not a good idea to fit different rate springs on the same axle, if you want to balance it up either do like LR and fit springs of the same rate but different length or possibly fit some spacers to one side. LR make quite a wide range of springs several of which are the same rate but different lengths so so careful pic'n'mix may sort the problem out.

One potential problem with extensive modifications like engine chages is you can move the center of gravity over to one side depending on just where the weight gets fixed. just because a pair of springs are sided, doesn't necisserily mean they are the right lengths to balance any one particular vehicle.

[mudslinger53]

Cheers Chris, I will have a look at different springs. I have seen one other range rover with a diesel conversion and that also drooped to the offside...

[clbarclay]

One of the RRC at home has been converted from V8 to a TDi and it doesn't lean or atleast doesn't lean enough for me to have noticed. It does seem low and rather soft in the springs but considering its predcessor had HD lift springs that doesn't particuarly surprise me. Its predecessor (factory VM engined) does lean, but thats probably more to do with the aftermarket springs.

[R2D2]

Probably, if you tell your local 4x4 shop that it's bobbed and got a 200 tdi in he will suggest the correct springs for it. When I ordered mine he asked if it was diesel or v8.

Probably ignore the cut and give you a set for a diesel unless you've shortened the chassis?

My +2's on the back have levelled it up and seem to have sorted the lean to drivers side as well.

Good luck

[mudslinger53]

Cheers David, I will ask at local 4x4 dealer, JSF, Norwich. I have also heard about " Police springs" but not too sure what they are or if they would help me........perhaps they come with blue flashing lights and a siren ! ! !  I will post a reply when I find out what I am going to fit, Thanks to all replies, Dave...Norwich

[clbarclay]

As far as I'm awware the polic spec springs for the read were the standard HD spirng AKA red/white stripe. These are what I have on the back of a RRC (not bobtailed, but all rear trim and rear seats reomved) which had the bodge SLU cut off about a year ago. From experiance they are not a substitute for the SLU, having loaded it with over half a ton in the back the headlights were more like air raid search lights.

[mudslinger53]

Thanks Chris, I am going to ask at local 4x4 centre if there is any difference between the springs on a range rover with a V8 and one with a 200 TDI engine. The diesel engine is a lot heavier than the V8 so there must be difference somewhere.

[clbarclay]

On the front the V8 and diesel springs are different.

Here is a good guide to land rover springs. Its not 100% accurate, for example green/pink + pink/purple springs are infact variable rate and more like 120 to 178 but by and large its close enough in the detail.
http://members.shaw.ca/jbarge/springinfo.html