Thread: Opinions on my Disco1 springs

The car looks to be sitting fairly level in the carpark at the moment.
The petrol tank is nearly empty, LPG would be around half, the fridge is empty but in the back with a 10kgish toolbox and minimal other gear.

Anyone have any pictures of OME 762 fitted? These would be about the equivalent to my rears I think.

I have the same springs in my D1 Tdi but have the EFS shocks and have everything but a winch as well. When I went to Fraser last year I was loaded with enough stuff for 6 people for a week and it sat down in the back as well. I am leaning towards fitting air helper springs and for the price would go the firestones and bring them in from America. The only problem that I have heard about with the minimal research I have done so far is the firestones need spacers due to the lifted springs.

Let us know what you decide in the end.

Hi Justin,

Mine is a 6/98 build 4/99 Australian complianced and in 2005 I changed my suspension from the stock with 135K on the clock to the following setup.

Fronts

I installed the existing rears with OME Nitrochargers p/n N115's

I have an ARB steel winch bar and dual batteries

Rears

King springs, KRRR I think is the p/n they are the raised items and also slightly heavier than the originals and again with OME Nitrochargers p/n N44's

In the back I carry a set of drawers full with toolbox, compressor, recovery gear, bottle jack and junk, I also have a 39lt engle permanently in the back as well.

Initially the new setup gave about 50mm lift i the front and 60-65mm in the rear, this settled to 40mm in the front and 50mm in the rear.

When we were planning our outback trip in 2006 I knew that towing the camper would drag down the bum so decided to fit polyairs rather than heavier rear springs although the springs would have been cheaper they wouldn't have been as flexible without the trailer.



I usually run between 5-10lbs in the polyairs day to day dependant upon whats in the back and around 18-22lbs with the trailer on, they can go up to 30lbs so they have a bit left in reserve.

With only 5-10lbs in them they still flex well and dont seem to limit anthing




This setup has now done just on 70K and probably the only thing I will change will be the front springs when the winch goes on as they have now done 200K and probably wont hod up with the extra weight on them, will most likely look at LRA springs when the time comes.

Thanks guys. Excellent feedback so far.

I am thinking that unless my rear springs are buggered then they would be the best spec ones to have anyway. So the airbags would be high on my list. The spring place I rang originally said to keep my springs and fit bags too.

When I put my trailer on the coupling at the moment you can watch the bum sag as you lower the jockey wheel.

Glen what size tyres are you running in those photos?

Do you need the spacer for the polyairs as you do with the firestones with a 50mm lift?
The firestone bags measure 4.75in x 10.00in according to their website. Couldn't find a vehicle with 4.75in x 12.00in bags. Cruisers and Forerunners are 4.75in x 7.50in.

Originally Posted by Utemad

Glen what size tyres are you running in those photos?

Do you need the spacer for the polyairs as you do with the firestones with a 50mm lift?

Tyres are 245/75 R16 BFG MT's, which are around the 31" mark.

When you order the polyairs they ask if they are for raised springs or standard, no difference in the bags just a spacer block for top and bottom, they are the best of both worlds and tough, although a lot of paint is chipped off my springs and shocks (one shock destroyed by rocks) there is no damage to the bags.

Thanks Glen.

I've just looked at some photos of my car with its 245/75 16 Bighorns on (not on at the moment) and it appears to be the same at the front but slightly lower at the rear than in your photos

However the ground was not perfectly flat in the photo plus it had a full petrol tank and nearly full LPG tank plus full fridge etc.

I've emailed Trucksprings for a quote and will probably order a pair tomorrow or whenever they get back to me.
Should be easy enough to make some spacers from a rod of some hard plastic poly stuff. No need for alloy although that would be easier for me to source.
I was thinking of making the spacer only for the bottom but if polyairs have them top and bottom I might look into that.

Mine sits slightly higher in the rear without any air in the bags, and the spacer blocks are grooved to fit over the bottom spring retaining strap and recessed/stepped at the top to fit into the top spring seat and also slotted for the air line.





That shock had only done about 25K and was dented into the inner tube restricting travel just shows how damaging those gibbers are but not a problem with the bags.

My polyairs were only $330 from Pedders and I fitted them myself, put the two valves in the fuel filler compartment What sort of price are the Firestonebags from the USA, I bet the good dollar helps ATM.

The Truckspring prices are:
SKU4121 US$102.23
Postage US$40.91

So that is currently $151
1 AUD = 0.947332 USD

In the email I asked if postage would be cheaper with two sets. Someone else I know might get some.

How is it that your rear sits higher without air in the bags? I assume you mean when unloaded.

I should be able to copy those blocks in plastic.