Series 3 Rear Suspension

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John S said:
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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You have still got old ones on the rear?
 
The rears are about 7 years old but tired. Too much work in one go to do the whole lot. I have to grovel on the ground to do them and each end needs 4 axle stands. I'm happy with the front it's the rears next. Hoping they'll be easier than las time cos I reamed the holes and used copper grease.
 
Following several searches of other forums, apparently, it is acknowledge that Parabolic Springs will always raise the height of the Series Land Rover. And, will always result in either the Front or Rear being higher or lower than the other.
 
Having searched several web sites and forums, it is, apparently, generally accepted that Parabolic Springs will raise the height of Series Land Rovers resulting in the Front or Rear being either higher or lower than the other. Beware.
 
Springs purchased from A.E.W Paddock Motors Ltd, Matlock. Front Part No SPRPARA01. Rear Part No SPRPARA03. Front has 2 Leafs, inc Main Spring. Rear has 4 leafs, inc Main Spring.
 
Will Do. These are the Part Nos printed on the invoice.
Forgot to mention, I replaced the Extended Rear Shackles and fitted the Short Std Shackles to the Rear as well.
 
Loaded the Tub with concrete blocks and drove it fairly hard down forestry roads. Fitted Standard length fibre Axle Straps. Left the load on it for the week and when removed it was about 2" lower than before, however, I still need to get it about another 2" .lower in order to get it level with the front.
 
How long are your axle straps and where did you get them?

I've just gone to fit new straps with new parabolics on the rear of my '69 2A 88" and the straps are too short at 32 3/4"
 
The best solution if its not clear what you need is to make some up to length, the balata belting is quite cheap and always on e-bay, just check what section (I can't recall). The key is how far they sit below the axle when its level and unloaded. I think its about an inch 1 1/4" but I'll go and measure mine as its on std springs with the correct straps.
 
The original Straps I removed from the 109 FFR, which was fitted with original Springs and Extended Shackles, are exactly 36" long. When I installed the Parabolic Springs and Standard Shackles the 36" Straps were about 2" to short. Cant remember where I got them. The Civic Straps are about 2" shorter than the Military FFR, I would guess.
If I had any idea that I was going to have so much trouble, then I would most likely have gotten the original Springs refurbished and left everything original. I will most likely doing just that.
 
rob1miles said:
The best solution if its not clear what you need is to make some up to length, the balata belting is quite cheap and always on e-bay, just check what section (I can't recall). The key is how far they sit below the axle when its level and unloaded. I think its about an inch 1 1/4" but I'll go and measure mine as its on std springs with the correct straps.
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Cheers rob be handy to know how much slack you've got beneath the axle casing with normal springs fitted when unloaded.

Cheers for the info layfin it confirms my own issue here being due to new parabolics I think.
 
OK just had a look. The straps are roughly 1 1/2" x 1/4" and there is exactly 1" clearance under the axle. As the strap forms a curve at rest as its quite stiff I would guess this lets the axle come done closer to 2" or perhaps more. I was off road (my annual trip to MB World 4x4 circuit) and it has an axle articulation section. My rear axle moved a lot so this gap of 1" still allows a lot of movment. I also think that the postion of the straps means that 1" at the strap could be closer to 2" at the wheel.
 
Cheers Rob that's really helpful. My mind's not made up about whether to measure for where I want it to hit the axle near full shock extension, or whether to measure for 1" slack beneath the axle at unloaded rest. If I do the latter and the new springs settle.. the straps will then be too slack and I'll have to redo them. o_O
 
rob1miles said:
My rear axle moved a lot so this gap of 1" still allows a lot of movment. I also think that the postion of the straps means that 1" at the strap could be closer to 2" at the wheel.
Click to expand...

This here is a really good point. I hadn't considered that. Food for thought.
 
I am having the complete opposite problem. Since the rear was raised so high above the front after I installed the new Parabolic Springs and short Shackles, which looked completely ridiculous, estimate about 20 degrees, I replaced the long Military Straps with the shorter Civis Straps in order to force the rear down. The end result is that, while the rear is lowered, it is still not level with the front. Need about another 2" lower still and the Straps are tight against the Axle casing pulling the rear closer to the Axle. Having read all your remarks, this set up would appear to be a recipe for disaster.
 
I hear you layfin. I am already resigned to fitting new paras on the front too. And after all that effort refurbing the older leafers on the front last summer! It's either that or the paras I've bought go to waste or are sold off cheap which I do not prefer to new paras all round. Hate to say he told me so, but the man at GB Springs did ask what springs I had on the front and warned me about this. :)
 
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