DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Old Leafsprung Land Rovers
HTML https://ollr.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Technical tips & Questions
*****************************************************
#Post#: 48223--------------------------------------------------
Leaf Spring Woes - S3 88' 2.25p
DIR By: onfire
Date: January 14, 2013, 8:27 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Hello once again,
SInce I have owned Lola (1974 SWB 2.25p) she has slumped at the
rear. I thought it was perhaps that the rear springs (having sat
in a field for 10 years) that had worn out, as they were pretty
much flat) and when I saw a pair on eBay for £25 I couldnt say
no. The old springs were 7 leaf IIRC and the new ones are 9 leaf
... with the original black paint and the remains of a
part-number sticker evident which got my hopes up. I fitted new
SWB shackles and found that ... the new springs made no
difference! She still sits very high at the front and low at the
rear.
[IMG]
HTML http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx63/onfire-photos/P8030011-1.jpg[/img]
I couldn't work out what the problem was ... the front shackles
seem to be correct, the rear shackles are correct, the distance
from the rear axle centrepoint to the shackle hanger on the
chassis is correct ... but the front springs have 11 leaves
which I suspect are designed for the diesel engine rather than
my lighter petrol.
I wonder if the front springs aren't compressing as they are too
strong for the light weight on them, which is forcing the rear
of the vehicle lower?
I fitted the rear wheel on a carrier at the back of the vehicle
a few weeks ago and have noticed the rear right hand side has
sagged a little more ... I was shocked to see that the rear
drivers side spring is now completely flat though! By luck I
happened to park next to another Series 3 SWB in town and took
pic's of his springs for comparison ... pics to follow when I
get home ... I do not know if his was a petrol or diesel but he
had 11 leaves on the front springs and 7 on the rear ... yet his
sits beautifully level (for the same empty condition).
The one big difference I noticed was that his spring leaves are
much thicker than mine - my front and rear spring leaves are
both thin. Why might this be?
I can get Bearmach front springs for around £50 each but I
intend to put a heavy TDi engine into Lola so that seems a waste
of time and money. I wonder if I have bought a cheap set of
springs for the rear, or are there heavy duty ones that I should
look at buying instead?
Are there different springs, leaf thicknesses? If so, what are
they and what should I get? Im not sure how healthy it is
driving on a flat spring for long, and it might be a few months
before 'she who must be obeyed' gives in to me getting the TDi!
Thank you
#Post#: 48224--------------------------------------------------
Re: Leaf Spring Woes - S3 88' 2.25p
DIR By: Goose
Date: January 14, 2013, 8:40 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The 2.25 petrol and diesel are not very far off the same weight.
They both share the same blocks and both have cast iron heads.
The diesel will be a shade heavier with it's heavier flywheel
and crank etc i should imagine, but I doubt there is much in it.
It looks like you've got a duff set of rear springs to be
honest. Were they shitpart ones by any chance? I had a set that
collapsed like that after a year or so of use, utterly hopeless.
Someone is making some proper original springs again now, but I
can't remember who it was. ::) I'm sure someone else will know
though!
#Post#: 48225--------------------------------------------------
Re: Leaf Spring Woes - S3 88' 2.25p
DIR By: onfire
Date: January 14, 2013, 8:44 am
---------------------------------------------------------
That will be the second set of rears - the first being up to 40
years old and now these ... but these are almost new to look at
and have almost immediately replicated the same sagging at the
rear ... it could well be a terrible coincidence though.
Are there heavy duty springs? Will they lift the rear without
breaking my spine over bumps?
Would putting 1 ton shackles on the rear spings help lift it? I
suspect they wont do anything useful though as the springs are
compressed flat already
#Post#: 48226--------------------------------------------------
Re: Leaf Spring Woes - S3 88' 2.25p
DIR By: onfire
Date: January 14, 2013, 9:00 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Here are the original springs looking pretty flat ... I didnt
change them for nearly 12 months though and they never hit the
bump stops or ought with her sagging!
[IMG]
HTML http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx63/onfire-photos/Lola%20Land%20Rover/P5210017.jpg[/img]
#Post#: 48228--------------------------------------------------
Re: Leaf Spring Woes - S3 88' 2.25p
DIR By: onfire
Date: January 14, 2013, 9:08 am
---------------------------------------------------------
A fairly poor shot of the newer springs - thinner but looking in
pretty good condition.
[IMG]
HTML http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx63/onfire-photos/P9240040_zps4b2327ef.jpg[/img]
#Post#: 48276--------------------------------------------------
Re: Leaf Spring Woes - S3 88' 2.25p
DIR By: NoelC
Date: January 14, 2013, 2:52 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
There do seem to be plenty of peddlers of shite leaf springs out
there, top of the tree (as usual) is Shitpart.
Genuine can still be had...at a price, LR Direct list genuine
options but depending on what you want they are between £80 and
£180 a corner. A genuine spring will have the number stamped on
it, and possibly "BRAMBER" as well. At least they ones one my 2A
one ton did.
One of the mags did a feature on a place that made springs here
in the UK to a decent standard although I can't remember for the
life of me the name of the company. Anyone? Kev perhaps?
#Post#: 48294--------------------------------------------------
Re: Leaf Spring Woes - S3 88' 2.25p
DIR By: estwdjhn
Date: January 14, 2013, 3:47 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
That's Britpart spring syndrome I'm afraid mate - all their rear
springs do that (for some unknown reason their fronts have
tended to be better). I had a set brand new from them about 5
years ago, and inside 3 months the rears were bending the wrong
way :o:
Cheapest option is probably to get a rusty set off someones
breaker, strip them down and clean them up - that's where all my
springs come from these days. You might even find the originals
perk up quite a bit with that treatment. I did a set for Bitsa's
rear 5 years ago now (to replace the aforementioned Britpart
items) and she is still sitting nice and tall and riding well
now, a good 60,000 miles later...
#Post#: 48299--------------------------------------------------
Re: Leaf Spring Woes - S3 88' 2.25p
DIR By: onfire
Date: January 14, 2013, 4:15 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Aha ... I thought the black paint maybe meant they were original
... but Britpart might explain a lot.
Perhaps I will rescue the old ones and strip them then, although
I hear Bearmach springs are about £60 a corner but don't know if
they are any good ... or I buy genuine LR ... and sell a kidney!
When I bought the eBay tat I had spent a long time looking into
springs and found them very hard to source, indeed the chap at
GB Springs suggested it would be cheaper to put their parabolics
on all four corners than buy original springs off them as noone
buys them anymore. IIRC they were going to be £250+ each
I had hoped that I had bought decent springs on eBay ... and I
have no guarantees about the original ones that I removed ... so
I guess the question now is Bearmach or LRSeries genuine parts?
Thanks guys
#Post#: 48302--------------------------------------------------
Re: Leaf Spring Woes - S3 88' 2.25p
DIR By: hippydave
Date: January 14, 2013, 4:21 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
is there any reason that you would not put on the GB springs
paras.
#Post#: 48303--------------------------------------------------
Re: Leaf Spring Woes - S3 88' 2.25p
DIR By: onfire
Date: January 14, 2013, 4:27 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
My Dad put paras on his - not Britpart but not RM or GB Springs
either - and they sagged within 18months and the truck has
always wallowed around corners even with gas shock absorbers. My
springs have always been quite soft bouncy and so I never felt
the urge to go para' ... besides which there is the initial
outlay which I dont have right now, and I reckon that would be
an insurance modification and Im trying to keep those to a
minimum.
I should have thought to ask before ... sticking with original
leaf springs, what is the difference between rear springs with 7
leaves, 8 and 9 leaves (apart from +/- 1)?
Thank you
*****************************************************
Page 1 of 2
DIR Next Page