Using 130 inner rear coils with raised suspension

[POD]

Been weighing up my options (so to speak) regarding springs and shocks for the 130; went into Quadrant Susp today whom I understand are the local Bilstein distributor, they quoted me $899 for 4 B6 shocks, fair bit more than LRA's listed price. Have since spoken with LRA and my plan is to take the vehicle to them and get them to set it up with springs and shocks on a drive-in, drive-out basis. They recommend setting it up for my usual driving- which is mostly my commute with the vehicle virtually empty, plus mountain trips with modest load- and perhaps get a second set of coils for my planned Kimberley trip when the vehicle will probably be near max load.
I've found with previous trips that by putting the inner coils in the rear, it seems to add the right amount of extra spring to go from modest load to a trip load. As I plan to include about 40mm of lift with the new spring setup, I'm thinking this will require some kind of spacer arrangement to make the inner springs do anything at the new height. I'm wondering if this has been done by anyone else, with or without success. Shouldn't be too difficult to make a spacer to raise the bottom seat of the inner coil, and the obvious benefit is that I already have the inner coils and may save the cost of a second pair, or polyairs which are more expensive than a pair of coils. I really like the ease of adding or removing the inner coils when loaded for a trip.

[newhue]

Pod, I have 1.5" taller LRA coils set to standard compression in mine. I'm in a similar pondry. After the last expedition I felt the outers didn't work to their best with the inners still being standard. And I'm not convinced coil inner bags are the go. Though they will cope with the weight, but not the articulation at those weights. They do seem to be tough enough though.
I think a spacer is the cheapest way to go, however I'm not clear, or even if it matters, about loosing compression distance and resistance with a sold spacer taking up that space.
I have been quoted 270 to wind a new set of inners 1.5" longer, so will most likely go that way. It's a simple approach, LR kind of made it that way for a reason I think, and it works well.

[Gibs]

On the back of my 130 I dropped in Extra Heavy Duty Kings Springs @ 50mm extra height, for my inner helpers I used Heavy Duty Rear Springs for a Holden Commodore station wagon - just perfect height and tension to match the EHD Kings! :)

[POD]

On the back of my 130 I dropped in Extra Heavy Duty Kings Springs @ 50mm extra height, for my inner helpers I used Heavy Duty Rear Springs for a Holden Commodore station wagon - just perfect height and tension to match the EHD Kings! :)

Now there is something that may be handy to know. Was the coil diameter spot-on or did you have to modify the seats?

[roverrescue]

POD play if you want but a set of polyairs will do three things despite the cost.

When lightly loaded around town ride smoothly when compared with OEM setup with polys at 5psi
When loaded for a trip and polys at 25psi you will get a ride that is better than inner coils.
When loaded for a trip and polys at 25psi you will get more height than then running OEM inners.

If it were my 130 I would go either polys in main coil or straight to air springs
Choose your poison.

Steve

[Gibs]

Now there is something that may be handy to know. Was the coil diameter spot-on or did you have to modify the seats?

They were spot on, didn't do a damn thing to the springs or the mounts. They are longer than the OEM inner's and quite a bit harder to compress as well.
So far I have had 2ton plus of rocks in the tub and Grace handled that just fine, I even have the rear sway bar removed and even under the load above she still cornered just fine, no terrifying sway at all. God only knows how she will be once I fit a Xeng Deflex sway bar system, but I'm betting she will feel like a HST on the bend.

PS: The springs were for a VS/VT

[uninformed]

They were spot on, didn't do a damn thing to the springs or the mounts. They are longer than the OEM inner's and quite a bit harder to compress as well.
So far I have had 2ton plus of rocks in the tub and Grace handled that just fine, I even have the rear sway bar removed and even under the load above she still cornered just fine, no terrifying sway at all. God only knows how she will be once I fit a Xeng Deflex sway bar system, but I'm betting she will feel like a HST on the bend.

PS: The springs were for a VS/VT

2 tons!!! sounds like you need a 4x4 or 6x6 truck :D

[Gibs]

2 tons!!! sounds like you need a 4x4 or 6x6 truck :D

Got one...its called a Defender 130! :BigThumb: