Thread: Springs, springs, springs...

Hi Gav,
I can't help with the height, but from memory, if you go to range rovers.net, there is a section relating to spring rates.
Check out Rimmerbros and Paddock, factory springs are cheap as. Not to bad on shipping. If you need a guide to shipping costs, go to LR direct.com, they quote online for shipping, so just put some springs in your cart and pretend to checkout. That will then give you a rough idea of shipping costs.
Re: the load leveller, wasn't there a post on here years ago about a bloke who can rebuild them. I know the ball joint at the top is readily available, apparently the the rubber boot is hard to come by.
I need to do my load leveller too, so let me know how ya go!!

Just call Andrew Richmond, he knows what springs you will need to suit what accessories you have.

Originally Posted by bacicat

As you may have gathered, I need some info regarding springs. Now, the poor old RRC is a bit saggy - happens to the best of us in our middle years, but I need to sort this at some stage in the not too distant future.

I've finally dug it out from under the back verandah and will be putting it back on the road very shortly.

Now, i want to keep the ride as close to factory as possible - nice and compliant and not sitting any higher than it would have out of the factory. Now, I have a few extras that a standard set of springs probably won't cope with. It will have an ARB winch bar and winch, and has 2 batteries under the bonnet, so there is a lot of extra weight up front. At the rear, it is running an ARB rear step bar, and swing away wheel carrier, so a bit more weight and it's hanging out further than LR intended.

So, how do I work out what spring rate I need to make it sit at a standard height, and where would I get said springs from?

Also, anyone know who overhauls and repairs boge load levellers - mine's defunct...

Oh, and what heights should the guards be above the tyres? I'm running 31" MT's

Cheers - Gav.

Boof

If you put the rear springs, green stipe NRC2119, in the front the matching OEM rear springs are NRC4304. I'm running these in the rear of my 86 and although only 20lbs heavier in spring rate it is a noticeably firmer ride and gives a 2 inch lift.

Pete

I run 180lb/in all round at equal height. My axle weights are ~1170kg front (4BD1T) and ~1130kg rear.
It rides about an inch higher than my EAS with stock heights.

For comparison my 93 Vogue SE (EAS) is 1040kg on each axle.

The ride is very good, especially the rear. The front is overdamped because it's got Koni's originally intended for an 80 series landcruiser. These shocks also have 16mm shafts with ~500psi internal pressure so each one gives ~60kg of spring force. I used to run the front spring seats flipped to keep it level. With those Koni's I put them back to normal position.

For towing or load carrying I have a pair of 240lb/in coils for the back. You need about 150kg in the boot to make these ride acceptably.

Pretty sure you're still running the V8. I'd suggest 180lb/in rear and 150lb/in front. The 150's I think are diesel disco stock springs. Original RRC springs were around 130lb/in.
Then run longer springs, flipped seats or spacers to get the ride height you require.

Ok, I've finally got around to doing this bit, and I need a bit more advice. I've removed the rear springs - they are what I believe are purple (220 lb 17") units. The fronts are currently green - 160 lb.

The front is sitting waaay down after adding the bulbar, winch, etc so I was thinking of bunging the backs in the front, but now I'm thinking these purple units may be too much?

I have some other aftermarket springs I can play with in the back - I think 1 set will be too low and the other set too high, but im a long way off getting the final weight in the back sorted, so I'll just use what I have at the moment until I get this done.

The photo below shows a couple of things - first, the paint colour - it's not a great colour match in the photo, but it is definitely purple and the spring length is 17" exactly. Also, the check straps I pulled out - do I need longer ones if I put a spring in that gives me a slight lift or can I reuse this one, or do people just leave these out?



One last question - will a set of airbags that are currently being used in the back of a Defender 130 fit in the back of the RRC? They are they type that completely replace the springs. The reason I'm thinking of going this way is that the Boge unit is U/S on the vehicle now, and I thought this may be a better solution for,when the weight changes in the back of the Rangie - when I have the caravan on, etc.

Thoughts, advice?

Cheers - Gav.

Ok, the FIL confirmed that the rear springs are not standard - he had them changed when he was towing the Whittley Cruisemaster around with it (3,600Kg, 350KG ball weight! )

Geez, I was ****ed off the day he sold it....

So, thinking they may be a tad firm for the front end, but I may try them anyway. I've put some spare HD springs in the back - which lifted it about 10mm from where the purples has the back.

Will try the purples in the front this arvo if I get a chance - I have to go visiting family now...

I used to run purples in the front but had more weight than you, they may be a tad heavy put give them a go i suppose. I then ran 270's in the back