Softer suspension for my 90

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deccar

New Member
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Is possible there is a softer option than current suspension on my 90.
Driving around the country lanes in Oxford is a nightmare with the state of the roads due to lack of maintenance. It is bloody dangerous to say the least.
Regards Deccar
 
Hi deccar,

first, before you get harassed by the gen pop here, you might want to say hello in the intro section.

know what you mean about the roads. IIRC someone at LZ11 talking about having used
RR springs . If I can think who it was I will let you know.

Cheers

PS, Welcome, some nutters but generally good peeps here.
 
Last edited:
Ignore the intro, I never did. ;)

Standard springs & shocks in good condition should be fine, anything softer and you will be wallowing and leaning all over the place.
Do you currently have HD and / or lifted springs fitted, is everything in good condition (inc' bushes)?
I drive in Oxfordshire all the time (born & bred) and never noticed their roads are any worse than anywhere else.
 
rr police springs are cheap as chips and might work for you.. might not. or you can go third party like terrafirma light setup.

but it might just be your landy has 100k+ on the clock and never had it's suspension changed
 
top drive said:
Terrafirma light springs any good ?

Im looking for some +2 light springs for an unloaded pick up.
Click to expand...

ive just fitted britpart +2" light load springs to my pickup 110

Waaaayyyy more comfy and it handles better now. It was so hard before it would just skip off small bumps.
 
vilguy said:
ive just fitted britpart +2" light load springs to my pickup 110

Waaaayyyy more comfy and it handles better now. It was so hard before it would just skip off small bumps.
Click to expand...

my 90 of 87 vintage, and 137 thou miles came to me with very extensive history, but never showed up any suspension work being done.
it looks however, to have been lifted at some time, plus 750 tyres fitted as well. also the rear nearside measures 50 to 70 mm lower.

my question is, would these britpart + 2" , plus new shocks, give a better and slightly softer ride.
and what would aprox cost be to renew same please.
 
leemar said:
my 90 of 87 vintage, and 137 thou miles came to me with very extensive history, but never showed up any suspension work being done.
it looks however, to have been lifted at some time, plus 750 tyres fitted as well. also the rear nearside measures 50 to 70 mm lower.

my question is, would these britpart + 2" , plus new shocks, give a better and slightly softer ride.
and what would aprox cost be to renew same please.
Click to expand...

Its not the +2" designation that offers a different ride, but the various aspects of the suspenion as a package.

The spring rate will determine how much force is required to move the suspension a given distance. For instance I believe my setup is 220 lb/in whereas the ones i have on my csw are 400lb/in

in addition to this the dampers will affect the ride. if you have too much compression damping this will make the ride very hard. If you have too little it will be all over the place.

The springs i have fitted are progressive so the spring rate increases as they are compressed (this helps bottoming out and offers a slightly better ride)

Often ignored by landrover owners is sprung and unspung weight. If you want a good ride you want to have as higher sprung to unsprung ratio. The unsprung weight is your axle and wheels etc , sprung weight being everything above the springs.

Having big tyres (heavy!) and lots of diff guards and this that and the other on your vehicle will increase the unsprung weight.

Dont expect to just buy a generic "off the shelf" setup as every vehicle is different.

Also you should check your bushes are ok, if they are worn they will be transmitting more shocks into the chassis of the vehicle and correspondingly into you. Polybushes are all well and good but depending on the spec could be alot harder than the oem bushes.

cost wise - from £150 all round up to £1000 depending on what you want to spend.
 
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DA4203 were the springs i fitted paul - which were designated "light" - had to look back through pages of orders in my emails to find that.

i went light all round. the front end feels good but the unloaded rear of a 90 feels like it needs lighter still....im visibly nose heavy atm....DRAG LANDY :D

What did your landy feel like before you fitted them - musta been HELL.

I also fitted super pro blue poly bushes and Pro comp +5 shocks at the same time - as i say the front end feels fine but when the back end hits a pot hole it is jarring which i believe must be down to the rating of the springs.....
 
leemar said:
my 90 of 87 vintage, and 137 thou miles came to me with very extensive history, but never showed up any suspension work being done.
it looks however, to have been lifted at some time, plus 750 tyres fitted as well. also the rear nearside measures 50 to 70 mm lower.
my question is, would these britpart + 2" , plus new shocks, give a better and slightly softer ride.
and what would aprox cost be to renew same please.
Click to expand...

ADDED,, Since owning my 90, "12 months", I see that there is a low corner= measuring each wheel from top of tyre, ( all tyres same make ) to top edge of wheel arch eyebrow, FRONT nearside 5 inches,, FRONT offside 6 inches.. REAR nearside 3.5 inches.. REAR offside 5 inches..
If the rear nearside is low, and the front offside is high, could this be that the rear nearside suspension is, or has failed, and would replacing it level up the vehicle. " Or renew all shocks, and springs".
 
Hmmm I need to work out what exactly I have suspension wise. It seems high and it is an ex Mountain Rescue Vehicle 110. How do you know if it has a lift kit?
I carry a fair bit of weight when all the water tanks are full but when I think that the 110 could carry 7 blokes in the back which would be heavier than my coffee kit etc.
I'd love a Blistein Kit though!
 
britpart super gas shocks are good and not expensive, generally i fit the inner helper springs on 110s that need weight carrying ability
 
leemar said:
ADDED,, Since owning my 90, "12 months", I see that there is a low corner= measuring each wheel from top of tyre, ( all tyres same make ) to top edge of wheel arch eyebrow, FRONT nearside 5 inches,, FRONT offside 6 inches.. REAR nearside 3.5 inches.. REAR offside 5 inches..
If the rear nearside is low, and the front offside is high, could this be that the rear nearside suspension is, or has failed, and would replacing it level up the vehicle. " Or renew all shocks, and springs".
Click to expand...

Assuming the vehicle was on a level flat surfaced road, the measurements are valid. 1.5" difference on the rear is odd. The front seems too much difference too, though some manufacturers give approx a half inch longer spring for the driver's side / offside to offset the weight of the driver.
Springs and shocks are cheap for a land rover and an easy diy job. A standard set up should be an improvement and quite soft, police spec stiffer, and my personal favourite, old man emu (available in 3 ratings) a massive jump in money. A 90 will never ride as well as a 110 though.
I would drop into my mot man and get him to put it on a shaker plate and check all suspension components too.
 
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Have you tried adjusting your tyre pressures?
28psi in the front and 32psi in the rear. :D:D
It's also a lot cheaper tha fitting all new stuff that may or may not do the job :confused:
But there again, if you have loads of money, it's your choice! ;);)
 
Coffeelandy said:
Not sure if there is a 90 version but I'm tempted by these has anyone got them?
http://www.air-lift.co.uk/product.php?unique_id=335
Click to expand...
I have them in front end of my 110 , for when it has snow plough on , they work very well , and if you just have about 5 psi in them when not needed you don't notice them there , other than slightly less roll .
In the rear of 110 useful if you put early SW rear springs (soft) and you don't have a working load leveler.
They are also good if you occasionally carry heavy loads , but don't want HD suspension ride all the time .
Re OE post check tyre pressures as these have a huge influence on ride comfort, handbook pressures are usually set on high side , on a just in case basis. I use 25psi in front and rear of my 90 on 265/75 \MT
 
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