andyjack · Feb 2, 2023

Hi when i got my 1987 Defender 90 it never sat level on the suspension, the front was nearly 2” higher than the back. Ive just had new coil springs put into it and its still the same. How can i get it sitting level ?. It does have a disco 200 tdi in it instead of the 19J would this change the way it sits ?

miktdish · Feb 2, 2023

It shouldn't.
Can you measure the length of the springs and get back to us ?

When you say 'new coil springs fitted' what where they ?
Can you post a picture ?

andyjack · Feb 2, 2023

Well i say new, i bought them from a Land Rover place in Harrogate from a bloke who sells good second hand parts from stripping Landy’s. They came off of a 90, they were three different sizes tho he told me the 2 shorter go on the back & the 2 larger on the front but one front was longer than the other which he said goes on the drivers due to the fuel tank been on that side. I will try measure them. They were fitted at Beaumont's Land Rover Halifax so im sure they were right.

tottot · Feb 2, 2023

No change with the engine, mine had a 19j and went to 200tdi.
Sounds like something if a mish mash, nothing to say springs were correct on the truck they came off or how worn they are.
Could be you have a pair of plus 2 inch extend hight springs.
New standard springs [ best for ride ] are not too expensive. The rear springs are easy to change without much in the way of tools.

andyjack · Feb 2, 2023

I saw the truck the springs came off, they were changing them to 2”+ the truck itself was in good nick, well looked after and they are standard springs that i got and by the look of them hadn’t been on the truck long themselves. Like i say they were fitted from Beaumont Halifax who have a good reputation around Halifax so coils must of been right and fitted right. I just don’t understand how the front are more or less 2” higher. It looks like it has a lift on the front but hasn’t.

andyjack · Feb 2, 2023

please see photos. im measuring from flat ground to bottom of the arch the front are 35" and the rear are 33"

tottot · Feb 2, 2023

It's the front that looks wrong for standard springs. Any chance there are extender/riser blocks between axle and spring pan?

andyjack · Feb 2, 2023

Im going to take wheel off this week as tyre wants changing so il have a look. It would make sense. But the place i got coils put on by new i wanted it to standard so if it has got blocks why would they leave them ?. Like i say il check hopefully you’re right. Thanks

tottot · Feb 2, 2023

Take some pics of area if you can so we can check position of stuff.

andyjack · Feb 2, 2023

When i bought the 90 i was told with receipt to back up that it had new shocks all way round. Ive just looked under front to see if there are any blocks on axle, bottom of coil but they aren’t. But i did notice the shockers at front are black while the shockers at back are orange/red so they can’t be matched shockers. But if the front was a 2”+ shocker would this give it such a lift at front without the 2”+ coil spring ?. I will get some photos when i get back, best i can without wheels off. Thanks everyone

tottot · Feb 2, 2023

The shock itself would not affect the ride hight. Black ones are usually standard Armstrong shocks.

andyjack · Feb 2, 2023

tottot said:
Take some pics of area if you can so we can check position of stuff.

please see attached

tottot · Feb 2, 2023

Hard to tell from pics but those front springs look to me to be Heavy duty types, possibly rears and one of them [which I do not know ] is the wrong way
up.
I once made the mistake fitting HDs all around

Lasted a fortnight before I went back to new standard's to save my back.

Some fit HD fronts if a large winch and HD bumper is fitted. HD on rear only if a loaded truck most the time.
Can not see any rear bump stops fitted either.

v8250 · Feb 2, 2023

andyjack said:
View attachment 282272 please see photos. im measuring from flat ground to bottom of the arch the front are 35" and the rear are 33"

What size tyres do you have fitted to each 16" wheel? Those front semi-slicks look much smaller than the rears. + as others above have said, buy only std rated and height springs...HD's on a Ninety/90 are far too solid. It's really worth buying a new set of boggo std springs as they are not expensive, rather than faffing about with springs of unknown origin. Before installing measure their static height/length to ensure they measure correctly against original LR specs; see here

andyjack · Feb 2, 2023

Yes ive noticed there are no bump stops on rear also i got a 90 coil spring chart last night online, the same one and after looking at the photos I've taken the passenger front is coloured yellow and white which according to the chart is a rear passenger. I cant see the colours on the other coils. I might just take them off and fit myself. They have just been put on so there should be no problems.it was exactly same with last coils tho thats why i had them changed.

andyjack · Feb 2, 2023

v8250 said:
What size tyres do you have fitted to each 16" wheel? Those front semi-slicks look much smaller than the rears. + as others above have said, buy only std rated and height springs...HD's on a Ninety/90 are far too solid. It's really worth buying a new set of boggo std springs as they are not expensive, rather than faffing about with springs of unknown origin. Before installing measure their static height/length to ensure they measure correctly against original LR specs; see here

The tyres are all 265/70/r16 i am changing the front, its a road tyre as the rest are AT’s. Ive just found a set of four springs same code, same colour codes as the ones on the chart top ones 90 2 seat utility 2400kg so im going for them. I had them springs put on at a land rover place and as you can see on photos one is upside down and following the colours the front passenger, yellow & white should be on rear, usless

Dr Strangeglove · Feb 2, 2023

Forgive my ignorance but how can you tell which is top and bottom no springs. I have had all my springs off and I can't say they looked different from top to bottom!

andyjack · Feb 2, 2023

If you stand your spring up on a level surface and look at one end, the coils are closer together at the bottom that the top of the spring. Or so ive been told.

Dr Strangeglove · Feb 2, 2023

andyjack said:
If you stand your spring up on a level surface and look at one end, the coils are closer together at the bottom that the top of the spring. Or so ive been told.

Thanks for the explanation, but mine looked quite even top to bottom.

andyjack · Feb 2, 2023

It does explain the right way round to put them in my landy manual. I will have a proper look at it tomorrow.

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