Series 3 Rear Suspension

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layfin

Active Member
Posts
165
Location
Ireland
Hi.
I have a 1984 109 FFR and I want to try and lower the rear about 2". I have replaced the Extended Shackles with Std ones, but is still too high. Looking closely at it, I was thinking that if I moved the Shackles from the rear of the springs to the front of them it might do the trick. Is this an option worth trying or would it work at all in the first place taking geometry, suspension and steering into consideration.
regards.
Chris.
 
Why do you want to lower the rear?
The military chassis have lower/extended chassis spring mounts to start with so to do the job correctly you will need to cut these off and weld on replacement smaller civilian versions as well as fitting the standard length shackles.
 
Agreed, this could be a big job and it could alter the geometry. The front dumb irons are different too. If its too high at the back then there's a spring problem.
 
How high are the spring bushes from the top leaves of the springs (where they mate the axle) when the vehicle is unloaded? What springs are currently fitted?
 
Just one quick measurement. 23.5" from dead centre of plastic dust cover to highest point of wheel arch. 7.50-16 LT Tyres. Looking at your link, there appears to be a huge difference in the distance from the top of the flat plate on top of the axle and the base of the rubber buffer on the chassis. I will measure accurately asap, however, I would estimate that the difference on mine would be over double that on yours.
 
Sorry, Plastic dust cover = Cover over half-shaft nut in the centre of the steel wheel rim.
Yes, Rubber buffer = Bump Stop.
I replaced the complete original set of leaf springs and extended shackles with Parabolic springs and standard shackles last year. Got them from Craddocks, wounder if the problem might lie there ?. Wanted to make the suspension a bit softer, which it did.
 
Think I have found the answer to my problem. I found a photo which I took of the 109 the day I first bought it showing a full side view with the original springs and shackles still on it. It looked completely level from front to rear.
I took a photo yesterday from the very same position and angle and using the same camera as the first one. A blind man could now see the problem.
After installing the parabolic springs and short shackles the back is now very noticeably higher than the front. Without actually taking a measurement, I would estimate that there is between 2 to 4 inches of a difference in the height at the rear while the front is the same as the original photo.
It would now appear that the rear springs are too high, while the front ones are correct.
 
New springs having a higher camber than old and even refurbished ones is expected. Whether new parabolics vs. old leaf springs would be even more so I don't know.. yet..

but I'm just fitting new GB Spring parabolics to the rear of my 88" 2A as we speak. I've got some refurb'd leafs on the front - I'm going to have the same slope aren't I? :)
 
Cant say, however, at least I now know where my problem lies. Not sure how I am going to solve it other than refit the original set up, which luckily I kept ,and put up with the hard ride. Perhaps, mine is just a one off case. However, it is something that anyone considering changing to parabolic s should keep in mind.
I will locate the Invoice I received with the new springs and let you know whatever information is on it. I file all receipts etc.
Again, I would like to thank you all for your input.
 
How that I have figured out my problem with the rear suspension on my 109 I was considering removing the Parabolic s and restoring the originals and refitting.
Couple of queries.
1, Would I need to replace front and rear or could I keep the front Parabolic Springs,
2, Would removing a few leafs from the Original Springs soften the ride. I only drive it on average country roads, on mountain gravel tracks and through bog and field. And, of course, accross the odd low river. The only weight in the rear is a Lab and a Husky.
 
I think paras on the front only could drive a bit odd. Don't know for sure. Have you really cleaned anf greased the orignals, it makes a huge diference.
 
layfin said:
Would removing a few leafs from the Original Springs soften the ride. I only drive it on average country roads, on mountain gravel tracks and through bog and field. And, of course, accross the odd low river. The only weight in the rear is a Lab and a Husky.
Click to expand...

What are the condition of the original springs?
If they are siezed with rust the ride will be very harsh as each leaf will not be sliding over the next. I had this problem with my 88 when I fist bought it as it had been sitting for several years.
I wire wheeled the side of the springs to clean them up and then soaked (on the vehicle) them in a mixture of old transmission fluid (mixture of atf and ep90 but not engine oil as had just changed the fluids on the 110 but ) and white spirit. I then loaded about 2ton and gravel sacks and top soil into the back of it (was redoing the garden at the time) and drove far to quickly down a local road which had large full width speed bumps for about a mile. I then returned home re-oiled them and did the same thing the following day. After a few days of this and week of being driven fully loaded to the tip and back combined with regular oiling, the springs had freed themselves and the ride improved hugely.
There are people and write ups on here who have fully dismantled the spring pack and cleaned and oiled each individual spring befroe rebuilding it. The way I did is it an easy cheats way to achieve the same thing.
 
scottonthefen said:
New springs having a higher camber than old and even refurbished ones is expected. Whether new parabolics vs. old leaf springs would be even more so I don't know.. yet..

but I'm just fitting new GB Spring parabolics to the rear of my 88" 2A as we speak. I've got some refurb'd leafs on the front - I'm going to have the same slope aren't I? :)
Click to expand...
Interesting. I fitted new standard front springs recently. All torqued and distances as per manual. End result is the front springs are sitting very high relative to the rear. I even had to adjust the lights for the MOT it's so pronounced. Thoughts?
 
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