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Helper springs for Disco? Helper springs for Disco?
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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
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  #1  
Old 25 Jun 2003
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Helper springs for Disco?
Hi,
I'm considering uprating my rear suspension one way or another. I'm thinking of helper springs as used on Camel Trophy Discoveries, or Air Helper Springs.

Does anyone has experience with such a set up?
Are the Helper Springs on the CT Discovery the same as on the Defender 130?

Thanks!

Rob
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  #2  
Old 25 Jun 2003
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Robbert,

Why bother! For roughly the same price you can have a set of stiffer springs made to order, exactly the way you need them.

Rgds,
Roman
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  #3  
Old 25 Jun 2003
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Agree with Roman. When setting up my 110 I went looking for helper springs as a good way of improving the load carrying ability and a) got advised by several different companies / sources that it would be better to uprate the springs because these would work more efficient than the helper solution. b) helper springs are quite pricey when you include the retainers that need to be fitted and more than compensate for the cost of new springs.

[This message has been edited by Toby2 (edited 25 June 2003).]
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  #4  
Old 26 Jun 2003
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Thanks both,

Currently I have the Bearmach medium duty in the rear (+1 inch or so). These are pretty close to waht I like here, and did well last year in Algeria. But now I have a roofrack + rooftent fitted, and I feel I need something a bit firmer.

I don't really want to fit the HD Bearmachs because the additional hight (=higher center of gravity), so I thought, ... .

What are the alternatives to consider? Something progresive, firmer and slightly higher then standard.

Any suggestions?

Rob
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  #5  
Old 26 Jun 2003
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Robbert,

Speak to Colin Aldred at Scoprion Racing ( http://www.scorpion-racing.co.uk ) and he will make springs appropriate for your needs (but be prepared to wait a while).

Don't bother with the centre of gravity stuff - two inches doesn't really make a big difference, particularly for a properly loaded vehicle. Just put the heavy items on the floor ...

Rgds,
Roman
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  #6  
Old 26 Jun 2003
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That's one thing where you guys in GBR are lucky for, all these companies with kit and knowledge about Land Rovers and mods.

I'll give them a call, and we'll see...

At least Land Rovers are cheaper here ;-)

Thanks guys!

Rob

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  #7  
Old 26 Jun 2003
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Quote:
Originally posted by Robbert:
That's one thing where you guys in GBR are lucky for, all these companies with kit and knowledge about Land Rovers and mods.
That's true, but we could say the same about you when it comes to Landcruisers. And they are much cheaper over here!

Rgds,
Roman (UK)
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Old 27 Jun 2003
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Quote:
Originally posted by Roman:

That's true, but we could say the same about you when it comes to Landcruisers. And they are much cheaper over here!
[/B]
Yeah, I saw somwhere that your where looking into a TLC and are getting rid of Poland Rover.
If the TLC is cheaper I wouldn't doubt on which to buy, but they are at least twice as expensive as a disco here (the same reason why I didn't buy a 110). It's strange, but disco's are amazingly cheap here, and it's pretty all-round.

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  #9  
Old 27 Jun 2003
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Robbert,

I sold Polandrover more than a year ago and am now tinkering with a HDJ80. Some vital work has been accomplished but it is still a long way to go. BTW, heavy duty springs were ordered from Scorpion Racing, just as previously for the Discovery. Trouble is, Colin is VERY liberal with deadlines, so if you decide to have them made specially to your order rather than get an off the shelf uprated set, you will have to put up with his way of doing things.

To put you further into the picture of the UK market specifics, the best English speaking Landcruiser specialist I have found is in Holland. Hardly a compliment for local mechanics.

Rgds,
Roman (UK)

[This message has been edited by Roman (edited 27 June 2003).]
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  #10  
Old 28 Jun 2003
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Hi,

I have fitted Airlift airbags to the rear of my Defender, and I have found them to be excellent. I didn't bother with on-the-move inflation/deflation, just fitted them with a tyre type valve on each side, which can be inflated with any tyre pump/compressor.

They have the advantage of being easily adjustable for load/road conditions. Fitting them into the coils was dead easy - a few hours' work at most. They cost about 80GBP / pair in the UK.

The only question mark in my mind is how durable they are. I'd have thought they would chafe through very fast, but mine have done 15000km through Africa so far, and aren't yet showng any sign of wear. We'll see...

One big benefit for me is that when fully inflated, they really help to reduce the body-roll on my vehicle, but when I deflate them, I can still get full axle articulation. FWIW, I also adjust the airbags to get the vehicle perfectly level when sleeping in the roof tent!

Hope this helps,

Michael...
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  #11  
Old 25 Aug 2003
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I have fitted Airlift airbags to the rear of my Defender


Hi SandyM
Airlift bags?
Do they fit a Disco?
Who supplies them?
Thanks Kitmax
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  #12  
Old 28 Aug 2003
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Aussie made Old Man Emu (OME) springs are the best Land Rover springs you can buy. They have something like a dozen different variations on the Land Rover spring so you'll be able to tailor a spring rate for the job.

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  #13  
Old 5 Sep 2003
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Hi Kit,

The airbags were a great investment. My one remaining concern was regarding how long they would last - I really thought they would wear out against the coils, or get pinched. But they have done over 30,000 (African!) km with absolutely no signs of wear, apart from the big polyurethane bushes at the top, which are starting to disintegrate. I will just put in some new ones - they will probably be very cheap.

They are definitely available for Discoverys - I got mine through Foley, but here's a link I found on google:

http://www.affordablewebs.co.uk/vinc..._&_springs.htm

Hope this helps!

Michael...

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