defender 90 rear springs

[Bibsta]

Hi

My question pertains to rear springs for the defender 90 2010 model. I am installing a reece hitch. I plan to do some medium duty twoing with the vehicle including 1400kg van, loaded roof rack plus 4 passengers.

I am assessing springs from diferent manufacturers.

I see ARB/OME do a 220lb and a 300 - 340lb option with apprx 45mm of lift. 45mm of lift is a little more than what I want. Free highet of these springs is 420mm and 410mm respectively.

I see Lovells do a 310lb option spring with apprx 30mm lift. Can't get any further details from them at this stage on free height.

I'm just wondering what the best option is. Should I go for the lighter rated OME unit at 220lbs? This will be a taller spring so the vehicle should settle down and ride more or less level when loaded.

Or should I go for the 310lbs rated Lovell? The heaftier spring will support a load better I understand this. I just don't want to lose too much ride quality and articulation. I know the defender 90 has just about no weight in the rear as standard.

Not too interested in airbags at this stage becuase I fear I would lose alot of suspension travel. Correct me if i am wrong here.

Basically, would anyone like to share their expriences with rear springs decision making for the rear of the 90? As you can see my requirements will include towing a medium weight van with gear on the roof and young passengers i.e. my kids.

I've had a pretty thorough search on this forum but I haven't really found the info I am looking for. At this stage I am leaning towards the Lovells 30mm lift spring described by the supplier as a 1/3 stiffer rated product over stock. They tell me it has a 310lbs/inch rating but no free height data.

The other one I am thinking about is the taller than stock OME unit that is rated to 220lbs which I am led to believe is not much over stock rating but is 45mm lifted over stock.

Thanks for any help.

[Gonebush]

Your option of heavier springs sounds good for the trip with all the extra weight, however when you have finished your trip you will find the ride will be almost unbearably harsh. A better option you may want to consider is Polyair springs; air bags that fit inside your coil springs. If you are going to have an increase in weight pump them up, when not in use, you only need 5-7 psi in the bags leaving you with a standard ride. Food for thought.

[Bibsta]

Thanks gone bush. I think they are a smart option aswell. Infact I run a similar concept in another 4x4 I have(monroe gas rizer). My only concern is that with the bag fitted in the stock coil will this object being in the middle of the spring limit wheel travel. I do a fair bit of twisted rutted track action regularly. I like the way the car flex's up so well. I don't want to lose that.

I realise you can drop the pressure out of the polyairs. But is the spring action impeeded at all by the polyair bag being inside the spring. I'm talking at max travel like wheels off the ground scenarios.

Thanks for the tip anyway I am considering this carefully as I don't want an unbearable ride aftwre the tip precisely as you say.

Thanks

[PhilipA]

I have had Polyairs in and out of springs on 2RRCs several times.

In practical terms I find it hard to tell whether articulation is lost but realistically you must lose say an inch upward travel with 4-5 PSI in them.

I tried several things including having a link between the bags with a tap so that the compressed wheel forced the other wheel down with the valve open , like the new RR.

I also took the valves out on several tracks which gave me full articulation. I know you are not supposed to but I never had a bag pinched by the spring. IMHO this is the best solution.

Otherwise I have never noticed any ill effects offroad on mountain tracks.

If you want the car to be good towing AND offroad in mountains then you have to compromise as the requirements are different.
Regards Philip A

[Bibsta]

philip, thanks for the feedback. Polyairs are definitely on the option list. However, I am wondering if this idea has merit;

220lbs/in rated 45mm lift over stock ARB/OME rears. These springs are only just above the OE rating for the d90 rear end. But I am thnking the extra height will allow for being loaded up. Yet they will have a similar unladen feel to stock, just will sit a little higher at the back permanently which i don't really have an issue with.

Going to get my highlift under the back of it in a minute and see what it looks like.

Also looking into whether or not OME can supply that particular spring in a progressive rated type spring as appose to linear type rated spring. I'm thinking that would really be a very good solution.

Any feedback on my thought process is welcome.
Thanks, Bibsta

[Bibsta]

got the highlift under it and raise the back 45mm from refernce point. Don't like it. I'm afraid I like my 4x4's like my women - short, lightwieght and bog stock. Looks like polyairs are getting the nod.
Cheers, Bibsta

[Dougal]

I'd go for the 220's and add polyairs if needed from there.
300+ lb/in will ride so rough it'll bruise your arse. I had some around 330 lb/in in the back of my RRC and they just bounced over the top of everything. My rear axle weight is about 1170kg.

I'm currently running 240 lb/in springs in the back of my RRC. These are too stiff for light duty but work well when towing. They hung quite low when towing 3 ton of van and trailer but still coped fine, they would have been perfect if I could get the van back further on the trailer.

[Bibsta]

Thanks for that dougal. Agree with your thoughts. Atm I'm leaning towards polyairs with stock coils.


Can anybody tell me if the 94-97 US spec defender 90 has the same size rear coil as the current Aussie spec Defender 90?

Long shot I know.

Reason is money. I can get polyair bags from the states for an extremely good proice. Made by Airlift which is the same product that Polyair sell here in Australia.

I'm talking less than half price shippemd to my door compared to the price I have from poly air here in Aus.

Cost is a big factor. I need to watch my pennies atm very carefully.

The Australian polyair part number is: Polyair product 90 SERIES & DEFENDER (SWB)99898.

The US Air Lift part number is: Item# 61741. 94-97 US defender models.

If this is the same product then I can find the US unit at a super low price. But I have no way of knowing if these two units are the same size and shape spec wise etc.

Can anyone shed any light/add any wisdom? I am hoping the rear defender 90 OEM spring never changed throughout the years inclusive of US models.

Thanks, Bibsta