Straight order over the net, arrived by post. No tarriff/customs problem as under the threshold (which I think is $1000 in value). The whole transaction was easy as. May be a bit dearer at the moment though, with current exchange rates. No problems with the bags either, makes towing our Jayco camper trailer much more comfortable.
And they are still cheaper than buying polyairs in Australia. Seriously, the money you pay for polyairs in Oz is ridiculous for what they are!
Travelling OZ - Back in SE Qld again at the moment
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Originally Posted by rick130
Brian, whenever I've gone there the Firestone springs are only suitable for the rear of a 90 (or Disco or RRC) and they have the Airlift springs for the rear of a 110 which look suspiciously like the Aussie PolyAirs.
Originally Posted by rick130
Anyone have any insight ?
Hi Rick et al,
Not sure if this is what you're asking Rick but... we've had a set of AirLifts in the rear of our '97 Disco since mid-2002. Bought them from my favourite UK supplier, delivered to my door for a lot less than the local PolyAir price. AirLift is the only brand they offer for all model LRs. Ours did 80,000 km in our original rear springs, then another 90,000 km in our Lovells HD springs. Maybe half that with caravan in tow + Cape York + Simpson + a year in central Oz + +.
They gave up the ghost just a month or so back (crack near the RH inlet nipple). I've just ordered a new set. Unfortunately I didn't think to check US prices first so I'm paying a bit more than the Trucksprings price (mostly the UK freight charges). But still a long way under the local RRP (Recommended Rip-off Price) for PolyAirs. And besides, I think the Pommie economy needs our support more than the Yanks...
In the original (rather sagging) springs we ran them at up to 25psi towing. After fitting the Lovells HDs we run them at the minimum 5psi when not towing, even with our semi-permanent 200 - 300 kg load in the rear. Maybe 7 - 8 psi when towing with 200-220 kg ball load (but with a properly set-up H-R weight distribution hitch).
Ian
PS: Dont' seem to have restricted rear articulation too much:
Ian &
Leo - SIII 109/GMH3.3
Daphne I - '97 Disco 300Tdi Manual
Daphne II - '03 Disco Td5 Auto
Thanks Ian.
I also found the part # that are used for Nissan Patrol rears (same ID as 110/130 rears ) and IIRC they were a touch longer than the Land Rover ones too.
I'm actually leaning towards complete bags on the rear.
John/Bush65 has done some homework and sussed out the specs from Firestone via Truckspring.
Damned cheap for what they are.
You can install a solenoid valve between the bags and open it off road so that it helps articulation. ie., when one spring is compressed it will help extend the opposite bag.
The Airlift kit for a 110 is 61724. I verified this with Airlift as the information available is quite suspect. As far as I can tell, it is exactly what Polyair sells for three times the price. I'm guessing Polyair just rebrands them....
Also noticed this place in South Africa that supplies them with a better designed upper retainer that appears to be locally produced.
[ame]http://www.airsprings.cc/4x4/Airlift/AL1000/LAN01.MN285.738.pdf[/ame]
[ame]http://www.airsuspension.co.za/images/GR.LR%20Helper%20Kits.pdf[/ame]
Thanks for that.
I notice they supply an airbag for the front of a 110. Can you fit an airbag in the front? Is that safe? Does it have any benefits? Would that be a viable alternative to fitting HD springs in the front? Interesting...
Thanks for that.
I notice they supply an airbag for the front of a 110. Can you fit an airbag in the front? Is that safe? Does it have any benefits? Would that be a viable alternative to fitting HD springs in the front? Interesting...
Are they talking air that replaces the coil spring?
The other point is the shock runs up the middle of the coil spring so it has to be relocated.........I have a gut feeling the shock mounts that are fitted to classic rangie that has factory air bags can be adapted to fit a defender.
The air bag man has brackets to hold the shocks for the airbag replacement of the springs on the front of a defender.
Are they talking air that replaces the coil spring?
The other point is the shock runs up the middle of the coil spring so it has to be relocated.........I have a gut feeling the shock mounts that are fitted to classic rangie that has factory air bags can be adapted to fit a defender.
The air bag man has brackets to hold the shocks for the airbag replacement of the springs on the front of a defender.
You keep the front springs. The kit comes with a new shock turret that relocates shock outside of the spring.
$169 was delivered price that took about 3 days once despatched. There was a delay at the time as there had been a redesign of the top of all the Firestone airbag inserts (Coilrites IIRC) and had to wait for the LR ones to be produced.
I put their web address and look what happened!
Fast forward ELEVEN YEARS !!! And you just saved me a ****load with this post (jumps up in the search when you search for polyair)... $250aud with paypal screwing you over on the conversion rate from truckstop.com .... A $100 saving on buying from local ebay sellers.
seeya,
Shane L.
Proper cars--
'92 Range Rover 3.8V8 ... 5spd manual
'85 Series II CX2500 GTi Turbo I :burnrubber:
'63 ID19 x 2 :wheelchair:
'72 DS21 ie 5spd pallas
Modern Junk:
'07 Poogoe 407 HDi 6spd manual :zzz:
'11 Poogoe RCZ HDI 6spd manual
Several years ago I bought Firestone bags from Michigan Truck Springs for about half the price they were locally.
They did a great job of keeping the Defender level when I had the camper on the back. Unfortunately a few years later the air line was ripped out of one, I think caused by running over a stick. That apparently damaged the fitting in the top of the bag because after that I had a slow leak. Trimming the end of the hose and refitting it didn't solve the problem.
I contacted MTS again to get a replacement bag, but they no longer offer the right bag for the 110. They have one that fits the 90.
Because I was so pleased with how they performed (before I damaged the fitting), I decide to order from Australia, but couldn't get a single bag and had to buy the complete kit.
It was much more expensive, but it seemed to be the only way to get set up again.
1973 Series III LWB 1983 - 2006
1998 300 Tdi Defender Trayback 2006 - often fitted with a Trayon slide-on camper.
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Originally Posted by rick130
Hi Rick et al,
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