Thread: Let's talk about Defender rear coil options

Derek,

Browns Springs in Thomastown Victoria will build the springs you want all you need to tell them is the vehicle type, length & poundage.

They are very reasonably priced & I know a few guys on this site as well as
D2au that have used them. They seem to have a good reputation.

If you go to the Les Richmond site they have some interesting information on springs such as lengths, poundage etc.

If you wanted me to pick the springs up & drop them off at a freight yard I live not far from them.

Regards

Chuck

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

No takers on why my car has been transformed into a limosine with an incredibly compliant ride yet sitting as high or higher than ever?

I think it might be due to ditching the standard progressive rate coils and going with the lighter non-progressive 110 coils. It will be interesting to see how it rides when loaded. We're off to Fraser next week so I should get an idea of that and how the articulation goes next week.

I think you've swayed me fully towards the standard HD LR coils. The are a 330lb/in linear. I'll need to talk with LR Automotive again though as I think they made a slightly lower rate and also did a 270 linear (to light). I think this combination with the heavy dampers will be sufficient for most of what I want. After that point I'll look at the Polyairs.

Originally Posted by chuck

Browns Springs in Thomastown Victoria will build the springs you want all you need to tell them is the vehicle type, length & poundage.

They are very reasonably priced & I know a few guys on this site as well as
D2au that have used them. They seem to have a good reputation.

If you go to the Les Richmond site they have some interesting information on springs such as lengths, poundage etc.

If you wanted me to pick the springs up & drop them off at a freight yard I live not far from them.

Thanks Chuck, I've already talked to Les Richmond and will be again.

Originally Posted by roverrescue

Derek,
Have you driven a coiler with polyairs in the rear?
Certainly dont write them off. For your situation they seem a perfect tool. Leave them at bugger all psi and your ride will be as it is now ("Unladen the defender is fine")
And then when you load up put in the 30psi and away you go.
Id throw polys into the current springs and drive them for a bit to see how you go.

No metal only spring will give the variablity of ride height / spring rate that you can get out of compressed air!!!

Steve

The correct procedure for inflating air bags like Polyair or the Firestone equivalent, is to raise the pressure while the springs are at the normal ride height. Do this before the extra load is added, not after the springs are compressed.

Originally Posted by dm_td5

Thought about it Tim but it's an expensive option and I don't know of anyone who's done this. I'm also not sure how well the airbags go over lots and lots of dirt road travel. I suspect the bags themselves are fine but on a Defender the rear suspension is terribly exposed to the elements - dirt, rocks, etc - and I think this may be potentially harmful. I wouldn't want one failing. This is also a concern for me with the Polyairs too.

Air springs are more expensive, but not as much so if you buy from Trucksprings in the USA.

I have Firestone air springs (not talking about air bags like Polyairs) front and back. IMHO they are better than coil springs.

There is a thread in the projects and tutorials forum with a lot of info and a link to air springs suitable for the rear of a Defender at Trucksprings.

Just when you think it's safe to stop reading a thread... along comes a whole lot more information

Thanks John, I'll check out the links you've provided

I thought I would resurrect this thread rather than start a new one.

What (linear) rate rear springs would you (or did you) use on a 110 for a trip like the Canning? JamesJ on here is trying to decide what to buy.

AT the moment his county has ~170lb/in (or whatever the standard county rears are) - which are a bit soft now the load leveller has been removed (ok unladen though).

Many suppliers have a 320-330 lb/in spring - but will this be sufficient?

King have a 520lb/in spring! (and 470 from reading here) - but is that overkill???

What rate are the outer coils on a 130? I recall they are the same diameter?

(these sort of issues are what made me switch to air springs... I am sure I will enjoy the benefits of an (almost) infinitely variable spring rate and longer travel...)

Avoid the Kings as they are way to heavy unless really really loaded up. The LR HD's are the 130 outer coils and rated at 320 lb/in. The standard coils on the Defender are a progressive 270/420 lb/in coil.