Thread: Rough Defender

A couple of points.

1. Progressive rate springs have the 'softer' section wound more closely. The first few winds will often look coil bound at static ride height. These then collapse and touch, taking themselves out of the equation to give you the heavier rate (wider wound section)

2. There's a big disparity in spring rate between a 1980's 110 and any of the new ones, particularly in the rear. Any 110 with the load leveler had almost RRC spring rates in the back, around 180lb/in. Later ones (Tdi on) used much heavier 330lb/in springs, late TD5's on used progressive rate coils that IIRC went from around 270lb to 420lb/in.
land rover spring specifications

3. An anti-roll-bar, if fitted, will stiffen up the ride in a one wheel bump situation.

Well, can anybody tell me then if there would be a problem if I went and put similar rate springs to an 85 model 110 in my new 2008 model 110 ?

Originally Posted by Pete1

Well, can anybody tell me then if there would be a problem if I went and put similar rate springs to an 85 model 110 in my new 2008 model 110 ?

You don't have a load leveller in the back end to keep it all straight and level.
That's the only way the older girls could get away with those soft spring rates.

So do you have any suggestions as to how I can get a similar ride or am I stuck with what Ive got ! Surely I can drop the spring rate to 3/4 of what Ive got

Sure you can, you just won't be able to load it up like any old Defender, and you'll have to carefully select the right spring free length to maintain ride height.

I'll go into how to calculate ride height changes tonight or tomorrow, or contact one of the spring manufacturers and tell them what you want and they can wind a pair of new coils, if they don't have something on the shelf.
ARB do some 270lb 110 rear OME springs that look about the right length, and if you contact Andrew at Les Richmond Automotive he'd be able to help too or The Ultimate Suspension in Sydney (Minto actually, I keep forgetting about them, they really know what they are doing too)

So , if I drop the spring rate quite a bit for ride quality , as most of my miles ( 90 % )
are done empty, how would it be if a pair of poly air springs were inside the coil for when the camper was being towed or a load inside ?
If I do this, do you think the old rate of 180 lb is too low ?
I would rather have a bit of body roll than the ride I have now.
My 1996 Discovery was a brilliant ride , so even if I could go close to it would be good. It didnt have level ride !

Originally Posted by Pete1

So , if I drop the spring rate quite a bit for ride quality , as most of my miles ( 90 % )
are done empty, how would it be if a pair of poly air springs were inside the coil for when the camper was being towed or a load inside ?
If I do this, do you think the old rate of 180 lb is too low ?
I would rather have a bit of body roll than the ride I have now.
My 1996 Discovery was a brilliant ride , so even if I could go close to it would be good. It didnt have level ride !

180lb is too light for a 110.
look at something around 230lb front and 230lb rear.
polyairs will help with what you are trying to do. ide also ditch the OE shocks.
dmtd5...
do you know what the rates are of the OE puma springs and what were the rates you installed?

cheers phil

Ok . I have tried to find what the 2008 Defender and 1985 Defender is as standard but no luck or Iam looking in the wrong places. Just trying to get all the info before I jump in and change things. I even wondered if I could put the load leveler on this model ? I had no trouble with it on my old 110.