98 D1 V8 sitting uneven left to right - 20mm lower on drivers side

[twr7cx]

Have a newly acquired 98 D1 V8 with 115,000km on it. Driving it felt a bit weird as I realised it's not sitting right. It's sitting uneven left to right - the drivers side is 20mm front / 15mm rear lower than the passenger side. The vehicle is stock standard except for a Smart Bar on the front (plastic bullbar).

Approximate hub to guard measurements:
Driver front - 420mm
Passenger front - 440mm
Driver rear - 465mm
Passenger rear - 480mm

According to Phil in < bump stop clearances or rim/hub to guard measurements (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/81711-bump-stop-clearances-rim-hub-guard-measurements-2.html) >:


now for d1 as per NVD sheet
all modles up to 3.9l 5door including diesel.
as writen
standard height...460mmF 490mmR
minium height ... 440mmF 465mmR

these are hub to guard measurements.
LR do not measure bumpstop heights.

It seems that the vehicle has a bit of sage therefore all around but significantly worse on the drivers side.

Any ideas? Both drivers side springs sagged badly and to be removed and swapped out? Are the springs different left to right - i.e. could they have been installed in reverse?

[justinc]

😮😮 wow i never noticed that!!!
Stock guard measurement is 460 from wheelarch to rim centre. I will have a set of stock springs here you are welcome to soon.

J

[trout1105]

How Fat was the previous owner [bigwhistle]

[rangieman]

How Fat was the previous owner [bigwhistle]
Very obviously :Rolling:

[twr7cx]

Stock guard measurement is 460 from wheelarch to rim centre. I will have a set of stock springs here you are welcome to soon.

That'd be great thanks. I'm sure I'll be able to make a combo that sits about even then.

[edddo]

Not uncommon for the d1 although 20mm is on the high end of things.
Your springs are past use by.
I have of spring spacers (from LRA I think) on the ds to even it up.

[twr7cx]

I have of spring spacers (from LRA I think) on the ds to even it up.

That's an idea too, ta.

White Tiger Spring Shim 6mm (http://www.lrautomotive.com.au/contents/en-us/p187.html)

I wonder if a 6mm spring translates to a 6mm increase or something else?

[edddo]

A 6mm shim just lifts the plate the spring sits on by 6mm
20 mm is too much to correct with shims imo
12 would be my maximum and that would require longer mounting bolts

[twr7cx]

A 6mm shim just lifts the plate the spring sits on by 6mm

Yes, the shim will space it 6mm, but then as that side rises, it also transfers some of the weight that was on the low side back over to the other higher side which means that the 6mm shim may have the effect of lifting that side more than 6mm or it may have the effect of lowering the high side which means that the height variation between each reduces.


20 mm is too much to correct with shims imo
12 would be my maximum and that would require longer mounting bolts

From White Tiger Spring Shim 6mm (http://www.lrautomotive.com.au/contents/en-us/p187.html) :


Recommended a maximum of 3 shims per corner totalling 18mm

[BigJon]

Also worth checking the body mounts. Have seen them cracked and sagging. Particularly the ones at the base of the firewall.

[twr7cx]

Also worth checking the body mounts. Have seen them cracked and sagging. Particularly the ones at the base of the firewall.

I got under and measured the distance between the chassis rails from front to rear both sides and they're consistently spaced so don't think there's an issue there. Visually all the body mounts look fine.

[twr7cx]

Purchased six of the Les Richmond Automotive White Tiger Spring Shim 6mm and fitted two of them to the rear drivers side (12mm spacing) and three to the front (18mm spacing), along with refitting the original coil springs < Standard coil spring - different variants of or wrong springs? (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-1-a/267965-standard-coil-spring-different-variants-wrong-springs.html) >. Had to replace the factory bolts with ones 5mm longer to fit them (combined with the thread excess that already existed). Vehicle is now almost perfectly level to within 2mm or so - looks even at the rear and about 2mm lower on the front drivers side - I can't space the front drivers side any more as 3 shims (18mm spacing) is the most that LRA recommend. I am curious, but timewise I cannot be bothered to throw the third shim in on the rear drivers side to see what effect it has on the front from the weight transfer.