Front coil fouling on chassis

[POD]

Just got back from a 2 day trip into Wonnangatta, got sick of the sound of the inside of the left front coil spring catching on the chassis rail whenever articulating. The 130 has been lifted around 60mm, so I guess there is a bit of lateral shift of the axle due to the arc of the panhard rod, which decreases the clearance. Wondering what others have done to overcome this issue.

[JDNSW]

I do not have the problem, not having a lifted vehicle, but I know that you can get adjustable length panhard rods, and I suggest this is what you need. Any place selling lifting bits should have them.

John

[Slunnie]

This is pretty common on LandRovers. The spring perches are so close to the chassis.

[Loubrey]

The downside of changing the Defender's geometry...

45mm to 50mm true lift is the maximum you can get away with out having to spend more money on a list of items to correct and protect.

Adjustable pan hard rods are around $350 for the Terrafirma ones and up to $400 odd for the proper ones sold by Equipe.

Landrover Tuning :: Adjustable Panhard Rod for Defender (http://www.landrovertuning.com.au/adjustable-panhard-rod-for-defender.html)

Cheers,

Lou

[POD]

Sounds like an adjustable panhard rod is what I need. Hadn't heard of this when looking into doing the lift, I bought a double-cardan front propshaft at great expense, I guess once you start it never ends.

[JDNSW]

I think that is what Loubrey meant!

John

[Vern]

$250.00 from ben at APT Fabrication:)

[Tombie]

The downside of changing the Defender's geometry...

45mm to 50mm true lift is the maximum you can get away with out having to spend more money on a list of items to correct and protect.

Adjustable pan hard rods are around $350 for the Terrafirma ones and up to $400 odd for the proper ones sold by Equipe.

Landrover Tuning :: Adjustable Panhard Rod for Defender (http://www.landrovertuning.com.au/adjustable-panhard-rod-for-defender.html)

Cheers,

Lou

Or support a local bloke:

APT Fabrication Custom Land Rover Parts & Accessories - APT Adjustable Panhard - Heavy Duty | Defender from 2002 | Discovery 2 (http://www.aptfabrications.com.au/defender/product/103-apt-adjustable-panhard-heavy-duty-defender-from-2002-discovery-2)

$250.00 for a heavy duty unit ;)

[Vern]

To slow Tombie, I beat ya:D

[rrturboD]

Once you make the panhard rod shorter, your spring issue should go away.
When I fitted mine, set the new adjustable to same as standard, fitted, then played with adjustment till the spring mounts on each side were same distance from chassis. I would have to measure it now, but think I ended up with it about 12mm shorter.

[mark2]

My 110 Perentie does this, I assumed it was due to the thicker coils fitted because of the weight of the Isuzu engine. Interesting that John does not have this issue with his Isuzu 110, although I doubt it's a panhard issue as it's standard height.

[JDNSW]

If you have this issue with a standard suspension height, and assuming the panhard rod is not bent and bushes are in good condition, I would be looking very carefully for damage to the mounting points of the panhard rod at both ends. Without going and looking at it, the chassis end is on a forged bracket that is attached to the steering box and chassis. At least one poster here with a perentie has recorded a broken bracket. (I have no idea how the army managed that!)

Also, check the radius arm bushes and their chassis attachment points, although if there is a problem there I doubt the springs hitting the chassis would be the first thing you would notice!

John

[mark2]

The below photo shows where it is rubbing - drivers side, on the bump stop extension plate.

91792


Had a good look, the spring is definitely closer to the chassis on the drivers side, however the panhard appears straight, mounts look Ok, bushes are tight. It steers well, no pulling or wander. Got me stumped...

[mark2]

If I put a HT spacer washer between the cast panhard mount bracket and the chassis at each of the bracket mount points, it should move the axle across to the right and even things out somewhat.

What are peoples thoughts on this?

[POD]

Mine is rubbing inside of the left coil, which would suggest that my panhard rod needs to be longer. Would be nice to be able to shim it but that would be going in the wrong direction I think.

[JDNSW]

That bump stop extension plate looks to be outside the chassis. Mine is flush with or inside the chassis, and also looks a lot neater than that. Is it an after market Isuzu installation? Or have there been chassis repairs?

I can't see a problem with washers under the attachment points of the bracket though, as long as we are only talking about a few millimetres. It probably only touches on maximum spring extension. Which raises an interesting question - you don't have a broken LH shock absorber allowing excess down travel do you?

John

[mark2]

That bump stop extension plate looks to be outside the chassis. Mine is flush with or inside the chassis, and also looks a lot neater than that. Is it an after market Isuzu installation? Or have there been chassis repairs?

I can't see a problem with washers under the attachment points of the bracket though, as long as we are only talking about a few millimetres. It probably only touches on maximum spring extension. Which raises an interesting question - you don't have a broken LH shock absorber allowing excess down travel do you?

John

No, not an aftermarket Isuzu - its an ex army 110. I'm not sure what the history of the bump stop plate is. It may be extra reinforcement which was put on later, possibly when it was rebuilt and the chassis re-galvanised by Tenix in 2010. Definitely not since the chassis was re-galvanised. I'll try one washer thickness under the panhard bracket. I think the shocks are OK, last time it was on the hoist the wheels hung down evenly.