front ride height

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25th January 2019, 08:12 PM
Slunnie

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastor098

Measured my front this morning, hub to guard - 450mm [bigwhistle]

Have some King Springs and Billy's awaiting installation! [biggrin]

They're very light springs, but very comfy! You will probably need to shim the rears to increase the ride height by the same as the front compared to standard specifications - unless they revised their springs.
27th January 2019, 10:35 PM
laslo71

So the back has set to 61mm (bumpstop), both are the same. The front on the left is about 43mm and on the right is only about 36mm.
Difference is even bigger if I measure on the wheel hub-front wing: back 10mm and front about 20mm difference [bigsad]! The car visually also bends to the right.
Can be that the right spring is weaker?
28th January 2019, 08:04 AM
AK83

Quote:

Originally Posted by laslo71

....
Can be that the right spring is weaker?

Not so much weaker, just more fatigued.
Over time, and spring will lose it's springiness.

Swap them over, or plan on getting something like a 6mm spacer.
(I'd swap them over first and see how it changes anything)
28th January 2019, 08:27 AM
rick130

A spring never loses rate, (ie. they never go 'soft') as that is fixed by the material diameter and length but poorly heat treated ones can sag with fatigue/use.
29th January 2019, 07:31 AM
laslo71

Springs are new, but seems really soft. When I sit in the driver seat the left side lowers with about 10mm, so gets equal with the right.
29th January 2019, 09:57 AM
pastor098

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slunnie

They're very light springs, but very comfy! You will probably need to shim the rears to increase the ride height by the same as the front compared to standard specifications - unless they revised their springs.

Comfy is the aim of the game, for me at least! Compared to my current bumpstop ride, it'll be cloud-like for sure! [bigrolf]

I have SLS in the rear, so no shimming required [thumbsupbig]

Just have to nag my brother to stick them in for me...
29th January 2019, 07:43 PM
Slunnie

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastor098

Comfy is the aim of the game, for me at least! Compared to my current bumpstop ride, it'll be cloud-like for sure! [bigrolf]

I have SLS in the rear, so no shimming required [thumbsupbig]

Just have to nag my brother to stick them in for me...

Choose your shocks in that case. They have a greater effect on ride comfort than the springs in my opinion. Even with a stiffer spring, they ride better with lift because of that ability to absorb bumps rather than crashing through to the bumpstops. I think you'll be happy!
29th January 2019, 09:23 PM
Jazzman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slunnie

LR use both bumpstop and hub to guard. Spring makers from what I've seen use hub to guard, free length and installed length.

From LandRover for unladen vehicles:

Front:
Hub to guard: 500mm +/- 15mm
Bumpstop: 44.5mm

Rear Coil:
Hub to guard: 483mm +/- 15mm
Bumpstop: 71.5mm

Rear Air:
Hub to Guard: 473mm +/- 15mm
Bumpstop: 61.5mm

When we were developing suspension for these things 16+ years ago, every example with one exception we measured was at the bottom end of tolerance when new. ie they all sat at the lowest but within specification ride height.

If you're sitting at 480mm, then you're only 5mm below what it was most likely delivered at which is pretty good after all of these years. The springs in them are quite light and they're pretty poor at sustaining ride height and pretty much wont if you add anything to the front like bullbars, winches, under bonnet dual batteries etc. ARB even developed their HD raised spring at 180lbs, some other brands were lighter and when loaded they would sag back down to standard ride height and this subsequently led to increased rates. If you're at 480mm and want it back to standard then you can add 5mm shims over the springs which will bring it back up. This will work with standard shocks on the front but standard rear shocks wont like it. You have aftermarket shocks, I cant comment on those ones specifically.

WOW, my bump stops measure:
Front - 71mm
Rear - 96mm

All coils with Dobinsons 2" lift springs that are about 5yrs old. This needs fixing.
So correct me if i'm wrong, but a 2" lift should measure:
Front - 94.5mm
Rear - 121.5mm
29th January 2019, 10:15 PM
Slunnie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzman

WOW, my bump stops measure:
Front - 71mm
Rear - 96mm

All coils with Dobinsons 2" lift springs that are about 5yrs old. This needs fixing.
So correct me if i'm wrong, but a 2" lift should measure:
Front - 94.5mm
Rear - 121.5mm

The term 2" lift is nominal. Most will give approx 35-40mm over standard rather than the full 50mm. King Raised for example lift by 40mm front, 30mm rear.

If you take the standard ride height from the lowest spec, which is where almost all that we measured were when new then you would expect something around that below - so you're pretty much bang on for what is expected.

Front:
Hub to guard: 525mm
Bumpstop: 70mm

Rear Coil:
Hub to guard: 510mm
Bumpstop: 96mm
30th January 2019, 08:18 AM
AK83

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Choose your shocks in that case. They have a greater effect on ride comfort than the springs in my opinion. Even with a stiffer spring, they ride better with lift because of that ability to absorb bumps rather than crashing through to the bumpstops. I think you'll be happy!

confirm that!
When I bought my D2 spares car, it has some 'yellow' unbranded shocks in it.
On the drive home, it's suspension was as rock hard as any vehicle I've ever driven .. including hydrastatic sprung Minis!!
Diabolical doesn't do it justice. Wasn't expecting that.
Springs look original, very thin wire on the fronts (can't remember the rear) .. but they looked original too.

So as said. . choose your shocks wisely.

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