Thread: Defender Coils

There is more to the PUMA front prop shaft issue than just binding.

You can check the "binding" by jacking up the vehicle from the chassis until both front wheels are off the ground, at full suspension drop.

Crawl under and turn front prop by hand, watch the joint at the transfer case and look and feel for a slight lock or when the uni journals touch.

Mine did not bind but the working angle was to much for the stock joint. It caused a vibration that only appeared at about 100k's, downhill, when using minimal throttle just to maintain speed.

I have a 50 mm lift.

Originally Posted by chops110

I've read lots about binding propshafts; I'm still not sure...

I've replaced the standard 235/8R16's by 265/75's (same roling diameter) and swapped out my standard 110 front springs for the LR heavy duty items (which are 130 front springs) to level up the saggy front end due to winch and barwork.

The vehicle sits level by eye. I wasn't intending to lift it at all. Mission accomplished? but then...

Very occasionally, at about 80km/h when going downhill, I do get a kind of a metallic vibration from the front. Can't feel it, just a noise, and it might happen once or twice every hour of highway driving. As others have noted, if I coast downhill and then let out the clutch I can make it happen sometimes, but it's very brief and only occasionally.

Is this the dreaded "binding" and what's it doing to my driveline? Is it worth the cost of the double cardan shaft when it's prtty minor? Or is it more serious than that??

Mine does something similar under heavy throttle. Double cardon on front when out of warrenty me thiks.

I am thinking of replacing the front springs on my Puma before our big trip. I put in a set of new OEM springs when I put the Koni 90 series shocks on as mine had 80,000km on then, and also fitted a Runva winch up front. The front is a bit low for my liking. Bump stop measurement is around 50mm, and the centre of wheel to underside of the plastic brow is 460mm as it stands at the moment.

I have a set of King Spring KRRS-04 spare from my Discovery, and was wondering what the spring rate was for them, and how they compare to the OEM one. According to the research I've done, they are 15mm lower then the KRRS-02 used on the County and a progressive spring.

Is it worth fitting them just to see?

Wasted a couple of hour today fitting the KRRS-04 springs. Great if you want a 2" lift, the bump stop measurement was around 120mm, bottom of plastic flare to centre of wheel 540mm. Took it from a gentle drive around the block, and could feel a bit of vibration so straight back to the workshop and put the old OEM springs.

I phone LR Gold Coast to buy some HD 130 springs, and they would not sell them to me! Said I have to have a 130 before they would sell them.

I also took it to a weigh bridge, just to see how things measure up.

Front axle - 1.30tons, Rear 1.50tons. That's with driver, passenger, and a fair bit of gear on board but not fully loaded or completely full of fuel and water. It will be really hard to stay under the standard GVM so need to upgrade for more load capacity..

So time to find some heavy duty front springs. Got the car booked in for a check-up on Friday at MR Automotive, so going to see what they have. On the phone they were taking about some HD Raised King Springs. I want to keep the bump stop measurement to be around 75-90mm to keep from the dreaded Puma vibration.

Originally Posted by Iain_B

Wasted a couple of hour today fitting the KRRS-04 springs. .

So time to find some heavy duty front springs. Got the car booked in for a check-up on Friday at MR Automotive, so going to see what they have. On the phone they were taking about some HD Raised King Springs. I want to keep the bump stop measurement to be around 75-90mm to keep from the dreaded Puma vibration.

I brought my springs from MR.......pretty sure mine are -03's and I reckon they are a little stiff and sit a little high....I have front bar, PTO winch and spare tyre on the bonnet

I will pop out and check the code......

Originally Posted by weeds

I brought my springs from MR.......pretty sure mine are -03's and I reckon they are a little stiff and sit a little high....I have front bar, PTO winch and spare tyre on the bonnet

I will pop out and check the code......

On the front I have KRFR-03HD.....considering all the weight I have up front I would like to go a lighter spring

Thanks Kelvin, please can you measure the ride height - Bump stop or centre of wheel to edge of plastic flare. Just need to to figure out how much those spring lifted your car.

Thanks
Iain

Originally Posted by Iain_B

Thanks Kelvin, please can you measure the ride height - Bump stop or centre of wheel to edge of plastic flare. Just need to to figure out how much those spring lifted your car.

Thanks
Iain

i am sure i measured before and after for the fronts.....maybe i didn't update this post....other have confirmed mine are a little stiff