D1 Suspension replacement

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AdamD1

AdamD1

Well-Known Member
Posts
682
Location
Essex
Hi all, first post, I've been reading to forum for some time looking for answers but there's so many conflicting opinions that hopefully this warrants a thread of its own. Car is a 1997 D1 300tdi manual. This is my first 4x4, have wanted a disco for years, the right one turned up at the right time so here we are! So far I've fitted a steering guard, tree sliders, tank guard and diff guards.

I've just been on my first off road trip in Northumberland and it's pretty clear that the suspension is very tired, I want to keep it looking as standard as possible but obviously there is the question of budget, can you recommend some insurance friendly standard height replacements? I don't think the weight added warrants HD suspension does it? The car is far more capable than I am right now, I will want some tyres at some point but I don't see me needing to lift it.
IMG_2282.JPG


Thanks in advance.
 
Morning,

Welcome to the loonyzone,
Nice clean looking D1 you got there.

The weight you have added is not even the equivalent of a kebeb eating sheila, So not something to worry about for HD springs.
The question is , what is your budget? as that can be the real defining point on what you get.

One thing, as I am sure you have done, but before spending a fortune on it, I assume you have checked it for the usual rusty places and it is sound.

Cheers
 
Thanks, hence not wanting to modify it too much. Already a fortune into it so no worries there! I've had it professionally cured and undersealed by CSK in Hertfordshire, he was pretty complimentary about its condition underneath. There are a few jobs on the to do list but nothing serious, I'm told it's one of the better ones that they've seen. It's had some thorough preventive maintenance including alternator, water pump, p gasket etc so hopefully I'm going about it the right way.

As for budget, the cheapy britpart oem spec kit would be a nice price to pay but realistically £300 or so would be nice. Once of those I'd rather buy once situations but within reason, it's a second car to use for exploring the countryside so all low speed green lanes, I'm not creating a Dakar racer.
 
Funnily enough, we run two 97 D1's - the suspension on those has been renewed with standard genuine springs on both, britpart yellow polybushes on one, and superpro polybushes on the other. I can't tell the difference between the bushes - both better than standard, and the new springs made a big difference too. I think you'll get the most bang for your buck by fitting uprated shockers though - don't go mad with remote reservoir things - just a nice decent brand of moderate gas shock - We've got Terrafirmas on - I'm not sure they were the best choice....

That looks in nice order :) - I hope your use of the term "undersealed" is just a colloquialism, as underseal :mad::mad::mad:, will rot any car out in short order :( - sorry, but, dinitrol or bilt hamber products are the way to slow the rust as much as possible - and regular retreatment will stop it dead - "underseal" just hold water against metal, forming the perfect damp conditions for the tin worms to thrive :rolleyes:.

I like the way you are considering the insurance ramifications of any mods too. many don't - they must like living dangerously:rolleyes:
 
What did you pay for the genuine springs? And yes indeed. It was cleaned, cured and dinitroled so all good there hopefully, I'll keep an eye on it but I'm sure it would be worth a re treat after a couple of years. Might look at a course and a welder of my own, sure it'll come in handy if I hang onto it for long enough!
 
IIRC, think they were less than £100 for each set - (Britpart G suffix parts).

What do you mean by "cured" seems a funny word to use in this context...:)
 
Might be the wrong word to use sorry, but products such as kurust that stop active surface corrosion, not there was anything significant there to start with.

The britpart ones on paddocks etc were the ones I was looking at, I did see someone on here with a positive experience of their standard shocks too. As they are cheap with a 2 year warranty there is a 'what's the worst that could happen' argument. The poly bush kit was something else I will probably do at the same time, it's bound to be in need of a thorough refresh.
 
AdamD1 said:
Might be the wrong word to use sorry, but products such as kurust that stop active surface corrosion, not there was anything significant there to start with.
Click to expand...

No probs - was just curious. IME, the best product for in situ rust conversion is Fertan - and I love the irony of it using water to destroy rust too - bilt hamber and dinitrol produce better stuff, but IME, it's hard to use upside down under a vehicle - more for the restorers of this world...

AdamD1 said:
The britpart ones on paddocks etc were the ones I was looking at, I did see someone on here with a positive experience of their standard shocks too. As they are cheap with a 2 year warranty there is a 'what's the worst that could happen' argument. The poly bush kit was something else I will probably do at the same time, it's bound to be in need of a thorough refresh.
Click to expand...

Ah!, Britpart!! - Be careful with britpart - they are often referred to as sh*tpart, and, sometimes with with good reason. Their suffix "G" stuff is usually OK, BUT I personally steer well clear of their wheel bearings for example - Timken ONLY!

A search on here should help you choose the right brand of bits.... IME, all the aftermarket "brands" have holes in - some of their parts are good, and some are complete rubbish - it's quite a lottery, and one of the best things about this place, is the knowledge and experience of which bit is worth having, and which are best left in the "shop".

Britpart yellow polybush kits seem OK - certainly for the money... £70 ish, against £180 ish for superpro - which I wouldn't fit again - not worth it IMHO.
 
They did it all so it may well have been a dinitrol product, was about £500 for the job iirc but I decided it was better someone that knew what they were doing gave it a once over and did it properly before I got too deep into the mechanicals. New window seals too so it is now nice and dry inside as well!

Where did you get them from? Paddocks don't mention anything about a G suffix so far as I can see.

Certainly seems like a knowledgeable place, not joined anywhere else!
 
mine came from Craddocks... - new window seals are worth doing - 'specially the rear quarter lights :cool:

What's it like mechanically ? checked the rubber doughnut yet ??;)
 
Every page in the book has a stamp mostly by 'specialists' so it appears to have been well cared for. I've got the gearbox oil to change but everything else that came out looked relatively fresh, certainly been no surprises so far. Low range and diff lock work fine, starts on the button, cleaned the intercooler and did the EGR bypass, so far so good. I've not inspected the doughnut, I'll have a look.
 
Having given it some thought I'm going to try and go for LR springs, £18 just doesn't seem like enough money for something so important. I'll try and find some gas shocks for around £25, and will probably replace the turrets etc while I'm at it. Springs are £60 each on britcar, will see what the stealers have to say tomorrow.
 
AdamD1 said:
Having given it some thought I'm going to try and go for LR springs, £18 just doesn't seem like enough money for something so important. I'll try and find some gas shocks for around £25, and will probably replace the turrets etc while I'm at it. Springs are £60 each on britcar, will see what the stealers have to say tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Mine were similar money,( £20's ish ) and they are fine... £60 is a rip off IMHO.
 
Have both cars settled ok? Perhaps I'm being cynical, just can't get my head round how good value they are at that price!
 
Yep, both, absolutely fine - they did take a few days to settle, but no problems at all on either - think they are more or less fit and forget.... for another 20 years !!

( and I do intend them both lasting at least that long too !)
 
To be fair you do have a point there, if they only last the 12 month warranty I can still replace them four times before I'm out of pocket. Just need to pick some dampers, wish they wouldn't insist on painting the gas ones yellow and orange!
 
Disco1BFG said:
Funnily enough, we run two 97 D1's - the suspension on those has been renewed with standard genuine springs on both, britpart yellow polybushes on one, and superpro polybushes on the other. I can't tell the difference between the bushes - both better than standard, and the new springs made a big difference too. I think you'll get the most bang for your buck by fitting uprated shockers though - don't go mad with remote reservoir things - just a nice decent brand of moderate gas shock - We've got Terrafirmas on - I'm not sure they were the best choice....

That looks in nice order :) - I hope your use of the term "undersealed" is just a colloquialism, as underseal :mad::mad::mad:, will rot any car out in short order :( - sorry, but, dinitrol or bilt hamber products are the way to slow the rust as much as possible - and regular retreatment will stop it dead - "underseal" just hold water against metal, forming the perfect damp conditions for the tin worms to thrive :rolleyes:.

I like the way you are considering the insurance ramifications of any mods too. many don't - they must like living dangerously:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Quick note on the insurance, I'm with Adrian Flux and I've declared every mod I've put on the vehicle, yet the premium never changed. (they charge an admin fee, but the quote never changed in price when I told them I had all the mods)
 
AdamD1 said:
Hi all, first post, I've been reading to forum for some time looking for answers but there's so many conflicting opinions that hopefully this warrants a thread of its own. Car is a 1997 D1 300tdi manual. This is my first 4x4, have wanted a disco for years, the right one turned up at the right time so here we are! So far I've fitted a steering guard, tree sliders, tank guard and diff guards.

I've just been on my first off road trip in Northumberland and it's pretty clear that the suspension is very tired, I want to keep it looking as standard as possible but obviously there is the question of budget, can you recommend some insurance friendly standard height replacements? I don't think the weight added warrants HD suspension does it? The car is far more capable than I am right now, I will want some tyres at some point but I don't see me needing to lift it. View attachment 124041

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I suspect the springs are actually fine. Shocks might be worn and bushes most certainly.

What makes you say that you think its tired?

New shocks and bushes might be all you need. Polybush might or might not be the way to go. There are softer and harder polybush options over stock. I'd say go for them, just pick the type you want.
 
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