spring advice

kermit_rr said:

Soft, more body roll. Better with some weight added, just like regular ones in that respect

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Adding weight will only make a soft spring sag more and reduce the amount of suspension travel, maybe down to none if it sits on the bump stops. As for being soft.... maybe. Depends completely on which spring rate you have gone for. If it is a softer spring rate, then YES you'll get more body roll. Same as if you put a softer regular spring on. A Series Land Rover has no other form of anti-roll device. It will be completely down to the spring & damping of the leaf and shocks. But stiffer springs ride worse, are less supple and don't flex at all off road. There is also friction between the leafs which can vary how the spring reacts and can rust up and become noisy. Parabolics don't have these issues and will react more akin to a coil spring.

300bhp/ton said:

Mostly old wifes tales, urban myths or just plan bad info I suspect.

Also largely because most people converting or buying parabolics have no clue at all and end up getting completely the wrong spec and spring rate.

What have you heard BTW? As in most regards they should be superior to a regular leaf.

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Over the years there has been loads of posts on the s2 forum where people have fitted paras and had issues, to stiff/to much give etc etc.
Iirc there were also issues with bushes failing early, some bushes being a weird one off size.
I would say defo try before you buy.

lynall said:

Maybe I explained it wrong, the car was so bouncy as to be almost uncontrollable.

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So maybe a host of other issues. And likely combined with poor spring rates, nothing specific to parabolic vs regular leaf pack.

The parabolic suspension on my 88 was brilliant, it had more body roll than stock (but no worse than many coil 4x4s that have no ARBs). But it rode way better than standard Series suspension, handled great (chased a pack of Lotus Elises round the Elan valley, much to their surprise, with the Tdi engine, power steering and short gearing it drifted lovely in 3rd gear on the wet Welsh roads ). One of the lanes round one of the reservoirs was super pot holed and bumper. The 88 simply glided over them running at 20-30mph. The coilers in our group and standard suspension Series 1 where all having their teeth rattled out at 10-15mph and wouldn't go and quicker.

If you don't want the body lean, you'd need to look at fitting anti roll bars, as did the factory on late Series III 109's.

A couple more mods than just parabolic springs. But they did help enable it to flex like this, yet still be comfortable running across a stubble field at speed.

The main reason people extol the benefits of parabolic is because they are comparing them to old tired standard springs. New standard springs compared to old worn springs make a huge improvement. I have not compered new standard to new parabolic but that is the comparison you need.
You should be able to replace just the single spring if you go S/h but as said make sure it is a drivers spring. i would also while it is off the road give all the other springs a good soaking down with oil regularly until you are back on the road. Not one for now but something to dear in mind when you are back on the road if it has been standing for a long time my old springs were improved massively by oiling them, loading up with about a ton in the back, and then driving up and down the local road full of speed bumps for half and hour. Broke loose the rusted spring pack and got everything moving as it should. much easier and quicker than the correct method of stripping the pack down to clean and rebuild!

300bhp/ton said:

So maybe a host of other issues. And likely combined with poor spring rates, nothing specific to parabolic vs regular leaf pack.

The parabolic suspension on my 88 was brilliant, it had more body roll than stock (but no worse than many coil 4x4s that have no ARBs). But it rode way better than standard Series suspension, handled great (chased a pack of Lotus Elises round the Elan valley, much to their surprise, with the Tdi engine, power steering and short gearing it drifted lovely in 3rd gear on the wet Welsh roads ). One of the lanes round one of the reservoirs was super pot holed and bumper. The 88 simply glided over them running at 20-30mph. The coilers in our group and standard suspension Series 1 where all having their teeth rattled out at 10-15mph and wouldn't go and quicker.

If you don't want the body lean, you'd need to look at fitting anti roll bars, as did the factory on late Series III 109's.

A couple more mods than just parabolic springs. But they did help enable it to flex like this, yet still be comfortable running across a stubble field at speed.

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Have you still got the car?

lynall said:

Have you still got the car?

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Sadly no.

To be fair, when i looked at parabolics, it was best part of 25 years ago! Things have probably come on since then

300bhp/ton said:

Sadly no.

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I always regret selling my s1, it was nothing special but I quite liked the old girl.

really struggling to find a front spring or pair second hand to fit 109, if anyone knows of any near spalding, p'borough, luton, northampton etc can you let me know please, would post a wanted ad' but don't have enough posts yet.