Calling on all suspension experts!!

I am stripping down and replacing my rear axle and suspension setup on my 1986 110 in preparation for a TransAfrica trip in 18 months time.

The axle has been replaced with a more modern TD5 setup. I currently have a 2" lift all round and want to replace both the springs and shock absorbers

They need to be HD to accommodate all of the extra weight I'll be carrying.

Whats the best replacement suspension setup and from where should I look to buy the kit from in the UK?

Thanks for any help in advance,

Ben Southall

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You should get lots of replies on this one :-)

For springs, most HD will do, but you should either use airbags or LR 130 helper springs to assist them at the rear. I use LR HD springs all round and 130 helper springs in the rear, and it seems to run well with a lot of extra weight. Others such as Sam R on this board have successfully used this setup. Airbags seem quite common now that most have learned to trust in them not popping as our natural suspicion suggests. Check other trips on www.africa-overland.net. Scorpion Racing springs sag apparently(?) and OME are overpriced are what I have picked up from reading this board.

Shocks are another 'I have this setup, it works, so it's the best' sort of area. OME are very expensive and many people complain they snap - those who don't snap perhaps have better all round setups, or whatever. Shocks are consuambles and won't last forever, so it seems sensible to not go for the most expensive brands. Koni were recommended to me by Colin at Scorpion Racing as being able to withstand heavy loads and 3 years later they are still going strong. They have a newer heavy duty adjustable version out (no idea about pricing) but my older standard ones seem ok (over 6,000km offroad in Morocco & WS heavily loaded is a reasonable test).

Others will have opinions - try not to spend too much just for the fancy packaging and bling looks ;-)

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Kiwi, 7 years around Africa. Overlanding channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/roamingyak

I'd go for a dual shock set up. They have twice the surface to dissipate heat, meaning they'll run cooler and as such last longer. And it's HD.

I used airbags in my springs, and they're cool. Gives you instant adaptable springs.

Thanks for all of your help with this topic which is subject to very biased towards personal experience and opinion!

From what I have gleamed from the answers a simple, Landrover part-based setup seems the most logical and easiest to replace once on the road should the unexpected happen, I have thought about the use of airbags before so again I ask the Q; where would be a good source to get these from?

Ben

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Matt Savage supplies airbags - and is a nice bloke to buy from:

http://www.mattsavage.com/

Matt Savage Land Rover Parts
Mooredge Farm
Knabhall Lane
Tansley
Derbyshire
DE4 5FS
UK

Tel 01629 55855
Fax 0870 706 1990
e-mail sales@mattsavage.com

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Kiwi, 7 years around Africa. Overlanding channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/roamingyak

On my 90 and previous 110 i run/ran OME, and love it. I've never had an OME damper snap, and thats with lots of high speed blasting around Salisbury plain.

on my current Td5 110, i've got genuine LR HD front springs, and some bearmach extra HD blue ones on the back. when i run empty they are waaaay to stiff, they rattle your fillings out!

once i laod up with some stuff for work they settle down a bit, so i'd imagine with the sort of just we'd carry for an overland trip, they would be fine... not sure what sort of axle travel i'd get though.

Where are you in Hants Ben? i'm in Swindon, so if you want to borrow the blue bearmachs to try them (i've currently put that standard SW springs back in) then you can see what they feel like.

Jamie

hi
i did quite a bit of experimenting on this matter.

For travelling I prefer progressive springs (KingSprings) an a big bore low presure damper(tough dough or Koni heavy track raid)

the dampers are double the bore of a normal damper and will not let you down on heavy pistes.

HD suspension is too stiff as well are high pressure dampers,will bounce too much on bumpy pistes.

Good tip is to (re)fit the front and rear steering stabilizers which will give you an improved handling an stabile vehicle especially when heavily loaded.

Hi Diesel jim

Thanks for the offer of testing out the Bearmach springs, unfortunately my landie is still up on axle stands and I wouldn't be able to road-test it in the next month or so.

If I could ask you a favour though!?!.....could you measure the springs for me as I 'd like to compare them to the ones I have removed, as I'm not sure exactly what they are. They've been shotblasted and are in pretty good condition so may end up using these up until we depart in 18 months time.

They measure:

Free height - 15 3/4"
No of coils - 6
Dia. of spring section - 3/4"

From all of the opinions I have gained from posting here and elsewhere I think I've come to the conclusion that OME are they way to go, so will start off by replacing the shocks first and then the springs further down the line.

Thanks to all for your guidance,

Ben

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www.bestlifeintheworld.com

OME is just a marketing company
their springs are manufactured by Kingsprings and the shocks by Monroe.

2" lift springs have the same length as standard springs when free.
as soon as you will put weight on it you will notice the difference
so don't bother measuring when free

HD springs are not suitable for long hauls on bad roads.you Defender will simply rattle apart.That's where progressive spring comes in.more flex in the first part of the suspension travel and stiffer the more it get's compressed.

stiff springs will also mean that your will start loating on corrogated roads.

Thanks for the info freecarver,

I hadn't heard too much about progressive springs before now. Can you recommend any outlets in the Uk which I can contact for more info and prices?

Cheers,

Ben

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Hello
Standard rear spring on new Defenders 110 is progressive. I have a MY2004 that I loaded with 585 kg in the center (450 kg) and rear (135 kg) of the loadbay. There was no seats in the rear. Max sinking was 4 cm (rear wheelarch) and a nicet softer driveexperience. More on springsrate: http://members.shaw.ca/jbarge/springinfo.html
Grove

Ben

We are having our Landy 110 prepared by Foley for a trans-Africa trip next year www.langebaan-sunset.com

We shopped around for quotes and to get a feel for the quality of advice people offer and costs.....these guys gave me advice that was well reasoned and based on real experience. They had some sage advice on suspension, check them out at

http://www.foleyspecialistvehicles.co.uk

Give them a call and ask to speak to Paul or Stuart with your query.....they should be able to offer an extra opinion that may be useful.

HTH

Regards

Nick www.langebaan-sunset.com

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www.langebaan-sunset.com
London - Cape Town 2010

No problem, the specs for the bearmach blue ones and the factory HD fronts i've got are:



Bearmach blue 110 part # BA2100. 520lb rating

40mm height increase

free height: 415mm (16 1/3")
8 coils (including the "end" ones, just 6 if you don't count those)

wire diameter 22mm (7/8")


the factory 110 front HD's (which are incidentally 90 standard rears) are:

O/S (right hand from rear of vehicle)

colours: red & blue
free height 395mm (!5.5")
6 coils (although 8 if you include the end ones)
wire diameter 16mm (5/8")

N/S (left hand)

colours white & yellow
free height 375mm (14 3/4")
6 coils (although 8 if you include the end ones)
wire diameter 16mm (5/8")

All 4 are off the vehicle at the moment, as i'm not carrying anything heavy so got fed up with clanging and bouncing around, and i don't see that i'll be refitting them for a few months yet, so the offer is still there should you want to try them.

cheers

Jamie

Excellent information from everyone!! Thank you for all of the help you've been with this thread.

From following the spring ratings which you've supplied I've narrowed down my current springs to being HD LR 90 rears on the front and HD LR 110's on the back.

I will keep using these for now as the ride is fairly good and when I get closer to establishing the actual weight of the vehicle when its fully loaded for the journey, reassess my choice of spring.

Incidentally I have decided to remove the self levelling unit which my CSW came with on the recommendation of others...do you think this is the best bet??

Cheers again,

Ben

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Removing the self leveller will not hurt. my 2001 Td5 hasn't got one, never has had, neither did my 300Tdi 110. i think they're only really meant for softer sprung vehicles to give some support for when passengers are carried. for cross country bulk load carrying liek overlanders will do, they're a waste of time.

the factory fitment is standard 90 rears on the front. i tried HD 90 rears and even with the weight of the winch and nudgebar, it was a little "front high" (although this was with the standard HD 110 rears which don't lift all that much. the bearmach ones might give the "high back end" stance which i prefer)

Ps.. i've got some HD 90 rears here if you want to try them.