Spring replacement

[Nedofthehill]

Hi Ladies and gents. 

Another returning member here.  Finally got some time to focus on getting the old girl back on the road.  I'll try not to ask too many pointless questions but I am going to need a bit of guidance from time to time I'm sure.

My first request for help is with choosing the right springs to replace the heavy duty ones fitted.  Parabolics seemed to be the spring of choice a few years ago, but looking through previous topics on this forum there's quite a lot of comments of the ride being firm unless under load and some great picture of members landys loaded up with bricks and stone.

There seems to be 2,3 & 4 leaf parabolic options which isn't helping with the decision making. 

The Land Rover is an 88 inch and will be used regularly, but mainly for short runs and occasional towing of a trailer. Mainly just by me I expect. 

What do you guys recommend?.  Standard springs or parabolics?  Any guidance with number of leaves/manufacturer etc would be appreciated to.

If the vote goes in favour of Parabolics then I'll need some guidance on the best shock absorber options too. From what I can see they need to be longer than standard. 

Thanks everyone.  Appreciate it. 




 

[Alan Drover]

I've been running parabolics on my SWB Series 3 petrol since about 2002. I'm on the second set now which I got through Dingocroft along with bushes and dampers. The front is 2 leaf and the rear is 3. Standard chassis and spring eye bushes are fitted but the dampers came with polybushes this time.
I'm happy with them, little maintenance needed and ok for towing too.
The fitter told me when he fitted them in June 2023, all the bolts came out easily as when the first set were fitted the bolts were coated in copper grease.

[Cedric]

I've been on a set of TI Console/Chris Perfect parabolics since 2001. For an 88" hardtop it has 2 leaf on the front and 3 leaf on the rear. When they were new, they lifted the truck quite a bit, so make sure you get shocks with enough travel.

For the ride, I preferred them to the leafs that were on. I found harshness was more down to the rubber on the wheels. Ex-110 Avon Rangemasters were bone shakers, but Goodyear Wranglers have been really good. Others will have a view.

I pressed new standard bushes into the springs a while back, and that restored the comfort of the ride. The springs have lost some of their height, but with 20+ years out of them, I will probably go parabolic again. Happy to take a ride in anyone's motor with standard springs to have my mind changed though ...

[Nedofthehill]

Thanks Cedric and Alan. 

Sounds like 2 leaf on the front and 3 on the rear is the way to go with Parabolics. It would be nice to buy British if I can, but are there any recommendations? 

I've found Sanderson Springs as well as GB Springs.  Sanderson seem to manufacture too. 

Or Paddock do a complete kit with Shockers, U-bolts etc...

[w3526602]

Hi,

Whenever I ponder on fitting new springs ... it isn't long before I reach for the
REPLACEMENT chassis catalogues. So two questions ....

1. Seeing as the bush is a DRIVE FIT in the chassis frame tubes, how does water get between the bush and the frame?

2. Does the factory manual specify a torque for tightening the spring eye bolts? I have oft wondered if over tightening the spring eye bolts will "crush" the steel tube onto the spring eye bolts.

2.1. During my time in the RAF, I frequently had to replace the rubber bushes doing the same job on the MORRIS J2 minibuses occupied  by gun-toting "Snowdrops" (RAF policemen wear white hats), that escorted our "nuke-laden" Leyland Hippos. But those bushes were a slack fit and too long. Tightening the swinging shackle bolts crushed the bushes, making the bushes bulge hard against the spring-eyes. A crude idea, but it worked, albeit with a short life span ... which wasn't a problem, taking only minutes the replace.

My ladies are now demanding my presence, in bed (with Barbara), as dinner is ready.
No sense of timing!

602



with Barbara

[Phil2014]

My personal preference is for standard springs, my 88 had parabolics on when I got it, no idea what make they were, but they were horrible, very harsh ride. I refurbished a set of standard springs and they transformed the vehicle, it sat nicer and a much more supple ride, for an 88 anyway.
Phil.

[Serious Series]

Thanks Cedric and Alan. 

Sounds like 2 leaf on the front and 3 on the rear is the way to go with Parabolics. It would be nice to buy British if I can, but are there any recommendations? 

I've found Sanderson Springs as well as GB Springs.  Sanderson seem to manufacture too. 
Sanderson sell GB parabolics springs I have just fitted a set.

Or Paddock do a complete kit with Shockers, U-bolts etc...

Sanderson sell GB springs I have just bought from them.

[Alan Drover]

Dingocroft offered me British or Indian springs. I chose the obvious ones.

[Rusty66]

I had RM parabolics about 30 years ago on my 109 which were good apart from the fact that back then the bush eyes weren't standard size.
I am now driving refurbished original springs on both my 88 and the 109 and am very happy with their performance and would always go standard refurbished originals again. In fact when they came up a while ago I bought a set of used 109 springs for possible future use and put them in storage for the time being.